Magnet magic

I heard of magnetic healing or magnotherapy only a few years ago when it was all the rage. Television ads for products containing magnets declared they exert dramatic healing effects on the human body. Manufacturers of pillows and mattress protectors with imbedded magnets swore they had hit gold with the cure for back and neck pain. Bracelets, straps for ankles, wrists and knees, magnetite rings, supplements, creams and even magnetized water crept up on market shelves with claims of empowering the wearer with energy and vitality. Magnetic insoles became a big hit with sufferers of podiatric ailments.

Nowadays, magnets are being used as cure for arthritis, asthma, migraines, osteoporosis, sports injuries, shoulder and back pain, infections, fibromyalgia, depression, insomnia and much more. Even though magnetic therapy lacks established evidence of healing, millions worldwide believe they really work to reduce pain, improve blood circulation, minimize stiffness and enhance performance.

How Magnets Work To Heal

It is believed that magnets eliminate the root cause of pain, and not just the symptoms. There are many theories to explain how magnets work to heal. Some insist that our blood consists of iron which responds to magnets like any other ironbased material. A magnetic field is created when the iron and nutrient-rich heavy blood cells move slowly, and the used blood returning to be replenished moves faster through the body. This friction also gives us heat in the form of body temperature. To alleviate pain and swelling, it is important to get the iron-rich blood to the proper location. This is where the magnets come in. A magnet placed on the ailing body part would attract iron-rich blood to that location. Magnets penetrate the flesh to create a magnetic field that energizes the blood on the whole and the white corpuscles that are the healing agents of the body, in particular. The charged ions in the blood move about to produce heat and increase blood circulation to ease pain and allow the body to heal naturally.

There are many benefits of using magnetic therapy as there are no known side effects and it is very affordable, as you only need to buy the magnets once and not keep restocking like other medicines.

Another popular elucidation for the magnetic mystery asserts that magnets don’t actually heal, in fact since any illness or injury is due to the imbalance of energy, the magnets act to correct the magnetic energy field and put the body back in alignment to aid natural healing.

It is important to place the magnet directly over the area where the pain is located for it to be effective. Professional magnetic therapists employ only the negative pole of the magnet to on a specific part of the body will not facilitate healing of the entire body but only on and around the part it is being focussed on. That is why it might be a good

On the other side of the scale however, are sceptics who argue that magnotherapy is a pseudoscience at best which means it does not adhere to any scientific method, lacks evidence of support and cannot be reliably tested idea to try out magnetic underlays, blankets or bed pads which have several magnets sewn in and hence radiate a wider and stronger magnetic field that can target every part of the body and boost the immune system as you sleep.

What The Sceptics Say

relieve pain, as it exerts a stronger magnetic field. Also the direction in which you place the magnetic poles plays a vital role in healing and relieving pain. The north pole of the magnet is used to ease symptoms of arthritis, acute headaches, lower back pain and inflammation whereas the south pole is used to target symptoms of paralysis, weak muscles, numbness and scarring. Different size and strength of the magnets are used to treat different ailments and the length of exposure is also closely monitored. Magnets with 1000-3000 gauss power is used to treat diseases like rheumatism, paralysis and back pain, while 500 gauss power magnets are ideal for treating children and to tackle ailments affecting delicate areas like ears and eyes.

It is important to know that a magnet placed or worn

On the other end of the spectrum however, are sceptics who argue that magnotherapy is a pseudoscience at best, which means it does not adhere to any scientific method, lacks evidence of support and cannot be reliably tested. Numerous tests worldwide have produced mixed results with the general consensus being that the benefits of magnets are psychological.

There are many benefits of using magnetic therapy as there are no known side effects and it is very affordable, as you only need to buy the magnets once and not keep restocking like other medicines. There is simplicity of use and since it is non-invasive, safe and non-addictive, it is becoming the alternative therapy of choice for many.

If you wish to give magnotherapy a shot, it is strongly urged that you do your research before embarking on it, as magnets are not meant to be used in certain conditions like pregnancy or with certain devices like pacemakers, automatic internal defibrillators etc. So consult with your doctor before experimenting.