Magnet therapy involves the use of a magnetised device placed on or near the
body to either facilitate healing or relieve pain.
The magnetic products available today come in many types. They can be attached
to the skin, worn as jewellery, placed in your shoes, or slept on. Arthritis,
carpal tunnel syndrome, insomnia and headaches are among the list of ailments
for which many people claim can benefit from magnet therapy. Although no one is
sure how magnets work, supporters claim that they can have a profound effect on
the body, particularly in the area of pain relief.
The use of magnets for medical purposes is not new; the ancient Greeks
believed that natural magnetic rocks had therapeutic powers. In the
sixteenth century a Swiss-born alchemist and physician, Philippus von
Hohenheim, purportedly used magnets to draw illness from the body. Over
the past decade, magnet therapy has become increasingly popular,
especially among professional athletes who use it for aches and pains.
Nearly 80 touring golf pros now use some form of magnetic therapy for help
in relieving, muscle soreness, back pain, arthritis, and other ailments.
Even so, magnet therapy remains controversial. Scientists have only
recently begun the scientific research needed to persuade most mainstream
doctors to add magnets to their medicinal arsenals, although the British
National Health Service (NHS) has recently (March 2006) recommended
doctors to prescribe magnetic knee wraps in preference to drugs.
How Does It Work?
The theory behind magnet therapy is that the fields produced by magnets
can affect the functioning of individual cells in the body and improve the
working of the nervous system and various organs. Exactly how the magnetic
fields do this is unknown, but there are several theories. Some say that
the electrical current created by magnets interrupts the transmission of
pain signals in the nerves. Others claim magnets increase blood flow to an
area, boosting the flow of oxygen and other nutrients, thereby reducing
pain and swelling.
What You Can Expect
It is believed that magnets must be placed precisely to have an effect
(they work best when placed over a body area that has some degree of
intact circulation). Therefore it is best to do magnet therapy under the
guidance of a therapist or doctor who is experienced in its use. However,
many people choose to use magnets on their own.
If you are trying magnets for arthritis or other types of pain, you
may be advised to purchase small magnetic devices that can be secured to
the body elastic bandages, or Velcro.
Depending on how much pain you are experiencing, you might be
advised to keep the magnets in place for as little as five minutes or to
wear them for a number of hours every day for several weeks. If you are
trying magnets to help with insomnia, your doctor may advise using a
magnetic pillow or mattress pad.
Health Benefits
Magnetic therapy is most often used for pain, usually of the muscles,
joints and back. Magnets have also been used to relieve post-surgery pain.
Some suggest that magnets can reduce stress, as well as relieve insomnia
and treat migraine. Others even claim that magnetic therapy can fight
infection and improve central nervous system disorders, such as seizures.
While research has shown that magnet therapy can indeed relieve pain,
there is little solid evidence proclaiming its use for other ailments.
One study, published in the American Journal of Pain Management in 1999,
showed that magnetic foot insoles were shown to be effective in reducing
foot pain in those with diabetes.
How To Choose a Practitioner
Magnet therapy may be practiced by a therapist or doctor, or it may
be self-administered. It is best to work with an experienced practitioner
who is knowledgeable about the therapeutic use of magnets.
Ria has been an holistic practitioner since 1990 and she has trained in
many fields such as cranio-sacral therapy, shiatsu, reflexology, reiki,
aromatherapy, Bach flowers, crystal healing, psychotherapy, counselling,
fytotherapy, TT and nutrition. Ria focuses on the underlying causes of
disease rather than treating symptoms alone. She has been a certified
therapist since 1996 and has developed an extensive practice dedicated
to creating total wellness and self-empowerment based on the body, mind,
soul connection.
Magnet therapy, or magnetic therapy, is a pseudoscientific form of
alternative medicine based on the concept that certain medical disorders
can be effectively treated by exposure to magnetic fields. Some believe
that magnetic fields emanating from permanent magnets placed close to the
body can cause bones to heal faster, relieve pain, and perform other forms
of healing to the body. It is most commonly recommended by practitioners
as a cure for joint disorders and back problems. ...
Practitioners of this therapy use negative magnetic fields which have a
beneficial effect on health. By placing magnets near or on an injury site,
a force field is created that encourages muscle relaxation and increased
blood flow, while reducing inflammation. Devices range from small, simple
magnets to large machines capable of generating high magnitudes of field
strength.
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Magnetic Therapy
