Wellness Digest

Magnetic Therapy

Magnetic therapy, a method of alternative treatments for different health problems, is now very popular. It is commonly used for ailments like asthma, allergies, arthritis, pain, migraines, tumors, inflammation, muscle tension, diabetes and many joint or other complaints. Scientists are still now skeptical about the results of this therapy. Some believe that it works and some do not. Magnets have been used to treat medical ailments for thousands of years but there is no scientific research that proves the power of magnetic therapy. However numerous testimonials are available from people who believe in the healing power of magnets. It is a controversial point whether to believe a positive personal experience or not to believe anything without scientific truth. Some Chinese medical texts and Hindu religious documents mention the use of magnetic therapy. The Egyptians, Romans and Greeks have also used magnetic therapy to cure a wide range of diseases from arthritis to depression. Millions of people are now using magnetic therapy to treat various medical conditions. Both ordinary people and professional athletes are said to be experiencing good results from this therapy. The faith in the effectiveness of magnetic therapy is growing rapidly and magnetic jewelry is becoming very popular. Magnetic bracelets sold through commercials, infomercials and now through the Internet are available in a wide range of styles from $5 to $800 in price. Magnetic jewelry that is available is of different sizes, shapes and designs. It contains an internal iron within the magnet whose function is to arouse the production of the substance in the blood stream that controls the content of oxygen. A form of stabilization also develops in the nervous system that helps to cure pain or discomfort. Many alternative practitioners believe that magnets have the power to cure many ailments. The latest research also reaches this same conclusion. Researchers did a thorough study by using real magnets and a placebo (fake magnets) on patients who suffered leg pain from post-polio syndrome. This was done in Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. The study shows 76% of the patients who were treated with the real magnets were cured of pain, whereas 18% of the patients treated with the placebo or fake magnet felt pain relief. Research is being done to prove that magnets can help to cure patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Some patients are advised to sleep on magnetic mattresses and others to sleep on ordinary mattresses. The patients who slept on the magnetic mattresses felt an exceptional pain relief. Magnetic foot pads are helping in diabetes related problems such as tingling and pain and numbness in the foot have also been successfully treated by using magnetic foot pads. Almost 80% of patients suffering from these diabetes related complaints got great relief from the pain, tingling and numbness. When magnets are held against the skin, the capillary walls get relaxed.  This increases the flow of blood to the painful area. Another use of magnets is to prevent muscle spasms by placing the magnet at the base of pain which intervenes and stops muscle contractions. This works by interfering with the ability of the nerve cells to transmit messages of intense pain to the brain using electrochemical reactions.  There are many pain relieving drugs available but the attraction of magnetic therapy is that it has absolutely no risky side effects. You can start with an earth metal neodymium-boron coin shaped magnet. These magnets are very effective and much cheaper than other magnets on the market. The real power of a magnet is measured in gauss. More relief means you have to use more powerful gauss. The ordinary refrigerator magnet is around ten gauss. It is really weak and can’t transmit electromagnetic force through the skin and relieve anything other than a minor bruise. Medical magnets generally range from 400 to just over 10,000 gauss. The magnet is attached on the afflicted area with adhesive bandages or tape. In case you don’t get any results over the next few days, change the position of the magnet. If this repositioning also fails to work after three to four weeks, then you can be sure that the magnet with this gauss is not the correct strength for you. You can try to switch to another magnet or one with a higher gauss. The last suggestion is to consult with your doctor about other conventional methods.

 

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