Hair Alternative Medicine

Static Magnetic Therapy: Does It Really Work?


Recently, a number of articles have been published on static magnetic therapy. Static magnetic therapy is the placement of a magnet field on or near the body to enhance healing, relieve pain and improve body function. The idea of magnetism is not new. Early Chinese medical literature claimed healing properties for lodestrone, a naturally magnetic mineral. For centuries, static magnetic therapy has been used by eastern practitioners to relieve pain and swelling, and to induce healing. Since the 1950's, numerous Japanese studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of magnetic fields for treating various conditions. Many magnetic devices are registered with the Japanese Welfare Ministry as medical devices, after undergoing clinical testing at accredited medical institutions to verify their safety and effectiveness.

For many years, the Magnetic Health Science Foundation has been meeting annually in Japan to report on the growing body of evidence of the scientific technology of magnetic research. To date, there are now over 300 published articles on magnetic research.

But, do magnets really work? The answer may lie in understanding the laws of physics, and in reviewing recent scientific evidence.

We are energetic beings surrounded by naturally generated electromagnetic energy, fields of energy which are created by the spinning and moving of electrons and charged particles within the cell.

Some of the early awareness of the importance of electromagnetic energy fields was discovered when the Russian cosmonauts first spent long periods of time on board the Mir space station; they became sick. Their illnesses appeared to be caused by the lack of contact with the magnetic field surrounding the earth. Once the Russian space station was equipped with a magnetism generator, the symptoms disappeared.

All cells within the body are ordered by magnetism; the atoms and molecules are tiny magnets with a positive and negative pole. All communication within the body occurs through electric currents and the electromagnetic frequencies they generate.

According to the laws of physics, the first law of electromagnetism states that if an electron or other charged particle is moving it generates a magnetic field. The corollary to this rule is that if an electron or charged particle encounters a magnetic field it must move.

So how does this apply to magnetic therapy, healing, and pain? When a person is injured, the body immediately reacts to restore the body to its natural balanced state. In brief, the injured tissue produces a chemical reaction whereby acids are released and chemicals are brought to the injured site to begin a healing process. This chemical reaction leads to swelling which causes pain.

The theory is that when a magnetic field is placed at or near the injured site the electromagnetic field induces a current or charge in the tissues in the body. This charge causes the toxins (acids and other chemicals) to move, the toxins are removed and excreted, and a natural healing state ensues. As this change occurs, the blood flow to the injured site is improved, the swelling is reduced, and pain is alleviated.

Some scientists believe that magnetic therapy causes the body to dispose of waste materials (toxins) more quickly and speeds up the healing process. Numerous studies have been conducted on the effects of static magnetic therapy in Asia and Europe. Recently, scientists in the US have begun reporting their results of the effectiveness of magnetic fields.

Magnetic therapy has been found to be effective in alleviating burning, numbness and tingling, and exercise induced foot pain in patients with diabetic neuropathy (Weintraub 1998, 1999, 2003); in alleviating neuropathic pain in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (Weintraub & Cole 2000); in alleviating pain in people suffering from osteoarthritis in the knees and hips (Harlow 2004, Hinman 2002, Pipitone 2001, Wosko 2004); and in other chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (Segal 2001), fibromyalgia (Alfono 2001, Thomas 2001) and chronic back pain (Collacott 2000).

Although the scientific research in the United States is still in the early stages compared to the Asian and European studies, static magnetic therapy has been shown to have no detrimental side effects and has great promise for those suffering from chronic painful conditions.

For more information on magnetic studies and where to find magnetic devices, go to our website: www.mayaintegratedmedicine.org or email us at:info@mayaintegratedmedicine.org

Jeanette M. Conner PhD, MS, MN, ARNP

Dr. Conner is the President and Director of the Maya Center for Integrated Medicine & Research in Shelburne Vermont; a health and wellness center focused on providing comprehensive traditional and complementary services while encouraging individual healing through self care. Dr. Conner is an Associate Professor of Clinical Research at Dartmouth Medical School, Department of Community & Family Medicine. She has conducted clinical research in health care for over 10 years, and now focuses her efforts on teaching others to promote their health and heal illness through the use of mind-body-spirit medicine.


MORE RESOURCES:


Washington Post

Kucinich's health-care vote could be Obama's lucky charm
Washington Post
"I struggled with Crohn's disease most of my adult life, to discover 16 years ago a near cure in alternative medicine and through following a plant-based ...
If bill fails, Pelosi has strategic alternativeSan Francisco Chronicle
Kucinich switches healthcare voteLos Angeles Times
Kucinich Says He'll Vote For Health Care ReformTIME (blog)
Media Matters for America (blog) -The Hill (blog) -New York Times
all 5,325 news articles »


BigNews.biz (press release)

Reform Threatens Alternative Medicine
RealClearPolitics (blog)
Nobody expects better coverage for alternative treatments when, as a key part of the reform legislation, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ...
The Battle Over Health Care At America's Medical SchoolsFOXNews

all 15 news articles »


Health Care and Alternative Health in France
Futurehealth
The conference was about what we call CAM, or Complementary and Alternative Medicine, in the United States, and particularly about the basis for some CAM ...



Monsters and Critics.com

PRICE: Cutting medical costs without Obamacare
Washington Times
... need for health care providers to practice defensive medicine. With such potential to change the system, it stands alone as a comprehensive alternative ...
Blame for Democrats — and RepublicansNew York Times (blog)
BIRNBAUM: The no-quarter CongressWashington Times

all 141 news articles »


New York Times (blog)

Democrats look to combine health care, student loan reform
Central Michigan Life
Alternative loans are not very forgiving, Fleming said, and do not allow as much consolidation or alternative payments. “We discourage students from taking ...
Opinion: Two Government Takeovers in OneAOL News
Direct loans and health-care reform: two great tastes that go great togetherWashington Post (blog)
The Odd CoupleCenter For American Progress
Big Government (blog) -Collections & Credit Risk (blog)
all 49 news articles »


Integrated health services crossing the divide
Vancouver Sun
Putting alternative health services under one roof has proven a benefit for an industry that often faces skepticism on the part of patients and doctors, ...

and more »


Health Care Tied to Student Loan Takeover Bill
Inland Empire
... plan to use at least a portion of the “savings” to pay for their health care plans. There is a zero cost alternative that protects students and schools. ...

and more »


Alternative health care 101
Vancouver Sun
Here's a breakdown of a few of the alternative health-care practitioners available, explaining the basics of what they offer and tips about their trade. ...

and more »


Health Highlights: March 17, 2010
BusinessWeek
Patients taking the unapproved tablets should continue to take their medication and consult with a health-care professional for guidance on alternative ...

and more »

Google News

home | Iridology | "Mind Machines" | "Alternative Health" site map | Iridology Site Map | "Alternative Botox"
© 2000 - 2010