Magnetic Therapy: An Alternative Treatment
Written: May 30 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy to use....no side effects
Cons: no scientific evidence as to their efficacy
The Bottom Line: It can't hurt to try and you just might find the relief you have been seeking.
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| marnica's Full Review: Magnetic Health Products |
I had knee surgery about a year ago after years of knee pain and knee problems. I had tried many things over the years to alleviate my knee pain. I tried physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, painkillers, and yes-magnetic therapy.
Magnets have been used for centuries to relieve pain and treat illnesses. The ancient Chinese, the Greeks, the Romans, and the Egyptians historically used magnets to treat a myriad of diseases ranging from arthritis to mental illness. This alternative therapy is a fairly new phenomenon in our current Western society. Today millions of people use magnetic therapy to treat a wide range of medical conditions. There are hundreds of companies, who currently sell magnets in the form of braces, shoe insoles, mattress pads, and jewelry. Magnetic products are even available for pets.
Hundreds of thousands of people use magnetic therapy. Worldwide, over 100 million people use this therapy. Many Japanese people use magnetic therapy. Over 10 million people sleep on magnetic beds to counter the effects of stress, pain, fatigue and various ailments. The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of electromagnets for medical purposes in 1978. However, they are not used in mainstream medicine because of the lack of scientific proof that they are effective.
HOW DO THEY WORK?
There are several different theories that about how magnets supposedly work. They are as follows:
* Magnets emit a force field which penetrates the blood that flows through the magnetic field and
increases blood flow and oxygen delivery.
Magnets block pain by stimulating nerve endings
Magnets create a charge in blood particles, which produce heat and dilate blood vessels.
Magnets act on the iron in the blood to increase its ability to carry oxygen.
WHAT ARE THEY USED TO TREAT?
Some of the problems that magnetic therapy are claimed to be effective in treating are:
Pain
Inflammation
Muscle tension/strain
Migraines
Brain tumors
Depression
Diabetes
Allergies
Asthma
Fibromyalgia
TMJ
Wound healing
Alzheimers
DO THEY WORK?
Some people swear by magnetic therapy and some insist that it is quackery. On a personal note I can attest that I found minimal relief from using magnets to treat my knee pain. I do think there was SOME relief, but not enough to label it an effective therapeutic approach. On the other hand, I know many people who use magnets and find them to be very effective in relieving their pain. Before I had my surgery I was waitressing at Bobby Valentine’s which is a sports bar and restaurant which is owned by Bobby Valentine (Manager of the NY Mets for those not into sports). He was often there are I had a conversation about magnetic therapy with him one day. He swears by them, uses them himself, and many of his players use them as well. This is not uncommon from what I understand. Many professional athletes use magnets and find them to be effective for relieving pain and inflammation.
The thing about magnets is that there is very little scientific research. Studies have been done which support their efficacy, but the majority of these studies have not been conducted by mainstream scientists and are not well controlled or well designed. The ones that have been conducted which were well designed often offer conflicting results. The bottom line is that more research is needed to determine if magnets actually work.
THE PROS AND CONS
So should you try magnetic therapy? The best way to determine that is to first see your doctor. There are situations where it can be dangerous to use a magnet. For example if you have a pacemaker. If your doctor determines that there is no harm in magnetic therapy for you, go ahead and try it. My opinion is that it can’t hurt you. It is important to understand that magnets are not a cure and should not be used instead of traditional medical treatment. If you find magnets provide you with relief from your ailment, incorporate them into your treatment and use them in conjunction to traditional treatments.
Magnets can be expensive as well. There are hundreds of companies selling magnetic products and the prices vary. My knee brace was Nikken and cost me about 200.00 dollars. That is a lot of money to spend on something that didn’t really work for me, but it was a risk I was willing to take.
FINAL ADVICE
If you want to try magnetic therapy, get informed first. Learn all that you can about it and then when it comes time to make your purchase, you can make an informed decision and will be less likely to get ripped off. Happy magnet hunting!!!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
marnica
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Location: Southern CT
Reviews written: 52
Trusted by: 26 members
About Me:
I'm a therapist and a substance abuse counselor. I live and work in CT.
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