Magnet Therapy: Does
It or Doesn’t It?
by Maia Appleby
Magnets
were used as medical devices before the refrigerator
was even invented. In fact, the Yellow Emperor's
Book of Internal Medicine, published in China
more than 4000 years ago, suggested that magnets
might be useful for healing purposes. Cleopatra
was known for wearing a magnet on her forehead
to retain youthfulness, and Aristotle spoke
to the Greeks about magnetic healing. It’s
been around.
Throughout the centuries leading up to today,
physicians and scientists across the globe have
been toying with the idea. Some have taken holistic
approaches, feeling that magnets controlled
the body’s “life force” and
“humors”, primitive versions of
today’s medical terminology.
Others noted that the Earth is one big magnet
and that people are also magnetic in nature.
Magnetic energy imbalance was blamed for mental
illness, seizures and fainting. The notion prevails
to modern times that a magnet applied to the
human body increases blood flow, improving the
body’s ability to heal afflicted areas
and carry away toxins, speeding up the its natural
healing process.
It’s a hot debate in sports medicine
these days. Magnetic
pain relief devices
are popping up on shelves all over the place,
in use by elite athletes and the elderly alike.
Some people claim that it works and some argue
that it’s all psychological. Although
no conclusive studies have been done on this
topic, there’s some convincing evidence
supporting the benefits of magnet therapy...
and lots of skeptics. Here’s what both
sides have to say about it:
It Does:
“This is not magic. There
is nothing mystical about this. We have tested
magnets on more than 5000 patients and there
is no doubt – the treatment works.”
-Robert Holcombe, M.D., Professor of Neurology
at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
“I’ve used hundreds
of pain relieving products from all over the
world, and biomagnetic therapy products have
given me the best results.”
-Kurt Angle, 1996 Olympic Gold Medal for Wrestling
“I know what a difference
magnets have made in my life. I’d like
to help anyone else I can to feel this great.”
-Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins Quarterback
“Bioflex medical magnets
applied to a localized painful area delivering
static magnetic fields of 300 to 500 gauss over
a pain trigger point results in significant
and prompt relief of pain.”
-Carlos Vallbona, MD, Carlton F. Hazelwood,
PhD, Gabor Jurida, MD, Baylor University College
of Medicine
It Doesn’t
“Application of one variety
of permanent magnet had no effect on our small
group of subjects with chronic low back pain.”
Edward A. Collacott, MD; John T. Zimmerman,
PhD; Donald W. White, PT; Joseph P. Rindone,
PharmD (Journal of the American Medical Association.
2000;283:1322-1325)
“The magnetic foil offered
no advantage over the plain insole.”
-Caselli MA, Clark N, Lazarus S, Velez Z, Venegas
L, Department of Orthopedic Sciences, New York
College of Podiatric Medicine (Journal of American
Podiatry: 87(01): 11-16, 1997)
“The use of a magnet for
reducing pain attributed to carpal tunnel syndrome
was no more effective than use of the placebo
device.”
-Richard Carter; Thomas Hall; Cheryl B. Aspy,
PhD; and James Mold, MD, MPH (Journal of Family
Practice: 51(01) 1-2002)
It seems that the people who swear by magnet
therapy do it based on emotions, while the skeptics
include those who actually conducted research
on it. Does this make it seem like a psychological
remedy? Maybe, but who cares? If it works, that’s
all that really matters to a person in pain.
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Before you buy:
Magnets are made with a wide range of strength
levels, measured in gauss. Little research has
been done on what a “safe” level
for therapeutic use may be for prolonged use,
but keep in mind that, while the average refrigerator
magnet measures at about 60 gauss, an MRI scan
subjects a person to about 50,000 gauss without
causing harm. What’s safe for you? Ask
your physician.
NOTE OF CAUTION: Magnets
should not be used by pregnant women or people
with pacemakers or implants.
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