What is Magnetic Therapy?
Magnetic therapy is an alternative to medical practice that uses static magnets to relieve health concerns such as pain. Ordinary therapeutic magnets come in different forms including shoe inserts, rings, bracelets, and more. Therapeutic magnetic clothing and mattresses are also launched and available in the market. Well-conducted studies from the past years show that static magnetic devices have fewer or more benefits. However, the scientific evidence that commercially therapeutic magnet works are lacking. Despite that, these devices are still prevalent in the market.
Different Types of Magnetic Therapy
In this therapy, the patient will touch the magnet. It comes in magnetized jewelry or bracelet form. Magnetic bandage, magnetic shoe insole, and magnetic mattress are used in this therapy.
It is also known as electromagnetic therapy. The magnets that are used in this therapy are electrically charged. Electromagnetic therapy treatment also uses an electric pulse.
The magnets that are used in this therapy will go in the same direction in which the acupuncturist will focus on your skin. The most common skin direction where the magnets are used are energy channels and pathways.
How Magnetic Therapy Works?
Magnetic therapy do not have a role in treatment or diagnosis of a cancer. There are many theories about this therapy whether it has effect on a human’s body. People also believe that magnets can be used for correcting the body’s energy field, ions, and molecules disruption. However, scientific evidence does not support this claim. There are studies that magnetic therapy may modulate the transport of ion, neuronal, and related cell activity. However, the significance of the said findings are still not known.
Magnetic therapy is used by patients to alleviate pain caused by arthritis, sciatica, neuropathy, and fibromyalgia. Many benefits that are said to be from this therapy are similar with placebo. There are some magnetic technologies that are evaluated for potential reduction of depression or pain such as transcranial magnetic simulation and pulsed magnetic therapy. But these technologies are different from magnetic products offered in the market.
Benefits of Magnetic Therapy
Magnetic therapy is used by patients to relieve pain due to post-polio syndrome, muscle strains, and arthritis. This therapy is also used for providing many health benefits. Studies also shows that the said therapy is alternative to treating the symptoms of different disease including multi sclerosis, bone injury, genital pain, and more. The purported benefits and effects of this therapy by practitioners are the following:
- Stress relief
- Restful sleep
- Increased circulation for old injuries
- Reducing inflammation
- Improving immune function
- Pain cessation
However, evidences for the purported benefits are lacking.
Patient Warning and Side Effects
- Magnetic devices such as braces, necklaces, and bracelets should be removed from a patient’s body before getting an X-ray or MRI.
- FDA and other consumer protection agencies have prosecuted magnetic device and therapy marketers for unsupported health benefit claims.
Magnetic therapies should not be used for patients that are pregnant, have an insulin pump, or have a cardiac pacemaker.
Side Effects of Magnetic Therapy
Magnetic therapy has side effects including:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Pain
However, these side effects are rare. Low-intensity magnets that are regularly used is safe. World Health Organization states that magnets with up to 2 Tesla magnetic field is safe to use.
Therapeutic Magnet Research
Generally, there are three theories about the magnet’s application in the human body.
- Magnetic jeweleries such as bracelets has an effect on the body’s energy flow.
- Acupuncture points or painful areas are applied with either north and south pole of a magnet.
- Therapeutic magnets are placed on a specific body point including injury area, joints, or over the nerves.
The third approach show above is thoroughly researched to support the claim. Upon researching about therapeutic magnetic device, using this therapy has important aspect to consider including comfort and magnets to be used.
All magnets are bipolar because of its north and south pole. Sometimes, unipolar is used in magnetic therapy to describe a bipolar magnet that uses one polar directly in a human body. Therapeutic magnets that uses both south and north poles directly in the body is described as multipolar.
The array of the four therapeutic magnets with positive poles have completely aided the limited firing within 4 minutes and 30 seconds. On the other hand, the array of four therapeutic magnets with negative poles have successfully blocked 50% of potential actions within 10 minutes.
Materials that are Used in a Magnetic Therapy Device
| Magnetic Material | Energy Product (MGOe) | Rating |
| Rubberized Flexible | 0.5 – 1.5 | Very Weak |
| Ceramic | 1.5 – 3.5 | Moderate |
| Rare Earth Neodymium | 30 – 50 | Very Strong |
Conclusion
Magnetic therapy is widely used for relieving pain that is caused by different diseases. It may create a molecular action that helps in reducing inflammation while improving its rejuvenating capacity. Research and studies show that the right magnetic therapy devices as well as proper methodology and usage may provide more effectiveness.