Magnetic therapy is the belief that healing occurs through magnetic energy. The Consumer Warning Network states that magnetic therapy is a $300 million a year industry. This therapy has been used for thousands of years, but has recently been making a comeback with progressive health care practitioners.
History
The Chinese have used magnetic therapy for 2,000 years, writes Mason Service Publishing. The belief is that a magnetic field helps encourage the body to naturally and quickly heal itself. Magnets were believed to block pain by improving blood flow and circulation to the injured tissues to reduce inflammation. Today in many Asian countries, magnetic therapy is a licensed medical practice.
Significance
According to The Magnetic Therapy Council in the article "Uses of Healing Magnets for Common Ailments," research in over 300 hospitals around the world is being conducted to discover if magnetic therapy really works. Some believe that magnetic therapy can treat conditions such as arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, insomnia, migraine, gout and even depression. However, as of now, the Food and Drug Administration does not recognize magnetic therapy as a treatment for medical conditions.
Potential
BBC News published an article in 2007 exploring the possibility of magnets being able to regrow brain cells. Using magnets in the memory region of the brain, New York scientists conducted studies on mice. The research was done for the purpose of treating Alzheimer's disease. The conclusion was hopeful. Although research would need to be conducted on humans, scientists suggest that although this may not be a cure for Alzheimer's disease, it may be a means of prevention.
Considerations
In an article titled "Magnetic Therapy: Cure or Hoax, The Consumer Warning Network states that magnetic therapy is simply false. The article asserts that the human body has an extremely low magnetic field and if it did not, medical equipment such as MRIs would harm the body when undergoing medical tests. It also questions the relevance of magnetic therapy's scientific terminology.
Warning
As stated by MagneticStyle.com, magnets do come with some warnings. Those with pacemakers should not use magnets as a means of pain relief or any type of therapy. Magnets should never be placed over open wounds. If a person is wearing magnets around a computer, it could result in loss of data. Reports of nausea and discomfort have also been documented with the use of magnets.
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