Magnetic bracelets, like magnetic necklaces, shoe insoles and other clothing items, expose the wearer to a localized electromagnetic field. Some members of the alternative healing community argue that magnets can relieve pain, promote wound healing, and relieve chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis, notes Linda Page, naturopath, holistic nutritionist, and author of "Linda Page's Health Healing." A number of mainstream and alternative treatment modalities make similar claims, and may be appropriate alternatives to wearing a magnetic bracelet. Always consult a doctor before trying any of these alternatives as a treatment for a medical condition.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy
Electromagnetic field therapy is a medical technology that has demonstrated positive effects on bone healing, wound healing and pain management. In a 2010 study conducted by Christine Rohde and colleagues at the Colombia University Medical Center in New York, patients who had just received breast reduction surgery also received pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. These patients reported a 300 percent decrease in their pain levels compared with breast reduction patients who did not receive electromagnetic therapy. The study, published in the journal "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery," further speculated that pulsed electromagnetic field therapy would also speed wound healing.
Qigong
If you're looking for a more esoteric way to impact your personal electromagnetic field, try qigong, the ancient Chinese exercise system that helps to increase the flow of qi or vital energy throughout your body. Qigong exercises include deep, slow breathing, a meditative focus and gentle stretching to open the internal channels that draw qi, according to the National Institutes of Health Senior Health website. Some qigong exercises are especially formulated to stretch the wrists and hands, increasing circulation and potentially helping to reduce the pain associated with conditions like arthritis.
Meditation
Meditation is another practice that offers pain relief and overall healing benefits. Studies demonstrate that meditation relieves stress, has a positive impact on inflammatory conditions like asthma, and can help with some chronic pain conditions, according to the website of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Most meditation forms use a simple point of focus---like the inhalation and exhalation of breath---to calm the mind and deeply relax the body.
Acupuncture
Another therapy that can clear stagnant qi and potentially increase well-being is, you might want to try acupuncture. This ancient therapy involves inserting thin, hair-like needles into key points---called pressure points or acupoints---throughout the body to induce healing. Western research has yet to explore the full set of claims attached to acupuncture, but there is strong clinical evidence in support of this practice's capacity to relieve pain and quell nausea and vomiting, according to Medline Plus online. If the thought of the needles used in acupuncture scares you, you might try acupressure, a needle free form of pressure point manipulation, or tui na, a Chinese massage therapy that works on muscle tissue and pressure points to relieve pain.
References
- "Linda Page's Healthy Healing;" Linda Page; 2004
- "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery;" Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields; C. Rohde et al.; June 2010
- National Institutes of Health Senior Health: Qi Gong
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Meditation
- Medline Plus: Acupuncture
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