Magnetic Therapy, The Facts (and Some Myths)

Is magnet therapy regarded yet as a mainstream therapy? I consider it is not and through this series of articles I hope to raise awareness by examining a number of issues that have stood in the way of mass acceptance.

There is a useful parallel to be drawn between magnetic therapy and acupuncture. Acupuncture today is an accepted alternative therapy but 20 or 30 years ago it was regarded with deep suspicion. So what has happened to make it so popular now that many conventional health clinics have a professional acupuncturist on hand to provide the therapy?

Well, the passage of time has allowed communication of the obvious benefits actual patients have enjoyed by having a wide variety of symptoms relieved. If one reads the information available at http://acupuncture.com/ the science behind acupuncture is still largely theoretical and involves “the common ground shared among meridian system, chakra system and modern sciences” Basically, acupuncture is a successful discipline that encourages the body to heal itself.

(It is worth noting here that the general description of what acupuncture does, includes words such as “electromagnetic fields” and “polarity”. Terms which also are used in any consideration of magnetic therapy.)

So, acupuncture has become accepted mainly because of anecdotal results and any number of successful blind trials. Virtually the same situation that magnetic therapy finds itself in today!

The ‘sceptics’ and ‘doubters’ will tell you there is no basis on which magnet therapy can work; but they said the same words with regard to acupuncture all those years ago. They will tell you there is no clinical proof that magnetic therapy does anything. This too is untrue, but like anything it depends on how tests are carried out and what is being measured.

It is also good to keep in mind; these are both ‘alternative therapies’. Alternative, to what? To the medical and veterinary establishment who maintain they have the monopoly on curing all biological bodies with drugs and surgery and radiation. (I acknowledge there are dedicated individual health professionals and vets, who do have wellness as their main priority for us and our animals.) There have been many occasions down the ages when new innovations and discoveries have been discredited by those with a vested interest in their failure.

Further fuel for the sceptics and doubters rhetoric is that there are many companies and individuals ‘out there’ who, looking to jump on a band, will sell you a product that may be totally inappropriate for your needs. ‘Dealers’ who sell magnetic therapy items have, in my experience little or no knowledge of how the therapy works or able to provide help and advice as to the correct application. It is these people who generally cannot be bothered to find out, will tell you, “it is not known why magnets work only that they do”. This is untrue and in my next article I will examine why and how magnets effect the functioning of the biological body.

By Barry Dench

How Magnetic Therapy can help break the Poor Sleep Cycle

Dear Back Pain Sufferer,

Can you remember a time, when you actually had a good nights sleep and woke up feeling refreshed? If you’re struggling to remember, then chances are, you can probably relate to Katie’s story. Read on..

Katie Blake, age 39, a married mother of two from Somerset, UK, began suffering from chronic back pain after a near fatal car accident which occurred in January 2006. She has recently been feeling very low, due to lack of sleep caused by her back condition. When asked how her back pain had been affecting her sleep, here’s what she had to say,

“Since suffering with chronic back pain after the accident, I’ve found that I constantly toss and turn from one side to another just to try and get some relief.

There are nights when the pain seems so unbearable, almost as though my lower back is splitting in two; that trying to change sides literally leaves me in tears. So, I prop myself up with cushions and try to force myself to lie still on my back, only to wake up as stiff as a board the next morning.

When you’ve got to get up early, to sort out two young kids on after virtually no sleep at all, well, what can I say, it’s no laughing matter is it!”

Unfortunately, Katie’s story is not an isolated one. In fact, just like you, she is among one of the thousands of chronic back pain sufferers, whose quality of sleep is affected in a negative way, by their pain.

Two Thirds Of Back Pain Sufferers Have Sleep Trouble

A recent study conducted by the National Sleep Federation revealed that:

? As many as two thirds of chronic back pain sufferers have sleep trouble.

? The more severe the pain, the more likely it is to affect sleep

? Disrupted sleep can make the pain feel worse

? Traditional pain relief medication, such as analgesics can disrupt the sleep patterns and make getting to sleep more difficult.

Vicious Cycle

So as you can see, it’s pretty much a vicious cycle where you find it difficult to get to sleep because of the pain and the less sleep you get, the worse the pain feels.

Assuming you’ve been in the position, where you’ve experienced insomnia; you’re probably familiar with the effects it can have on your body, such as:

* Feeling un-refreshed and lacking in energy the next morning

* Poor concentration levels

* Feeling irritable

* Impaired ability to think and speak

In a moment, I would like to offer you a glimmer of hope in the form of a natural therapy that might just help you break ‘the more pain equals less sleep cycle’, that you’ve probably become accustomed to.

Therapeutic Powers

Today, I’d like to share information with you, about a therapy that promotes the deep and restorative sleep that has been eluding you all this time. I’m talking about the natural therapeutic powers of Magnetic Therapy.

You’re probably wandering what Magnetic Therapy can do for you; well, let me begin by telling you what it is.

Magnetic therapy can be defined as a safe, natural and non-invasive method of applying high strength magnetic fields to the body for therapeutic purposes. It is a form of complementary therapy based medicine used to treat certain medical conditions by exposure to permanent or pulsed magnetic fields.

It is truly a time-tested therapy, which has been around since 2000 BC. The Ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Indians and Greeks were among the first to use it and give recognition to its’ therapeutic benefits.

I feel it’s important to say that Magnetic Therapy isn’t used as some sort of mystical cure for ailments or diseases. Instead, it’s natural forces are used to kick-start your bodies own systems in to action. Next, we look at how it does this.

When high strength magnets are placed directly above the site of injury or near a major artery, they generate a localised Magnetic Field that is powerful enough to penetrate right through the skin and bones, down to the cells.

This magnetic field also triggers a chemical response, which causes the iron content in your blood to become responsive to it. This reaction results in improved blood circulation. One of the functions of blood, is to transport oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the cells, tissues and vital organs in the body.

Consequently, as the blood circulation system begins to improve, the knock on effect is that more oxygen and nutrients are transported directly to where it’s needed, i.e., to the damaged cells and soft tissues at the site of pain or injury.

On receiving the required fresh supply of blood, oxygen and nutrients, the bodies own healing processes can begin to work on repairing the damage to the cells and soft tissues at an accelerated rate. Whilst the bodies essential repair works get under way, the brain sends out signals to release the internal painkillers i.e. the Endorphins that get on with the job of relieving the pain.

As well as stimulating the bodies healing processes, the Magnetic Field also relieves pain, by tackling any inflammation present. It does this by drawing out excess fluid and toxins from the surrounding tissues and then expelling them on route via the Liver and Kidneys. Once the excess fluid and toxins are removed, the swelling will begin to reduce.

Now, you recall that earlier, I mentioned about Magnetic Therapy ‘promoting deep restorative sleep’, well stay tuned, because we’re going to get into that next.

Magnetic Therapy In Your Sleep

Here’s a fact for you,

Scientific research conducted by a key specialist in the area of Magnetic Therapy, namely, Dr. W.H. Philpott MD of Oklahoma has shown that effects of magnets are at their most powerful at night, and here’s why. Every living thing on this Earth is dependent on Magnetic Energy. In fact, the earth itself is a huge magnet, and as such produces natural Negative Magnetic Energy force.

During the day, we are exposed to the Positive Magnetic Force from the Sun and Negative Magnetic Force at night from the Earth.

The following explains the effects that each type of energy has on the human body.

Effects of Magnetic Energy

Positive Magnetic Energy from the Sun

* Promotes deep and restorative sleep

* Supports the healing process

* Decreases inflammation and relieves pain

* Increases cellular oxygen

Negative Magnetic Energy from the Earth

* Stimulates wakefulness

* Inhibits the healing process

* Can increase inflammation and aggravate pain

* Decreases cellular oxygen

According to Dr. W.H. Philpott’s theory on the effects of Magnetic Energy, the Pineal gland, located in the centre of the head, acts as a sort of control centre for the immune system, hormones, and enzymes in our bodies.” This gland actually contains Magnetic crystals, and is acutely sensitive to the effects of Magnetic Energy.

The Pineal gland secretes the sleep hormone Melatonin throughout the night, when the Earth’s Negative Magnetic force is dominant.

The body requires high levels of Melatonin to enable a good night’s sleep.

Significant advances in magnet technology have enabled scientists to duplicate the Earths negative energy and harness it in form of high strength magnets.

Therefore, when you use magnets to surround yourself in a Magnetic Field at night, the effects are intensified for two reasons, 1) The Earth’s Negative Magnetic Energy is at it’s most powerful and 2) The body is in its’ resting and healing phase. As such, you are able to benefit from:

* A deep restorative sleep that will leave you feeling energised and refreshed when you awake

* Improved circulation that will feed your cells with those vital nutrients and oxygen to enable faster healing

* Reduced if not eradicated aches, pains and inflammation

* The effects of the bodies resting stage, which allows the body to heal itself more efficiently at night.

Hopefully by now, you can begin to see how using Magnetic Therapy can help you break, the vicious more pain less sleep cycle.

In addition, it may interest you to know that there are self-help Magnetic Products readily available that are specifically designed, to provide this nighttime therapy. They are Magnetic Bed Pads or Magnetic Mattress Covers. These products have a series of high strength magnets sewn inside them. In addition, they have been clinically proven to be a safe and effective form of natural pain relief.

So, as I bring this article to an end I just want to say, don’t let back pain continue rob you of the deep restorative sleep that your body so desperately needs. Give Magnetic Therapy a try, who knows, it could work for you.

Donna Gray

DISCLAIMER

* The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only. The author of this article is not a medically trained physician; therefore, any theories or suggestions put forward are intended to supplement and not replace the advice of medically or legally trained professionals.

* All matters concerning your health require medical supervision.

* Please ensure that you consult your GP prior to adopting any suggestions put forward by Magnetics 4 Back Pain, as well as about any condition that may require medical diagnosis or medical attention.

* Magnetics 4 Back Pain is not responsible in any manner whatsoever for any injury sustained either directly or indirectly from information put forward in this article.

By Donna Gray

Modern Magnetic Therapy

Magnetic therapy is a form of therapy that has been used for many years for a variety of different purposes, including pain relief, prevention of aging and the relief of a range of symptoms from a range of ailments. The problems that the therapy helped to alleviate are still present in the modern world, therefore it is logical that the method used to ease these problems before can still be used today. There are many products available today which can perform this magnetic therapy. Each group of products has a different design and can help with diverse problems, normally in the area around the place where the product is worn. Magnetic therapy has general benefits that most products will provide you with in addition to the specialized benefits that are received from the therapy.

The general benefits of magnetic therapy include enlarging the blood vessels, thereby increasing the rate of circulation within your body; this in turn helps to increase the level of oxygen in your blood and also helps to flush out toxins that have accumulated. These are believed to be the root causes of the general pain relief that can occur once you start using these products.

There are many categories of products which can perform the magnetic therapy, including magnetic jewelry and magnetic wraps, magnetic car seats and magnetic insoles, pulsed magnets as well as magnets for water and magnets for health and beauty. Within these general groupings are many smaller groups of products which are normally grouped by what the product is and whereabouts on the body it is placed. Examples of this are back wraps within the magnetic wrap category and necklaces within the magnetic jewelry category.

The area of you body that you place your magnetic therapy device on will be more strongly affected; the closer the magnetic product is to it. If you wish to relieve pain in the ankle then two of the most appropriate options for you are an anklet or a magnetic ankle wrap. These can relieve numbness of the lower leg and can relieve pain in the joints by keeping the joints dry in addition to relieving pain.

Magnetic therapy can also be used for cosmetic purposes since it can dilate the blood vessels, toxins are flushed away and if the magnet used is a facial magnet, for instance a magnetic facial mask, then toxins can be flushed away from the facial area and, due to the fact that toxins cause wrinkles, the therapy can leave you looking younger and have a face which feels refreshed and rejuvenated.

The magnets you use should be chosen with care and consideration of what functions you need the magnetic therapy products you buy to perform. The magnet you buy should perform the functions you need and preferably a little extra, but ensure that you are buying an appropriate product because while a magnetic necklace can benefit you greatly, it will not aid a pain in your ankle as well as an anklet or ankle wrap. Above all, relax and enjoy the benefits of the magnetic therapy flowing through your body.

By Juliette

Magnetic Therapy for Pain Relief

Magnetic Therapy is making a comeback worldwide, companies are selling magnetic underlays for all sizes of beds, and they come in Cotton or Genuine Sheeps Wool.

There are small sized units, to fit on the wrist, fit on the waistband of underwear, belts to fit around your back, your knees or just about anywhere that you are likely to suffer pain. Some ladies are using a magnet that fits on the waistband of underwear at the front, when they are suffering menstrual pain, and they swear that it eases the pain.

It has been claimed as a drug free alternative for insomnia, headaches and migraines, by sleeping with a magnetic pad in the pillow, it reacts on the Pineal Gland which is in the center of the brain and responds to a magnetic field.

Magnetic Therapy, is not new, it has been around for about 3000, years, it was supposed to have started at that time in India. The red dot worn by some Indian women on their forehead, was originally made from a magnetic powder. It was put on a important nerve point midway between the two eyes, an area that some believe is the third eye, it supposedly calmed down the brain and reduced stress, thereby keeping the ladies looking beautiful.

Magnets work on the circulatory system by making the blood flow faster and at the same time refining the blood. This helps the body to dispose of waste and toxins. A number of health problems are frequently due to a sluggish circulatory system and magnets appear to overcome a lot of these problems.

Science has shown that by placing a magnetic field next to the body, a bioelectric activity occurs. At the cellular level, it is the trace elements of Iron and Potassium in the blood that are drawn to the magnetic field causing a mild effect in the blood stream.

A large number of people feel heat when sleeping on a magnetic underlay, this is quite normal, this increases vasculation, oxygenation, balancing of energy flow and stimulation of the Lymphatic System.

Magnetic Therapy today is being used to treat many illnesses and painful conditions, it is a Natural Therapy, that really has no adverse side effects, you should increase your intake of pure water, to help the waste and toxins flush from the body, you might feel a little hot, but if you are in a cold climate, this is probably a beneficial side effect.

Scientists are researching the therapy and the benefits of treating colds and flu arthritis, reduction of stress and nervous problems. It has even been tried on people with partial damage to the spinal cord.

A number of famous people are using Magnetic Therapy, including Hollywood Stars and even one ex US President. Magnets have become an interest to the medical world. The powerful effects of healing through magnetism on thousands of patients, has caused some doctors to have another look at the situation.

Magnets themselves of course don’t heal anything; they stimulate the body into healing itself.

The body has a Natural Healing system installed at conception, this is the Immune System, but if it does no harm, why not give this system a bit of a boost along. The Immune System has quite a struggle in our modern day, fighting the effects of Chemicals, Pesticides, Herbicides gasses and a million other things that we eat, drink and breathe daily.

By Alfred Jones

Magnetic Therapy, How And Why Magnets Effect The Body

Have you ever read or have been told that "it is not known why magnets work"? Well, this is untrue. All human and animal bodies are electromagnetic in nature and this fact is closely allied to the chemical balance of the body which can be in either a healthy or an unhealthy state.

It is now known scientifically that a healthy body contains fluids that are slightly alkaline and that an unhealthy body is acidic. A poor diet can make the body acidic and in this state all sorts of dis-eases will thrive. (Dr John Millward MD, "Your Life in the Balance", available on our website.)

It is also known that at damaged sites in the body, exists a positive electrical charge which affects both the chemical balance the electrical balance in the area resulting in pain. In order to effect healing, the body's own systems send a negative electrical charge to the area. (Dr Robert Becker, "The Body Electric")

This healing action of the body is easily restricted by poor diet, lifestyle, alcohol, drugs etc. There is also a lot of evidence of something called "Magnetic Deficiency Syndrome" being a major contributor to restricting the body's ability to respond to illness. I will be looking in depth at this syndrome in a later article.

It is now firmly established that a negative magnetic field, provided by a geomagnetic north pole magnetic field (the same as the Earth's North Pole), is the most natural way of providing much needed support for the body's own immune system.

Dr W Philpott MD, a practitioner of magnet therapy for over 40 years explains that negative magnetic fields oxygenate and alkalise by aiding the body's defences and helping to relieve pain. Further, they combat inflammation and infection and enhance deep restorative sleep.

This latter point is extremely important. In order to combat maladies that result from the stress of our current lifestyles, the correct amount of good quality sleep is essential. Combine this with the possibility of at least reducing the amount of powerful drugs taken and what results is a completely natural complementary therapy.

It is probably wise at this stage just to say that anyone reading this article that is undergoing a course of treatment with a health professional should not stop the treatment but consider using magnetic therapy in support. Also, magnetic therapy should not be used if any electronic implants are present in the body.

Given the correct choice and placement of magnetic device, this is probably the most effective alternative therapy available. Typical successful application results in 80 to 90% of cases, higher with some forms of dis-ease. Magnet therapy can be applied by you whenever and wherever needed. Modern materials technology has produced small powerful inexpensive magnets which can be used anywhere on the body and can be moved about to find the best positions. Sleeping on magnets provides a most efficacious application.

In the next article in this series, I will be looking at the subject of magnets, their strength measurement and a complete explanation of polarity.

By Barry Dench