does magnet therapy work?

Question

i have had a bad back for about 20 years, with absolutely no help from the medical faculty, i read an article on magnet therapy, a woman with a bad back sleeps on a magnetised matress and it has ' cured ' her

Answer 1

Magnet therapy, or magnetic therapy, or magnotherapy is a pseudoscientific alternative medicine claiming that certain medical disorders can be effectively treated by exposure to magnetic fields. There is no scientific evidence for the claim but it may act as a placebo in some people. Adherents believe that magnetic fields from permanent magnets placed close to the body can cause bones to heal faster, relieve pain, and perform other forms of healing. It is most commonly used for joint disorders and back problems.

Proponents of magnet therapy claim that subjecting certain parts of the body to doses of magnetic "energy" (or fields) has a beneficial effect. This belief has led to the popularization of an industry involving the sale of magnetic-based products for "healing" purposes: magnetic bracelets and jewelry; magnetic straps for wrists, ankles, and the back; shoe insoles, mattresses, and magnetic blankets (blankets with magnets woven into the material); and even water that has been "magnetized"

Criticism of these products focuses on scientific facts about magnets, including the claim that the typical magnet used in a bracelet purchased over-the-counter is not powerful enough to penetrate human skin, let alone strong enough to have a lasting effect on muscle tissue, bones, blood vessels, or organs. Notably, some people working in physics research work for hours per day with their whole body immersed in magnetic fields far stronger than those from the bracelets, and (if they observe precautions regarding pacemakers) are no more or less healthy than their peers. There are handheld neodymium magnets that produce a field of over one tesla and are often used in various hobbies. Household devices such as a garbage disposal, or an electric razor, also produce significant magnetic fields when in use.

No magnet healing product manufacturers have demonstrated scientifically that they actually achieve what they claim, and most cannot even agree on what exactly the magnetic fields do. Some claim that the magnets help to circulate the blood by some interaction with the iron in hemoglobin, a major component of red blood cells. However, in its ionised form, iron is not ferromagnetic. If it were, use of magnetic resonance imaging would instantaneously kill patients.[1] Still others claim that the magnets can restore the body's electromagnetic energy balance. There are also claims that the south pole of a magnet acts different on the body than the north pole. The list of ways that manufacturers purport that magnetic fields affect the body is almost endless.

It should be noted that many, if not most, of the websites that provide information and resources promoting the benefits of magnetic therapy belong to individuals and companies that profit from the sale of magnetic therapy products.

Answer 2

You might have received some serious and some funny answers making you confused. The only thing you need to know is that if some treatment can cure you without any side effect is the best treatment. THEN WHY NOT TRY?

However, about magnetotheraphy, it is stated that since your blood contains iron the magnet sets right the disorders of the blood, which cause relief. Whether it is scientifically proved or not is another matter. As this alternative treatment is not very widely known, it may take time to establish.

Some persons may treat as a quackery, but they must not forget that when the allopathic treatments started the same was also in the stage of quackery and no scietific proof was there to the effectiveness of the allopathic treatment. Even a long research and development in allopathy has not yet been able to ensure saving of lives. Some times it causes adverse effects also. Side effects of allopathy are most common. Even now in the medical history at one time a medicine is treated as a very effective medicine and at another time it is banned due to enormous side effects. Even in this most developed stage of allopathy, still hit and trial methods are being used. Some patients get relief, the others even depart for the next world due to reactions of the same medicine. Pennincillin was used very widely about 45-50 years back and now it is being used rarely, and that too after thorough checking whether the same is causing or not any reaction to the patient.

So, nothing is wrong to try magnetotheraphy, as it has no side effects. It can cure but cannot do harm to any person. MY ADVICE IS, YOU MUST TRY FOR BACK PAINS OR OTHER BODY PAINS, ETC.

Answer 3

ok. i have tried magnets (for fun) and it does have an effect on your body, u can really feel it after 5 min (which was for me, high body temperature, more blood circulation, the heart is faster and so on..) Scientifics say that the magnetic field cannot penetrate the skin, but i am sure it has an effect. friends and family tried this and they also felt something, it is not definitely a placebo thing because i didnt tell them what would happen. apparently women are more affected than men.

but then, i am not really sure if it is good for the health. i just tried it for a few nights, and the magnets i had were very small. this is really a black field for modern medecine, very much like chinese medicine. some doctors said it cured uncurable patients, but there are no official studies on the matter. and because of that, you can find a lot of crooks and foolish people, especially on the internet, promising you miracles.

i would say try it. i do not guarantee anything. u have everything to gain from it. but before, i would check out on the avalaible products and do some extensive research. some are very expensive. some do not work at all. i got the magnets from www.alexchiu.com for example, the website look fake but there are a lot of testimonials. there are not expensive, he even advises u how to do it yourself at home for a dozen dollars.

i repeat, i do not guarantee anything. it is an unknown field of modern medicine. u have nothing to loose though.

Answer 4

I seriously doubt it. There have been a lot of articles discussing it. I would lean toward the ones that cite real medical experts and studies instead of those where average people talk about their 'cure'. It was just a few years ago that people were shocking themselves with those little gas grill electric switches.

Here's a quote from a good article, "There is no scientific basis to conclude that small, static magnets can relieve pain or influence the course of any disease. In fact, many of today's products produce no significant magnetic field at or beneath the skin's surface." http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/QA/magnet.html

Answer 5

I've been subject to reinjuring my back over the past five years. At times it has brought me to tears and put me in the ER. The last time it happened, someone brought me a back support w/magnets and an ice pack inside.

All I can say is I was back up to snuff w/in 24 hours, with no medication. I have had an arthritic wrist for 18 years and now wear magnet braclets - first time I have been pain free in that time.

I can't say they'll work on everyone, but it's been a dream come true for me. Good Luck.

Answer 6

I haven't heard anything abou that. I am not a doctor either. Have you tried mangosteen juice? It is a powerful anti inflammitory and there is all kinds of science to back it up. It is worth looking into.

Answer 7

get flat sheets of magnets and cut them to the size of your feet put them in your shoes all of you nerve ends in the bottom of your feet.i have had mine for three years change them about every month it works

Answer 8

Give me a break...Quackery at its best. Why don't they line up all these quacks and shoot them?

Answer 9

I've heard about that too, but I don't know if it's true.

Answer 10

Try it! But, if you hear a duck quacking, you've been had!