The premise behind magnetic therapy is that the body produces energy fields which can be altered by wearing magnets. Also called magnet therapy or bioenergy therapy, magnetic therapy is considered to be a form of alternative medicine. Alternative medicine practitioners recommend it to treat pain associated with a number of different conditions, but only one medical study, conducted by Baylor College of Medicine, suggests that it is effective at pain relief.
What To Do
Magnet therapy involves wearing magnets. Magnets can be worn for a few moments, or on a more permanent basis depending on the needs of the patient and type of pain relief. Magnets can be affixed to the body using adhesive, or worn as jewelry. Some patients wear magnetic earrings, bracelets, necklaces, belts, or other types of magnet accessories. You can also place magnets in shoes or in your bed.
How It Works
When the body's healthy electromagnetic impulses are distorted by illness, stress, or another disruptive factor, pain occurs. Magnetic therapy is designed to alter these electromagnetic impulses and restore the natural balance. The magnets can correct distortion, and increase oxygen and blood flow. By resolving this distortion, magnet therapy is said to be useful at treating pain associated with migraines, arthritis, cancer, joint inflammation, and various other conditions.
Does It Work?
A study conducted by Baylor College of Medicine suggested that magnet therapy was useful in relieving lingering pain from polio. The American Cancer Society states that this study has been largely discredited in the medical community, and that no reliable studies have indicated that magnet therapy is effective at relieving pain. One problem associated with studies is the difficulty of establishing a placebo group, as study participants are usually easily able to determine whether the device they are wearing is in fact a magnet.
Tags: magnet therapy, associated with, Baylor College, Baylor College Medicine, College Medicine, conducted Baylor, conducted Baylor College