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The Medical Powers of Magnets

People have used magnets as a medical treatment for centuries, particularly for pain relief. Recent research suggests that there may be a scientific basis for the therapeutic use of magnets. However, more research is needed to demonstrate the medical efficacy of magnets, and to understand the mechanisms by which they may work.

  1. History

    • People have used magnets as medicine since ancient times, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). In the fifteenth century, the physician and alchemist Paracelsus reasoned that since magnets attract iron, they might be able to attract diseases and pull them from the body, according to "Skeptical Inquirer." The development of electrical technology in the late nineteenth century increased public interest in electric and magnetic fields, and the therapeutic use of magnets.

    Forms and Uses

    • Today, alternative medicine marketers promote magnets as a treatment for a wide range of health conditions, including foot pain, back pain, arthritis and fibromyalgia. You can purchase shoe insoles, jewelry, mattress pads, bandages, headbands and belts embedded with magnets. Generally, treatment involves placing the magnet in contact with whatever part of the body is painful.

    Proposed Explanations

    • Proposed explanations for magnets' alleged health benefits include blocking pain signals to the brain by changing how nerve cells function; restoring the balance between cell growth and cell death; increasing the flow of blood and delivery of oxygen to tissues; and increasing the temperature of the affected area, according to the NCCAM. As of 2011, none of these explanations has scientific support.

    Research

    • A review of scientific studies of magnets' medical usefulness, undertaken by Yale University and published in "Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America," suggests that magnets may indeed reduce pain. However, more studies involving larger numbers of patients are needed to demonstrate magnets' efficacy and mechanism of action.

    Cautions

    • Most people can apply magnets to their skin safely. However, magnets can interfere with medical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators and insulin pumps. If you use such devices, consult with your health care provider before using magnets for pain relief.

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