What Is Magnetic Field Therapy?

Magnetic field therapy involves the use of magnets to treat illnesses, restore health and deal with everyday complaints that don't seem to respond well to other forms of medical treatment. There is a great deal of controversy surrounding the use of magnets for healing, but this hasn't prevented both customers and practitioners from trying it.

Significance

• While there is no known study proving the effectiveness of magnetic field therapy, natural health practitioners have been using it for centuries with mixed results. In most cases, magnets seem to have at least some kind of impact in conditions related to joint problems and chronic pain, although they are also frequently used to treat migraines, muscle injuries and even depression.

Types

• There are basically three ways of using magnets to treat medical problems. For those attempting self-care, the most common way is to apply static magnets to a treatment area for long periods of time, such as magnetic shoe soles used to treat foot and leg pain. When a medical professional is involved, magnetic therapy is usually done through either electrically-charged magnets, which are applied over an area for short periods of time. In some cases, medical professionals combine magnet therapy and acupuncture.

Considerations

• Magnetic therapy is thought to work by directly affecting the energy streams that run through the body, helping to align these with electromagnetic fields. They are meant to restore imbalances caused by stress or emotional issues and to improve the chances for the body to heal itself. Even practitioners of these therapies admit that there is no classic explanation for how magnet therapy works.

Features

• Magnets are available in a variety of sizes and strengths, from 200 to 5,000 Gauss (the unit used to measure magnet strength). Most therapeutic magnets used by medical practitioners are in the range of 500 to 1,000 Gauss, especially if they are applied directly on the skin. For magnets used in insoles, mattresses or other devices, the number usually goes up.

Warning

• Magnet therapy should not be used by those with implanted electronic devices, such as pacemakers or defibrillators. It should also be avoided by pregnant women, as there are no studies concerning the possible dangers. Children and people with blood disorders should also avoid the use of magnets. Any contact with open wounds should be avoided, as magnets tend to draw blood to the area and can intensify bleeding.