The theory behind magnetic therapy

WHY MAGNETIC?

MAGNETIC THERAPY: ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
FOR HOLISTIC HEALTH & WELLNESS

WHAT IS MAGNETIC THERAPY?

Magnetic Therapy, also know as Magnet Therapy or Biomagnetic Therapy, is a body-energy therapy that involves the application of magnets or magnetic fields to the human body for the purpose of healing or health benefits. We’re not talking about any ordinary magnet. A healing magnet or biomagnet is a magnet that is specifically manufactured for the purpose of physical and mental healing.

By enhancing the body’s natural energy fields, Magnetic Therapy is thought to stimulate the metabolism and increase circulation thereby increasing the amount of oxygen delivered to the cells. This natural therapy is used to relieve stress, depression, headaches and pain, to accelerate and promote healing, and to slow disease processes such as cancer and infections.

This alternative therapy dates back to antiquity, yet it is still used in complementary and alternative medicine and today. Magnet Therapy is very advanced in many countries, yet it has only more recently gained popularity here in the United States.

THE HISTORY OF MAGNETIC THERAPY

The history of Magnetic Therapy goes back about four thousand years. It is mentioned in some of the earliest writings in Egypt, India, Greece and China.

The Yellow Emperor’s Book of Internal Medicine from 2000 B.C., one of the early writings of Chinese Medicine, mentions the use of magnetic stones (Lodestone) to therapeutically influence energetically charged points (acupuncture points) and their associated channels (meridians). This was done to balance the body’s subtle energies.

It is said that the stone Queen Cleopatra wore on her forehead was Lodestone also known as Magnetite (a magnetic mineral form of iron oxide). She believed it would keep her young and beautiful.

Records indicate that the Chinese, Indians and Egyptians all believed that physical disease was a result of energetic imbalances. Ancient healers used this holistic remedy to assist the body’s innate ability to balance and self-heal.

Today, Magnetic Therapy is well advanced in China, Japan, India, Australia and Germany and much research has been done. The majority of physicians, here in the United States, have been slow to recognize and embrace it.

More recently, healthcare professionals and holistic practitioners such as acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, and naturopathic doctors are incorporating static magnetic therapy into their practices here in the U.S. They are now realizing how this alternative therapy can assist the body to achieve a state of balance (homeostasis) and holistic health.

HOW DOES MAGNETIC THERAPY WORK?

A common question among those new to Magnet Therapy is “How does Magnetic Therapy work?” Not all experts agree as to how this natural therapy works. There are many different theories and beliefs within the field of Magnetic Therapy. 

Although we have gained a lot of knowledge about magnets and their use as an alternative therapy, we still have much to learn. Scientist and researchers are hard at work to answer this question.

What we do know is that magnets work by emitting a static magnetic field much like that of the Earth’s magnetic field, which is essential for life and is necessary for us to maintain optimal health. The energy field created by biomagnets (healing magnets) assists the physical body and the body’s subtle energies to balance and self-heal.

HOW MAGNETS WORK

In 1954, Linus Pauling won the Nobel Peace Prize in Chemistry for discovering the magnetic properties of hemoglobin, which are the portion of the red blood cells that contains iron.

The most common theory suggests that the magnetic field attracts the iron in the hemoglobin which increases the blood flow circulation. This increase in circulation increases the amount of oxygen available to the body, boosts the immune system and decreases toxins. As a result, pain and inflammation are reduced and the body’s own healing process is facilitated and accelerated.

Perhaps we should take after the ancients, who could only observe this magnetic phenomenon. By accepting the phenomenon, and not getting hung up on the how and the why, they have benefited from this holistic therapy for more than four thousand years.

MAGNETIC THERAPY BACKED BY RESEARCH

Though research has proved the beneficial effects of Magnetic Therapy for both chronic and acute conditions, modern science is still attempting to explain how and why magnets work. I am grateful that Magnet Therapy is no different than using electricity or driving a car; you don’t have to know how it works to reap the benefits.

What is important to note is that researchers have reported that permanent magnets can speed up the body’s natural healing process. They have demonstrated that the application of biomagnets can accelerate post-surgery recovery time and speed the healing of injuries and wounds.

Both clinicians and researchers boast an impressive 80 to 90 percent success rate in pain reduction. Biomagnetic research has also shown that permanent magnets restore energy, boost the immune system, and enhance sleep.

HOLISTIC BENEFITS

This holistic therapy provides physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits beyond pain relief. It can benefit an array of symptoms and health problems such as diabetes, depression, insomnia, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), just to name a few. Due to the balancing effect that Magnetic Therapy has on the body, this alternative therapy can be used to assist one in obtaining holistic health.

MAGNET THERAPY INCREASES ENDORPHIN LEVELS

symptoms of endorphin deficiency you know how debilitating it can be. Or perhaps you’ve been experiencing the symptoms but haven’t known the cause.

There is evidence that the use of biomagnets (healing magnets) increases endorphin levels in the body. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain relievers. Endorphins are pain prohibiting hormones that are naturally produced by your body. Endorphins inhibit pain by binding to the opioid receptors in your brain. They work similarly to opioid pain medications like oxycodone or morphine. Endorphins are commonly referred to as “happy hormones.” Since these natural pain relievers are produced by the body they yield no negative side effects.

Dr. Saul Liss reported that after applying a static magnet to an acupressure point, the endorphin level increased 48 percent from the pre-treatment level. There are approximately two thousand acupuncture points in the body. Even when a magnet is not purposely placed directly on an acupuncture point, it is likely that the magnetic field will affect one or more of these points and the body will release pain relieving endorphins. This is why so many people have turned to Magnetic Therapy for pain relief.

MAGNETIC THERAPY RESEARCH IS STILL ON GOING

Skeptics often claim that the benefits of Magnet Therapy must be due to the placebo effect. However, research has proven that applying biomagnets to the body provides a static magnetic field which can assist the body to balance and self-heal.

Magnetic Therapy benefits are backed by biomagnetic research. Japan, China and many European countries have used Magnet Therapy for centuries, dating back to antiquity, and much research has been done. Here in the United States research has been somewhat limited due to the prevalence of Western Medicine.

Although biomagnets (healing magnets) have not been approved by the FDA as medical devices, over the last few decades this holistic therapy has gained popularity here in the United States and more and more researchers have begun to do research and already many have proved the beneficial effects of Magnetic Therapy for both chronic and acute conditions.

One of the most popular studies done in the United States is commonly referred to as The Baylor Study. The study "Magnet Therapy Reduces Pain in Post-Polio Patients" was done in 1997 by the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. 

Researchers have reported that permanent magnets can speed up the body’s natural healing process. They have demonstrated that the application of biomagnets can accelerate post-surgery recovery time and speed the healing of injuries and wounds.

Both clinicians and researchers boast an impressive 80 to 90 percent success rate in pain reduction. Biomagnetic research has also shown that permanent magnets restore energy, boost the immune system, and enhance sleep.

Many professional athletes credit the use of magnets to enhancing their performance and increasing their endurance. The use of magnets have also been reported to reduce their recovery time. Professional athletes also use this alternative therapy for natural pain relief and to accelerate the healing of sports injuries