Magnetic Therapy: 10 Facts You'll Never Hear From Your Doctor
By: whyamirich
Accepted in many cultures and areas of the world for many years, the application of magnetic therapy is gaining popularity in the United States. Although it's considered an alternative therapy, and many studies show it's effectiveness, many medical doctors are still ill-informed about magnets.
In addition, many less than reputable folks have come along in the last ten or so years making outrageous claims and taking money for them. All this may have left you a little perplexed about whether magnetic therapy works, and whether it can work for you.
Magnetic therapy has touched a large audience world wide. It's been estimated that over 120 million people (2000 figures) use some form of magnetic therapy to reduce pain and inflammation or treat other ailments.
Ten things you'll want to know about magnet therapy are discussed below.
1. At New York Medical College in 1999, researchers tested the pain relief capabilities of magnets. They found that nine in 10 diabetic patients with nerve pain found relief with magnets. Since only three out of 10 with fake magnets experienced relief, the researchers recommended magnets for all patients experiencing nerve pain.
2. As effective as morphine? Vanderbilt neurologist Dr. Robert Holcombe worked for many years relieving back pain with static magnets. The pain relief, he said, can be as effective as a dose of morphine.
3. Between 2001 and 2003, a study of 194 women and men suffering from osteoarthritis of the hip or knee showed that wearing magnetic bracelets reduced their pain. Experts agree, however, that magnetic jewelry works locally, and you should not rely on a bracelet for lower body pain.
4. Studies have shown that magnetic pulses relieve severe depression. Researchers in this field say that the pulses activate cells deep within the brain.
5. Dr. Michael Weintraub reported that a study of 375 diabetics who wore a magnetic device for one month showed that the magnets were "equal to or better than that from drugs." This was compared to a control group who were given a sham device with no magnetic properties.
6. Pulsed magnetic fields affect bones and tissue, and they are often used to help heal muscle tears, knee pain and neck pain.
7. In a 1997 study of magnets and severe post-polio pain, researchers at the University of Houston tested 50 patients. The study was considered a success. To prevent the placebo effect, half of the participants were given fake magnets, and the other half used static diskmagnets at the site of their pain. The real magnets cut the pain by more than half, but the fake ones had very little effect.
8. We know that magnetic fields affect living tissue. Researchers at Yale have shown that pulsed magnetic fields reduce the "voices that schizophrenics hear.
9. Magnetic therapy experts have stated that magnets need to be worn for at least 3 to 6 weeks before relief is felt.
10. Dr. Ron Lawrence used magnets to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. In a 22 patient study, 91 percent of the patients showed improvement after using magnets for carpal tunnel syndrome. Since this condition affects the nerves, success was determined by measuring nerve transmission.
Study after study has shown that magnet therapy can help with many conditions, including: neck, shoulder, and back pain, fibromyalgia, headaches, and even reducing the side effects of chemotherapy.
As a method of self-treatment, it remains that using magnetic therapy for pain relief is the most popular application.|As a number of medical doctors have publically noted, the popularity of magnets in certain cultures after many years of usage is a testament to their effectiveness.|So, too, is the world wide volume of sales of magnetic products.
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