Examples of life''s magnetic nature are now plentiful. Many creatures, such as homing pigeons, butterflies, and bees navigate using Earth''s magnetic field. Even humans can roughly sense magnetic direction. These abilities, in part, appear to be mediated through a magnetic substance called magnetite, which has been discovered in the tissue, including the human brain, of many living things. Researchers have found magnetite clusters near the brain''s all-important, magnetically sensitive pineal gland, which secretes hormones affecting the entire body.
Not only are we affected by magnetic fields but we also generate them. For example, scientists can measure the brain and heart''s magnetic fields with instruments called the Magneto encephalograph and magneto cardiogram, respectively.
Life''s magnetic potential is so great that we can even defy gravity under the right circumstances. For example, scientists can levitate frogs by using high-intensity magnetic fields. When subjected to such strong fields, spinning electrons within the frog align themselves to cumulatively create a small magnetic field. Like a compass needle repulsed by a bar magnet, the large external field repels the frog''s small field sufficiently to counteract gravity.
History
Magnetism has always been a part of mankind healing armamentarium. The earliest mention of the magnet as a healing agent is one of the four Vedas on the treatise of medicine? the Atharvaveda.
Many indigenous and ancient civilizations - including the Hebrews, Arabs, Indians, Chinese, Egyptians, and Greeks - used magnets for healing. According to Legend, Cleopatra wore a magnetic amulet on her forehead to preserve her youth; this placement put it near the brain''s magnetically sensitive pineal gland.
One of the more influential figures in magnetic-healing history was the 15th century physician Paracelus, who helped to bring medicine out of the Dark Ages. Supposedly, the inspiration for Goether Dr. Faustus, who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge, Paracelus had visionary insights on the role of energetic forces, including magnetism, in healing. he believed that magnetic force could energize the body and promote self-healing. His work greatly influenced Mesmer.
In the late eighteenth century, Franz Anton Mesmer used bar magnets and hypnotic ''animal magnetism'' (i.e., mesmerization) to treat patients. Due to the controversy surrounding this procedure, France''s King Louis the XVI formed a prestigious commission composed of pre-eminent scientists, including Benjamin Franklin, to investigate Mesmer.
Although this scrutiny ruined Mesmer''s career, in a paradoxical twist of fate, commission member Joseph Guillotin''s invention later beheaded the King, as well as many other commission members. Mesmer died many years later.
Until relatively recently, scientists believed that life was mostly a biochemical process. The idea that magnetic fields could significantly influence living systems seemed far-fetched. Perspectives have shifted rapidly, however, and many scientists now believe that at some level we are fundamentally electromagnetic creatures.
This radical paradigm shift has profound medical implications because modern medicine has focused on biochemical processes. If these processes are influenced by our electromagnetic nature, any healing approach that focuses exclusively on them will ultimately be limited.
In America, magnet use soared after the Civil War. People could even order the devices through the Sears Roebuck catalog. Turn-of-the-century medical texts devoted chapters to the subject. However, as pharmaceutical approaches revolutionized medicine, magnetic therapy lost its appeal - until recently when the limitations of these approaches became more evident.
The magnetic healing renaissance has been remarkable. Millions of people throughout the world now use magnets, sales total more than $2 billion a year, and cost-conscious, some health-insurance companies cover the therapy.
In recent years some well-known athletes have used magnetic therapy for pain relief using Magnets
In terms of healing an area of the body, magnets are placed either on or near the body, where they act to stimulate the cellular and chemical area where the healing is to occur. That is, blood is accelerated to the area, which increases the oxygenation of the blood and dilates the blood vessels, providing additional oxygen and nutrients to the place in need of healing.
In terms of reducing pain, some doctors believe that pain reduction with magnets works similarly to using a heating pad. The magnets are again placed on or near the body, and are used to stimulate nerve endings by acting to interrupt pain signals to the brain. The difference is that heat treatment can be more intense, while magnetic healing is more constant. So, while you cannot wear a heating pad for hours at a time, you can wear a magnetic bracelet every day.
Some supporters of magnetic therapy seem to base their belief on a metaphysical assumption that all illness is due to some sort of imbalance or disharmony in energy. The balance or flow of electromagnetic energy must be restored to restore health, and magnets are thought to be able to do this.
Magnets
Magnetism is created primarily by the spin of electrons within a substance. If the spin of sufficient numbers of electrons is aligned, the substance becomes magnetic. Although iron is readily magnetized because of its many surplus electrons, virtually all substances can be magnetized. Natural magnets: lodestones - were created when iron-containing lava cooled and was magnetized by Earth''s magnetic field.
Most magnets are now made by passing a strong surge of direct-current (DC) electricity through an iron bar. Their strength has been greatly increased by combining iron with other elements.
Magnets have two different poles - a positive pole and a negative pole. For reasons most researchers cannot explain, applying the negative side of a magnet is effective, but applying the positive side of a magnet is not.
The force (magnetic field of energy) from a magnet is measured in gauss strength. Magnets, used for pain relief and healing, typically measure between 300,000 gauss.
There are two kinds of magnets - permanent and pulsating. Permanent magnets provide a consistent and steady magnetic field, and are the type used to combat pain. Pulsating magnets don''t provide a steady magnetic field, but have been used to stimulate growth in broken bones.
Magnetic healing products come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from wrist and ankle jewelry to Velcro wraps to magnet-filled pads to fit on your bed.
Wraps and jewelry can be placed in several spots on your body, including feet, ankles, knees, hips, back, hands, wrists, shoulders, neck, and forehead.
Magnets are available in a wide-range of materials, strengths, and shapes - Tiny BB-size used by acupuncturists, dime-size, neodymium (a rare-earth metal) of extraordinary power, domino, rectangular block, and flexible magnets of any size and shape.
Therapeutic magnets are often cased in ceramic or embedded in an elastic patch or flexible strip. They are incorporated in wrist and back supports, seat and mattress pads, jewelry, and clothing-related items, such as shoe inserts and belts.
Many medical applications and scientific studies have used pulsed electromagnetic fields. In these fields, the electric current generating the magnetic field is turned on and off at a specified frequency.
Because magnetic fields drop off quickly with distance, the closer the magnet is to the skin the better. Although effectiveness may wear off as the body adapts, magnets may be worn as long as desired.
A magnet''s therapeutic strength is a function of magnetic flux - measured in gauss - and physical size. For reference, Earth''s magnetic field is 0.5 gauss, a refrigerator magnet holding a shopping list about 10 gauss, and a cupboard-door latch magnet about 400. Therapeutic magnets range from 200 to over 10,000 gauss.
Magnet size is also therapeutically important. For example, small neodymium magnets may have strength in excess of 10,000 gauss. However, because their fields can only penetrate a few inches into the body, they are used for treating localized conditions. In contrast, a large block magnet of much lower flux strength may penetrate through the body. Given the importance of size, the profound influence Earth''s small 0.5-gauss field has on life is more readily understandable.
Although understudied, a magnet''s poles appear to exert different healing effects. The north one (the side that attracts the north-pole-seeking end of a compass needle) calms, sedates, and reduces inflammation. In contrast, the South Pole stimulates and promotes healing, growth and activity.
Scientists believe that magnetic fields perturb the body''s own magnetic energy, which, in turn, triggers more conventional biochemical and physiological mechanisms.
Common Uses
Arthritis, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, sinus and stress headaches, asthma, muscle spasms, toothaches, strains, joint pain, fractures, and swelling.
Magnets increase blood flow, bringing more oxygen and nutrients, and flushing away waste products.
Magnetic fields can attract calcium ions to heal a broken bone or help move calcium away from painful arthritic joints.
One of my clients placed a small bar magnet inside his cast after he broke his arm. The arm healed in three weeks instead of the anticipated six.
Remember
Immediately after magnetic treatment no cold baths or meals should be taken.
Watches should be removed during treatment.
Magnets must be kept away from children.
When not in use magnets must be kept joined with a keeper in a wooden box.
High powered magnets should not be applied to pregnant woman.
Opposite poles of high power magnets must not be near each other face to face.
All bio-magnetic aids must be kept away from fire.