History of Magnetic Therapy
According to one legend, the phenomenon of magnetism was supposedly
discovered, and named after, a Greek shepherd, named Magnes, whose
iron staff became strongly attracted to a lodestone rock. Other legends
claim that magnetism was first discovered in an ancient part of Europe
known as Magnesia.
The therapeutic power of magnets was known to physicians in ancient
Greece, Egypt and China over 4000 years ago, who used naturally magnetic
rock (known as lodestone or magnetite) to treat a variety of physical
and psychological ailments.
Cleopatra (69 - 30 BC) was said to wear
a magnet on her forehead to maintain her beauty, and was also said
to recommend magnets to treat the gout that was prevalent among her
Roman allies. In A.D. 46, the physician Scribonius Largus recommended
the use of the electric torpedo fish to cure headaches and gouty arthritis.
Ancient Romans also used magnet therapy to treat eye disease, the
French physician Marcel used it to treat headaches, and the Islamic
physician Avicenna (980 - 1037) to treat
depression.
In the 16th Century, the famous Swiss physician and alchemist, Paracelus,
was responsible for ‘rediscovering’ magnetic therapy and
used it widely in his practice precipitating a resurgence in its popularity
in Europe. He declared that “The magnet is the king of all secrets”
and used it to treat a variety of conditions including headache and
rheumatic problems. He also recommended drinking a solution made by
adding ground lodestone to water.
The 18th Century Viennese physician, Franz Anton
Mesmer believed that magnets could enhance a Universal force
that permeated the body, which he called ‘animal magnetism’.
Today, magnetic therapy is popular in Japan and parts of Europe, but
has only recently become widely known in
the West.
In 1959, surgeons in the US found that amputated amphibian limbs could
be regrown when an electromagnetic field was used.
Animal studies in the early 1970’s suggested that it was
only the negative pole of a magnet that has beneficial effects on
living cells. Around the same time, researchers also discovered that
weak electrical currents (which will produce a magnetic field) could
enhance the healing of bone fractures, and strong electromagnetic
fields are now used by many orthopaedic surgeons to hasten the healing
of bone fractures. The reported success rate is over 80%, even in
cases of non-union where other procedures had previously failed.
Magnetic therapy is now also used by some doctors to encourage healing
of persistent wounds and ulcers, swelling (oedema) and sometimes to
treat deep vein thrombosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also
widely used as a diagnostic technique to visualise internal parts
of the body, and produces better results, more safely, than using
X-rays.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI uses a strong magnetic field to align the molecules in your body.
A pulse of radio waves is then passed through you to knock the molecules
slightly out of alignment. As the molecules bounce back into place,
they give out a weak radio signal which is picked up and interpreted
by a computer. This gives an excellent cross-sectional or 3-D image
of different parts of your body without any known risks or side effects.
Clinical research into the therapeutic effects of magnetic therapy
is also increasing.
