What conditions can benefit from Magnetic Therapy
Magnetic energy is one of the strongest natural forces on Earth, and
many common conditions can benefit from magnetic therapy.
Some practitioners use single magnets, usually with the North pole
in contact with the body, while others use an array of magnets aligned
in rows or in concentric circles with the North (negative) and south
(positive) poles alternating. This will result in many of the fields
cancelling each other out, however, as their fields tend to flow towards
the nearest opposite pole among adjacent magnets. Acumed patches,
which consist of a rare earth magnet coated in zinc and surrounded
by copper spheres, is the only system that provides both magnetic
and electrical energy (See
page) to provide a more powerful healing effect.
It is widely believed that the South or positive pole is stimulating
and should not usually be used for healing when infection is present
as it may stimulate growth of the invading bacteria or viruses as
well. There is little evidence to back this up, however, and the World
Health Organization have found that the strength of magnets commonly
used for therapeutic purposes do not have any detrimental effects
on health, which ever pole is used, as magnets provide a beneficial
environment in which the body can heal itself to restore the correct
balance between negative and positive energy fields within the body.
Magnetic patches can either be applied over sites of tenderness or
pain, or applied to associated acupuncture points, as shown in the
following illustrations. Select the points which most closely relate
to the site of discomfort.
Unless otherwise stated, magnetic patches take three to five days
to achieve full optimum effects. Wear the patch(es) for five to seven
days, then discard. Rest the area for 2 days then, if necessary, reapply
the patch(es) to continue treatment.
Pain
Pain is a sensation produced when small nerve endings, known as pain
receptors, are stimulated in the body. It is an important symptom
that alerts the body when something is wrong such as an injury, inflammation,
infection or other disease. Because of the way nerve fibres join together
as they travel through the body, the origin of pain is not always
clear. Heart pain may be felt in the left shoulder or arm for example,
gallbladder pain may be felt in the tip of the right shoulder, knee
pain (eg arthritis) may seem to come from the hip while toothache
may be felt in the ear.
Any pain that is persistent, severe, keeps recurring or which is
accompanied by other symptoms should always be discussed with your
doctor. Once the cause is diagnosed, and any appropriate treatment
started, you can usually enhance the effect of therapy with the use
of magnets assuming there are no contraidications (See
page) such as the presence of infection. It is wise to let your
doctor know you are using magnets.
Pain varies in a number of ways and may be described as:
- Aching
- Burning
- Constant, intermittent or coming and going in waves
- Crushing
- Dragging
- Gnawing
- Throbbing
- Stabbing
- Stinging
- Superficial or deep
- Radiate to elsewhere in the body
Do NOT use magnets to treat recurrent, undiagnosed pain.
Magnetic therapy can help pain due to a number of causes, including:
