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Medical
Disclaimer
How
does Magnetic Therapy work?
This
is the question we hear most. The answer is, no one
really knows for sure. Some doctors believe that the
magnetic field affects the iron component of blood,
hemoglobin, thereby increasing circulation to the area
where magnets are applied.
Another
theory is that the magnetic field energizes and
oxygenates the white corpuscles in the blood stream,
and these white corpuscles are natures healing agents.
The charged ions increase the blood flow, which provides
increased oxygenation to the blood. This increased oxygenation
is the prevalent factor to enhancing your body's natural
healing powers, and the results are less pain, decreased
inflammation, and the possibility of increased energy
levels.
The
logical conclusion is that with circulation increased,
the body’s natural healing mechanism can work more efficiently.
Other specialists believe that, since nervous signals
travel via tiny electromagnetic charges, an electromagnetic
field may actually tune out "false" signals.
The actual pain relief mechanism of magnetic energy
may never be truly understood, since it operates within
the tissues at such a microscopic level.
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Where
should I place magnets for relief?
There
are three schools of thought about magnet placement:
- At
the site of pain,
- At
the site of pain and possible "referring"
site, and
- Accupressure
points.
The
first method, at the site of pain, is clear - just put
them where it hurts. Magnets seem to work best in "balanced"
application, for example, on both sides of a sore knee
or stiff neck. For this reason, many magnetic products
for the elbows, wrists, and knees feature several opposing
sets of magnets.
The
second method, at the site of pain and possible "referring"
site, is more complex. Knee pain may be caused by an
undiagnosed hip problem, or a strained back may show
up as shoulder or neck pain. For this reason, do not
rely on magnetic devices as medical treatment. If you
experience pain, consult a physician.
The
third method, accupressure points, requires either knowledge
of accupuncture/accupressure, or a good diagram of these
points and plenty of patience.
Experts
recommend you continue trying any and all combinations
of these methods until relief is attained. Each human
body is different, and will respond differently to any
type of therapy.
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Close
to the Skin!
The
most important factor in placement is: Close to the
Skin. There is an exponential decrease in the strength
of a magnet’s field as the distance from the magnet
increases. At a distance of 4" from the magnet,
the field is less than 1/16th the rated strength
of the magnet. This explains why hip joints seldom respond
as well to magnetic therapy as do other, smaller joints!
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Can
magnetic therapy hurt me?
According
to published clinical studies, magnet use has no side-effects.
To be on the safe side, always consult your physician
before beginning any type of therapy. Most magnetic
products carry warning labels cautioning some potential
users:
- People
with pacemakers or other implanted medical devices
should not use magnet therapy.
- Magnetic
products are not recommended for use during pregnancy.
- Do
not use magnetic products over an open wound, or in
conjunction with any transdermal drug patch.
- If
soreness, rash, or an increase in pain occur, discontinue
use and contact your physician.
- Keep
magnetic products at least six inches away from credit
cards, computers, diskettes, magnetic tapes, video
equipment, or similar items, as loss of data may result.
- If
you need to clean a magnetic product, hand wash or
wipe with gentle detergent; do not machine-wash magnetic
items.
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How
strong should the magnets be?
Magnet
strength is measured in units called "gauss".
For comparison, the natural magnetic field of the Earth
is about ½ of 1 gauss. The average "refrigerator
magnet" may be anywhere from 10 to 100 gauss. Magnets
used in therapeutic products vary from about 200 gauss
to 2,500 gauss - and some even greater.
Gauss
strength can be misleading. Remember that the strength
of the magnetic field falls off exponentially as the
distance from the surface of the magnet increases. Depending
upon the strength, size, and distance from the skin,
actual gauss strength inside the human tissue can be
much less than the gauss rating of the magnet.
Magnets
are another case where bigger is not necessarily better.
A stronger magnet may be beneficial inside a mattress
several centimeters away from the skin, but applied
directly to the skin may not have any more effect that
a less powerful magnet. A penetrating field strength
of about 450-500 gauss is cited as optimal by several
studies.
The
depth of penetration of the magnetic field appears to
be at least as important as its strength. This can also
vary depending upon the strength and size of the magnet.
Magnets made from Neodymium, a rare-earth metal, are
unusually strong in relation to their size, and therefore
believed to have the deepest penetrating fields. Some
people may have a skin reaction to direct exposure to
some rare-earth magnets. For this reason, many therapeutic
magnets are plated with gold or other non-reactive metal.
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What
does alternating or north mean?
Each
magnet has two "poles" - or "ends".
One pole will naturally seek the earth’s magnetic north
pole, the other pole is its opposite. They are two sides
of the same force. The north-seeking pole is often referred
to as "Bio-North" or simply North, and its
opposite as South. These terms are descriptions of the
magnet’s polarity. Terms such as positive or negative
are not accurate descriptions of magnetic polarity.
Thanks
to new technology in magnet manufacture, it is now possible
to create magnets with both north and south poles on
the same surface of the magnet. This arrangement may
be called alternating or bipolar. Many practitioners
and manufacturers claim that alternating (North-South-North-South)
polarity arrangements are more beneficial than other
forms, but there are no definitive studies that support
this idea. It is often stated that the north-seeking
pole of the magnet is preferable for therapeutic use.
Again, there are no clinical studies to document that
the effect of either pole is superior or even different.
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How
quickly should I expect results?
The
human body is incredibly complex - and each one slightly
different from the next in terms of metabolism, likes
and dislikes, reactions to food or medications, and
so on. It only stands to reason that each human body
will react differently to magnetic therapy. Some people
experience immediate results, for some it may take days
or weeks of consistent use to achieve results. Clinical
studies report between 75-85% of patients experience
relief using magnetic therapy.
Do
not be discouraged if the first attempt proves unsuccessful.
Experiment with different placement or magnet strength,
be sure your magnetic products contain "live"
magnets, and ask for testimonials or studies to back
up claims.
We
hope this summary helps you better understand magnetic
therapy. This information may not be copied or disseminated
in any form without our written consent. Please ask
first.
Read
our Medical Disclaimer
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