Magnetic Therapy

This item was in the news for several days. You may have seen it, but I thought it important enough to warrant another warning.

But, aside from the dangers mentioned above, does magnetic therapy work? Dr. Weil says: "These products are quite expensive, and since the claims are unproved, I really can't recommend magnet therapy." From Ask the Doctors: "Although the simplicity of magnet therapy is attractive, the evidence that it works is scanty." The FDA hasn't sanctioned magnets as healing devices.

Magnetic therapy is not new. Ancient Greece had the lodestone and claimed it had healing properties. The Chinese have used magnets for healing for thousands of years. Part of the reason for the success of magnetic therapy may be purely psychological. A study that included magnets and placebos revealed not much difference in the success rate reported by the two groups.

Magnetic therapy continues to be a controversial subject, even among people who have tried it. Nancy Fortner has been using magnets to relive pain for several months now. She says:

"I have fibromyalgia and arthritis. I experimented with putting a powerful ceramic magnet over painful areas on my body. Soft tissue pain would fade within two or three minutes. Sometimes it would return after removing the magnets, but usually it gave me lasting relief.

"I have some pain everywhere, however, and the magnets were only helping with the most acute areas. I decided to get a magnetic mattress to see if that would target all my pains. I have been sleeping on my new magnetic mattress for four nights, and I would say that the results are inconclusive. I still have some aches and pains, but I am staying asleep for longer periods. I presume that is because my overall discomfort is relieved.

"My experiences with magnets are positive enough that I would recommend that other people try them."

Keith D. states: "I have used a Nikken magnetic pad on my bed now for 4 years. While I like the warmth of the magnets it does not a thing for sleep maintenance insomnia."

Moonraker puts his feelings very simply: "It doesn't work because it is a hoax."

Jack said: "I tried using a pillow with magnets in it. Used it for a month. It did nothing except empty my wallet of $120."

John F. says: "Let me help stress "IT DOESN'T WORK!". Look, if magnetic therapy made a bit of difference, anyone that's ever had an MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) should sleep like babies ... talk about magnetic therapy!"

However, Barbara Bianco reports: "Sleeping on my magnetic pillow and mattress has been a pleasure. I have no doubt it affects your energy field. It was so powerful that for the first three nights, I had difficulty settling down, but since then I've a very relaxed and refreshing sleep."

The controversy remains. The value of magnetic therapy has never been proven or sanctioned by the medical profession. I posted this question on several lists, and the majority reported little or no help. Before you try using magnetic therapy, ask yourself: "Is it wise to use something that affects the body's energy field?" Most of these magnetic devices, and especially the mattresses, are expensive. Keep in mind that nothing has been proven, and you could be wasting your money.

Above all, if you have any medical device, such as a Pacemaker, that could be adversely affected by the use of magnets, please do not experiment with magnetic therapy. The magnets could turn off or cause faulty operation of these important medical aids and lead to far more serious repercussions.