Magnetotherapy or Magnetic therapy is a safe, non-invasive method of applying magnetic fields to the body for therapeutic purposes. It helps to speed the healing process and improve quality of sleep without any adverse side effects. Whether used independently or as an adjunct to your current treatment, magnetic therapy is very effective for the relief of discomfort due to joint and muscle pain, inflammation, and stiffness, making it an excellent choice for everyone.

Magnet therapy involves the use of a magnetic device placed on or near the body to relieve pain and facilitate healing. The magnetic products on the market today come in many forms. They can be taped to the skin, worn as jewelry or in your shoes, or slept on as pillows and mattresses. Arthritis, insomnia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and headaches are among the long list of ailments for which people have tried magnet therapy. Although no one can say how magnets work, advocates claim that they can have a profound effect on the body, particularly in relieving pain.

The Origin:

The ancient Egyptians were apparently acquainted with the power of magnets. Legend has it that Cleopatra slept with a magnetic stone on her forehead to preserve her youthful appearance perhaps trying to cause the pineal gland in the brain to release melatonin. The ancient Hindus in India believed that a dying person should rest with their body aligned north and south their head pointed north to relieve their pain and ease their departure from this life.

The word magnet comes from the ancient Greeks. It is thought to derive from Magnes lithos, meaning "stone from Magnesia," an area of Greece that was known for its volcanic rocks with magnetic attributes. The Greek philosopher Aristotle spoke about using magnets as a healing therapy.

The ancient Greeks believed that lodestones "natural magnetic rocks" had therapeutic powers. In the sixteenth century, Swiss-born alchemist and physician Philippus von Hohenheim, who went by the pseudonym Paracelsus, purportedly used magnets to draw illness from the body. Over the past decade, magnet therapy has become increasingly popular, especially among professional athletes who use it for aches and pains. Even so, magnet therapy remains controversial. Scientists have only recently begun the well-designed research needed to persuade most mainstream doctors to add magnets to their medicinal arsenals.

Working :

All physical and mental functions are controlled by electromagnetic fields produced by the movement of electro-chemicals (ions) within the body. When an injury occurs and tissue is damaged, positively charged ions move to the affected area, causing pain and swelling. In order for healing to take place, the injured site must be restored to its natural negative electromagnetic charge. Pain and inflammatory-related electro-chemicals must be removed and oxygen and nutrients transferred to the area.

The application of a magnetic field to an injured area helps restore the normal electromagnetic balance. The magnetic field relaxes capillary walls, as well as surrounding muscle and connective tissues, allowing for increased blood flow. More oxygen and nutrients are transferred to the injury site, while pain and inflammatory-related electro-chemicals are more efficiently removed. The overall process restores the normal electromagnetic balance of the area, relieving pain and inflammation, and promoting accelerated healing.

Individual response time will vary, and can range from a few minutes, to a few weeks. The effectiveness of magnetic therapy is dependent upon using the correct magnetic products, the length of time they are applied, and the type and severity of the problem.

Health Benefits :

Magnetic therapy is used most often for pain, usually of the joints and muscles. Magnets have also been applied to relieve post-surgery pain. Some advocates suggest that magnets can reduce stress, as well as relieve insomnia and treat migraine. Others even claim that magnetic therapy can fight infection and improve central nervous system disorders, such as seizures. While research has shown that magnet therapy can indeed relieve pain, there is little solid evidence validating it for other ailments.

In a study published in the American Journal of Pain Management in 1999, magnetic foot insoles were shown to be effective in reducing foot pain in those with diabetes.Still, the findings are preliminary. And many other studies have shown that magnets do not provide effective therapy. A new, experimental area of research involves transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a technique that permits stimulation of the brain's surface using strong magnetic fields. Most research using TMS has concentrated on it as a treatment for severe depression. However, the therapy may eventually prove useful for other illnesses, such as epilepsy and schizophrenia.

Precautions :

* If you have a pacemaker or an implanted defibrillator, do not use magnets. Also, do not use     magnets near a person who has a pacemaker or defibrillator, as the magnetic field could     interfere with its operation.

* If you are allergic to the metal in the magnets, use products that are covered in     hypoallergenic plastic.

* Avoid magnet therapy if you are pregnant, because magnets have not been tested on pregnant women.

* Some patients report feeling lightheaded after wearing magnets near the carotid arteries the     main arteries in the neck that lead to the brain.

* Wait an hour after eating before using magnets near the abdomen; they may affect blood flow in the digestive system.

* Do not sleep on a magnetic mattress pad for more than eight hours at a time.