Healing With Magnets: Effective Or Futile? By Janet Martin At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

You might have laughed when you came across advertisements of magnetic bracelets being sold to help alleviate countless conditions from cancer to diabetes and headache to arthritis; you thought, it is quite impossible for magnets to help remedy even the slightest ache, not to mention serious diseases. However, the claims made by sellers of therapeutic magnets actually have some basis.

For starters, magnets have been used by our ancestors to help ease a number of conditions. Moreover, a University of Virginia research actually found that magnets have an effect in boosting circulation and reducing swelling and inflammation in rats. People can benefit from magnet therapy in alleviating swelling and pain due to sports injuries, according to researchers.

But before you head to the nearest store to get hold of magnets or magnetic bracelets, necklaces and other trinkets, you need to understand that not all magnets sold in the market are designed for healing. It is also important to note that when used wrongly, this material can actually have harmful effects. If you are really interested in trying out this time-tested therapy, you first need to know the following facts.

Magnet Therapy Restrictions

In order to protect Americans from unscrupulous individuals, the Food and Drug Administration has put restrictions on the sale of healing magnets. You need to know that sellers cannot claim that magnetic objects can treat serious conditions such as AIDS, arthritis or asthma. However, the agency has allowed, albeit temporarily, the selling of magnetic objects to help alleviate pain and improve blood circulation.

Certain Magnetic Strength Is Required To Reap Benefits

Placing magnets that you get from refrigerators or bags on your problem areas is not going to be helpful. You need something that is stronger, one with not lower than 300 gauss (a unit that measures the strength of magnets), to ease minor pain and inflammation. Some people may actually require a magnet with strength of 5,000 gauss to actually reap its benefits.

Many products sold in the market do not really have the required strength for healing purposes. But if you are just interested in magnetic bracelets for aesthetic purposes, then you can buy any magnetic trinket that is available in department stores or online.

However, if you want magnetic objects that actually provide good results, you need to be more vigilant in choosing what to buy. If the magnet can attract a pin or paperclip even when it is wrapped in a thick cloth or sock, then you can be assured that it can actually penetrate the tissues of your body. However, if the pin or clip falls all the time, the magnetic strength of your bracelet or trinket is inadequate to ease your pain and inflammation.

Know The Poles

The negative and positive poles of a magnet actually have different uses. If the magnetic object being sold to you does not specify the polarity of the area that is close to your skin, it is better not to buy it.

If you want to relieve aches and swelling, you need to use the negative end of the magnet because it provides a calming, sedating and cooling effect. The positive end, on the other hand, can be dangerous when used by inexperienced people because this side can actually exacerbate your condition and pain. In fact, is used improperly, the positive end can stir up the proliferation of viruses and bacteria. Thus, it is really imperative to know which side is next to your skin before you buy any magnetic object. You don't want to pay a big sum for something that will make you feel worse than you do now.

There is really nothing wrong with using magnets to help ease the discomforts you feel due to swelling and pain. However, it is important that you are knowledgeable about their proper use. It is also advisable to consult your doctor before wearing any magnetic object because it may affect your other health conditions or any other apparatus that you may be wearing.

Magnet is not the only alternative that you can use to lessen the swelling and soreness in your joints. You can actually rely on hydration therapy, aromatherapy and quality supplements to help treat arthritis and other inflammation-related conditions.

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