An increasingly popular alternative medicine practice, magnetic therapy has actually been around for many years. According to Natural Health Techniques, the people of Asia and Europe have used magnets for thousands of years to deal with pain. So while the technique is old, it is still somewhat new in the United States, especially when it comes to mending broken bones.
Magnetic Therapy
Magnetic therapy is used to help the body heal by way of the belief that the human body was designed to function within the Earth's magnetic fields. Living as we do in the modern world, we surround ourselves with all sorts of electromagnetic devices which disrupt the natural magnetic fields. These disruptions are to blame for many diseases and illnesses, according to magnet therapy proponents (such as Natural Health Techniques). Magnets are supposed to realign the body with the proper magnetic forces. Using magnets is non-invasive, unlike many procedures which cannot be undone once tried.
Magnetic therapy is used to aid in healing soft tissue and broken bones. They are used to treat other bone conditions, as well, such as osteoporosis and arthritis. Magnets may also help patients with asthma and nullify the toxic effects of chemotherapy. People have used magnets to reduce the pain associated with tendinitis, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow or wrist pain. Many use magnets to relieve back injury pain. And some employ magnets to get a more restful night's sleep.
Magnets come in varying strengths, measured in gauss units. As such, the strength required to alleviate pain in one person may vary from what is required by another. This means that someone trying magnetic therapy may have to experiment to determine the right magnet. Magnets can be worn on various parts of the body to focus the healing, or they can be worn as insoles to circulate up through the feet. Some get their magnetic therapy while sleeping on magnetic mattresses.
Healing Bones
Patients are put inside a large machine (an electromagnetic device) which generates a magnetic field over the body, facilitating the healing process. The focus of the electromagnetic energy is on the area of the break. In other instances, magnetic blankets may also be used.
Beyond using magnetic therapy to help heal broken bones, a good diet and regular exercise can expedite bone healing. Between the right foods and exercise, the blood supply is increased, which leads to faster healing. Staying active, especially with weight-bearing exercises, is important. Vitamins A and K both promote bone healing. Likewise, the diet should be rich in calcium and lysine (which helps with the uptake of calcium).
Precautions
Because magnets have very real effects on machinery, people with cochlear implants, pacemakers, implanted pain modulators and insulin pumps should not use magnets. Neither should pregnant women. And bipolar people should not sleep on magnetic mattresses. Magnets should also not be used on open wounds--because magnets decrease platelet stickiness, their use can interfere with the blood's clotting ability. Magnet therapy proponents also recommend withholding magnetic therapy on sprains or hematomas during the first day or two after the injury.
As additional concerns when dealing with magnets, remember that magnets can damage credit cards and VCR tapes. They can also demagnetize room keys in a hotel. Never store strong magnets near computers or homeopathic remedies.
Tags: magnetic therapy, also used, bone healing, broken bones, have used, have used magnets, Health Techniques
