Tuesday, January 6, 2009
OBAMA HEALTH SECRET LOOK AT HIS RIGHT HAND !!!
It's not an ordinary bracelet, it's a MAGNETIC BRACELET....!!! another pictures click here... Magnetic Therapy Life developed under the influence of the earth's geomagnetic field. We are surrounded by a sea of magnetism. The human body, its individual organs and each of the millions of cells making up the organs and the body bathed by this sea are magnetically charged. Cell regulation, tissue function and life itself are controlled by internal electromagnetic currents. In disease states, these electromagnetic potentials are altered but fortunately can be favorably influenced by the external application of magnetics. Conventional medicine has long opposed alternative treatment techniques. Many of these techniques encompass age old methods blending body and mind, science and experience, traditional and cross-cultural diagnosis and treatment. A recent New England Journal of Medicine study reported 1/3 of American patients chose an alternative therapist over conventional medical treatment and 2/3 of patients had visited a complementary therapist over the last year. No estimates were given as to the numbers that had elected to take responsibility for their own health care using self-administered alternative therapies. Over the last 90 years illness as cancer, heart disease, arthritis, hypertension, infections, chronic fatigue, head-aches, digestive problems and numerous aches and pains have become such an integral part of our lives that they are accepted as normal. Death and disability from these diseases has not been appreciably changed by all our modern, expensive and potentially lethal therapeutic practices. It’s been reported that between 60,000 and 140,000 people die in the USA each year from drug reactions prescribed as "standard" therapy by establishment physicians. Many of these toxic-chemical killing drugs are prescribed for non-life threatening conditions. Magnets have been used for healing since antiquity. Their benefits have been recorded in ancient Egyptian, Greek, Chinese and other writings. Until recently, although the health improving potential of magnet therapy was well documented, scientific explanation of magnetic action was not available. Dedicated researchers and the introduction of the space age have contributed greatly to the understanding of the physiology of magnetism in health and healing Many health problems, once diagnosed by the medical profession, can be treated effectively and safely by the patient using magnets without resorting to potentially dangerous drugs. The use of magnets is simple and the benefits can be immense. Magnets aren't magic. Their use isn't quackery. Magnets have been scientifically proven to be able to assist the body regain its self-healing electromagnetic balance naturally. This statement is the comment of Ken Wianako, M.D., F.R.C.S.(C), F.A.C.S.,Diplomate of the American Board of Chelation Therapy, as printed with permission, in the book The Invisible Force. With permission of the Author Fred Rinker Magnetic Therapy – How it Works Magnetic therapy is no longer ancient history nor a mysterious force. Science has established that magnetic energy passes through all material and affects all living things. Magnetic fields surround the earth and protect all living things from harmful radiation. They also influence mans behavior, mental function and physical energy. Magnetism is a basic natural force of the universe. It is the basis for new discoveries in all fields of applied science. This includes electronics, chemistry and physics. The commercial and industrial applications of magnetic energy are as common as the electric motor in every machine. Magnetism plays a major role in everyday functions, from simple domestic appliances to the most advanced scientific instruments. Modern medicine is beginning to realize the potential value of using magnetic energy in the treatment of physical and mental disorders. In 1989, the FDA and the University of Tulsa jointly sponsored a conference on emerging electro-magnetic medical technology that attracted researchers, physicians and specialists from around the world. Research for space exploration has produced important information on the human response to magnetic fields and pulsing magnetic frequencies. NASA discovered that magnetic field generators installed in manned space ships were essential in maintaining bone density and normal health for the early astronauts. They found that specific magnetic fields and frequencies produced certain biological responses. The Earth's natural pulsing frequency of 7.96 Hz (cycles per second) reduces stress and encourages relaxation and sleep. Sound, restful sleep is essential in achieving top physical and mental performance. The most significant use of magnetic energy in conventional medicine is through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A sophisticated diagnostic tool, MRI employs the different effects of the two Poles on the hydrogen factor in human tissue to create an image otherwise unavailable. The MRI system detects and details soft tissue and is important in detailing the brain and detecting tumors. Teeth and bones that contain little water do not appear on an MRI image. Other approved devices include EEG, MEG and SQUID diagnostic equipment, which can also detect and record important electromagnetic information. At the time of first printing (1997 The FDA has approved PMF (Pulsed Magnetic Field) treatment for non-union bone fractures. The treatment device is available by prescription only and is custom made for each patient, therefore, it is an extremely costly application procedure. A set of bar magnets using opposite Poles applied to either side of a fracture provides a similar effect as does the application of PMF treatment using a standard miniature device available off the shelf. A new PMF device just introduced to the market palace (2005) has been licensed by Health Canada and has settings to treat bone fractures and osteoporosis, strains and sprains, back and muscle soreness, tendon and ligament damage, arthritis pain, migraines, and inflammation from chronic conditions. This device has been developed by a group of professors at Brock University in Canada after 14 years of intensive research. This product is priced very reasonably and is within the reach of individual users as well as small clinics. It is currently being reviewed by the FDA for approval in the USA. RTMS Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation – Numerous peer-reviewed medical journal articles have shown promise for RTMS therapy in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, Auditory Hallucination Schizophrenia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Tinnitus, Eating Disorders, Migraines, Pain Management, and other mood disorders. Other applications using magnetic and electromagnetic energy are infrared heat therapy equipment, ultraviolet purification systems, magnetic hearing aids, and homeopathic, colour and light therapies. Kinesiology test equipment and magnetic probes which remove metal particles from the eyes, nose and ears can also be included. While some diseases and disorders respond best to orthodox medicine, conventional medicine and alternative therapies can work in harmony. Natural alternatives are generally safer with fewer side effects and should be considered whenever possible. What The Experts Say........ In his book, The Body Electric, Dr. Robert Becker observed that an injury site registers South-positive immediately. It changes to North-negative during the healing process, indicating that a North-negative field promotes healing. Dr. William Philpott explains the pH factor and the calcium factor in his book, Cancer The Magnetic/Oxygen Answer.
Dr. Philpott states that negative magnetic energy is capable of filling indented skin where a tumor has been. He also reports that no scar tissue will form where a cancerous tumor is neutralized by North Pole magnetic energy. The same magnetic energy field eliminates scar tissue formation when a cut heals. Dr. Philpott’s findings support Dr. J. Bischko’s studies at the Ludwig Boltzmann Clinic in Vienna, Austria. Dr. Bischko used bipolar magnetic pads. Dr. Philpott postulates that when a negative magnetic field is applied to a diseased internal organ, such as the liver, a three month application of negative magnetic energy may be required to cure the disease. An additional three month application may be required to repair the organ. His advice is to ensure that the magnet being used is larger than the lesion being treated and that sustained treatment with negative energy from a permanent magnet be applied. Dr. K. Nakagawa’s study,Magnetic Field Deficiency Syndrome, states the human body is under the influence of the earth’s magnetic field and is keeping some sort of a balanced relationship with it. However, under modern day living conditions, the effect of this magnetic field has decreased. Consequently, in some situations we can assume that this lack of magnetism has caused some abnormalities. By applying a magnetic field on the human body to supplement this deficiency, such abnormal conditions can be improved. In other words, there is a direct relationship between the decrease in the earth’s magnetic field on the human body and the improvement of abnormal conditions by the application of magnetic fields. It was reported the early astronauts suffered from a magnetic field deficiency while orbiting in space away from the earth’s magnetic field. This caused some serious medical problems including a rapid loss in bone density. This deficiency was corrected by providing an artificial magnetic field in the spacecraft. Research by Dr. J. Bischko and Dr. Peter Kokoshinegg at the Ludwig Boltzmann Acupuncture Institute, and the Institute of Biophysics and Ray-Research in Vienna, Austria, indicated the following; Scar tissue breaks down and new skin forms when an alternating field magnetic pad is applied. TDK Industries of Japan carried out three important studies where magnetic necklaces were tested to find their effectiveness in treating stiff shoulders. The conclusion was that magnetic necklaces effectively reduced discomfort in 81.1% to 96.3% of subjects. No noticeable side effects were found in respect to the clinical examination results. (Magnetic necklaces produce alternating Pole energy) Dr. Ken Wiancko MD, wrote an article (Health Naturally, April 1996) that stated: “Though they seem magical in their ability to heal, magnets are not magic. Their function is very simple. Magnetotherapy helps the body to regain its self-healing electromagnetic balance naturally because each organ and each cell of every organ in the body is influenced by electromagnetism. Cell regulation, tissue function and life are controlled by electromagnetic currents. In Dr. Nakagawa’s classic study,Magnetic Deficiency Syndrome, he outlined that lack of magnetism may cause stress, mental disorders, headaches, arthritis, muscle pain, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue, allergies, insomnia, inflammation, circulatory problems, bowel disorders and other degenerative problems afflicting people today. In the search for a universal cure-all, none fit the description nearly as well as magnetic energy therapy. The application of magnetic energy offers proven pain relief in seven out of ten users, as good as or better than "orthodox" medicine. Magnetotherapy is far less expensive and lacks the dangerous side effects often associated with prescription drugs. However, proper advice and care should be taken when using strong, large magnets about the head. Treatment with magnets is not addictive and does not interfere with other therapies, but should not be used if a pacemaker or defibrillator is worn. Researchers have stated that magnetic field therapy rebalances altered metabolic functions that cause pain, edema (tissue swelling), excess acid in the tissues, and lack of oxygen in the cells, thereby initiating tissue healing and pain relief. Skin calcification, the cause of skin aging and wrinkles, disappears. Joint mobility increases and muscles become more flexible. Digestion improves, prostates shrink and kidneys eliminate body wastes more effectively. Mental function increases, energy levels go up and sleep is better. Tests have even shown that organisms placed under a magnetic field live longer. Because it potentates the body's free radical scavenger and antioxidant system, magnetotherapy is reported to be valuable in counteracting degenerative processes causing heart and circulatory disease, arthritis and auto-immune illness, as well as neuro-degenerative and allergic afflictions. Drinking magnetic water is said to impart many similar benefits. Wearing back, neck or joint supports with permanent magnets imbedded in the material often relieves painful conditions. Treatment of discomfort from strains and arthritis with low frequency, pulsating magnetic fields created by tiny portable devices may be as effective as larger ultrasound units. Stress causes hundreds of diseases but can be tempered by using magnets day or night. Nighttime magnetic field therapy has a calming and sleep inducing effect on the brain and body due to stimulating production of melatonin, an anti-stressful, anti-aging and anti-infectious hormone. Sleeping on a North Pole magnetic mattress pads can improve the quality of sleep and eliminate morning stiffness. Magneto-therapy may often be used as a first line treatment for pain and to promote healing, not to suggest that there is no place for standard prescription drugs. Many distressing conditions yield to magnetics, but if magnets don’t help, it’s important that you visit your doctor.” Dr. Ulrich Warnke: Magnetic energy has a beneficial effect on blood circulation, lymph flow, hormone production, nerves and muscles. Dr. Evelyne Holzapfel: The application of a magnetic field has the virtues of simplicity, freedom from danger and low cost. Dr. Madeleine F. Barnothy: The magnetic field will develop into a powerful new analytic and therapeutic tool of medicine. Dr. Kenneth S. McLean: This treatment (magnetic therapy) is a godsend. It’s good for almost everything. Dr. Louis Donnet MD: Besides being easy, efficient and inexpensive, magnetic therapy offers a total guarantee of safety. Dr. Ralph U. Sierra: We now stand on the verge of a great new age in magnetic science and its application -- a tool that has been provided by Mother Nature herself. Neville S. Bengali MD: The astounding results obtained through magnet therapy give it a place of considerable importance in the field of therapeutics. Dr. J.B. Baron MD: This is a revolution in the therapy of muscle injuries, joint pain, and posture problems. We have treated 3950 patients with whiplash injuries by means of the magnet and cured 80 percent of them. The First Congress in Magnetotherapy organized by the Coghill Research Laboratories was held at the Royal Society of Medicine in London, England in May 1996. The proceedings introduced over 50 studies and research reports on magnetic therapies, the majority of which were very positive. For example three doctors from Croatia published an outstanding report outlining the treatment of 1261 patients in a rehabilitation hospital using PMF therapy. Eastern-Bloc countries have traditionally researched magnetic therapy much more vigorously than the West. Many of the studies presented at the First Congress in Magneto-therapy originated in countries where magnetic therapy was seen as an economical option to drug therapy. A study by Jiri Jerabek, MD.,Ph.D. and William Pawluck, M.D.,M.Sc. A Review of 30 years of magnetic therapy research in Eastern Europe and provides many insights into the benefits of magnetic treatment for many disease conditions. Gary Null’s book Healing With Magnets lists over 300 peer reviewed, scientific studies conducted on the use of magnetic fields in the treatment of many debilitating disease conditions. |
posted by vanov at 12:50 AM
| OBAMA WITH MAGNETIC BRACELET LOOK AT HIS RIGHT HAND
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posted by vanov at 12:39 AM
Thursday, January 1, 2009
| General Description and Review of Magnetic Therapy Magnetic therapy is used widely by those seeking effective natural solutions to enhance healing and reduce pain. Though in early stages of testing in the US, a report published by the American Journal of Pain Management noted that magnets sewn into socks alleviated the chronic pain of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a form of nerve deterioration caused by diabetes. Additionally, a double blind study at the Techion-Isreal Institute of Technology demonstrated that magnetic stimulation of the brain can ease severe depression, a disorder that affects over 10 million Americans and countless worldwide. Research at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston indicated that magnetic therapy could provide significant relief for pain from post polio syndrome. How Magnetic Therapy Works Magnetic energy increases the blood flow to the area, increasing circulation, thus speeding healing and reducing pain and inflammation. Magnets come in various forms for applications to different parts of the body. The magnetic power is measured in "gauss" and the greater the "gauss" the stronger the magnet. The polarities are said to have the following effect: North Pole (+): Calming, relaxing effect South Pole (-): Stimulating, activating effect Who May Benefit from Magnetic Therapy The following are just a few of many conditions that may benefit from Magnetic Therapy: * Arthritis * Asthma * Carpal Tunnel Syndrome * Fibromyalgia * Infections * Migraines * Osteoporosis * Ruptured disks * Sports injuries * Tennis elbow * Chronic back pain * Shoulder pain Magnetic Therapy Usage Warnings Be cautious when using magnetic devices during pregnancy. Keep all magnetic therapy devices at least 18 inches away from any other battery operated medical device, such as but not limited to, pacemakers, computers, insulin pumps or automatic defibrillators. Serenity 2000 products are NOT nickel plated. |
posted by vanov at 9:24 PM
| Magnetic Healing Does it work? by Tom Edward The idea of magnetic energy and magnetic therapy is centuries old. Legend has it that Cleopatra wore magnetic bracelets and necklaces for healing. Though actively employed by medical doctors in America in the 1800's and early 1900's, magnetic therapy eventually fell out of favor. But in the past decade, magnetic therapy has become a 100 million dollar a year industry in this country (magnetic therapy has long been used as an effective healing tool in China, France, India and Japan, especially in repairing soft-tissue injuries). Studies on magnetic therapies in the Journal of Electro-and Magnetobiology led some pioneering doctors in this country to experiment with magnets in their practice. Their activities helped to standardize the use of some magnets~the magnet size and strength-in treating various conditions. The length of exposure to a magnet for healing certain ailments was also determined. Because of their work we know which magnets work most efficiently-for example, a magnet placed in one specific area of the body may not activate the entire body's healing power, whereas sleeping on a magnetic bed pad radiates a magnetic field that can penetrate evenly into every part of the body and boost the entire immune system. Through the growth of the magnetic therapy industry, different magnetic products have been designed which can be useful in treating many conditions. Some of the most commonly used magnetic products include the previously mentioned magnetic mattress which can alleviate insomnia, joint pain, muscle spasm and fibromyalgia. Magnetic inner soles for shoes are often helpful in relieving painful inflammation resulting from bone spurs, and for gout and to improve circulation. Magnetic pads and wraps which can be secured to the lower back, knees and elbows are recommended for arthritic joints, inflamed tendons and carpal tunnel syndrome. WHAT IS A MAGNET? In any material that is capable of being magnetized, there are groups of atoms with their own magnetic orientation arranged haphazardly in the material. When that material comes into contact with a strong magnetic field, it rearranges the groups of atoms so that they are in alignment. As the groups of atoms become aligned, they project a magnetic field. Magnetic energy has different names. Some people call it energy or life force; the Chinese call it Chi, the Indians know it as Prana. Whatever you choose to call it, magnetic energy is a basic force of life-it pulses throughout the galaxies and is found everywhere in nature. How Do Magnets Heal the Body? Some researchers and doctors say that magnets don't actually heal the body. Science knows that the human body is composed of numerous cells that combine to form blood, tissues, bones and organs. These cells are in the constant state of renewing themselves. Dr. Robert Becker, one of the leading medical doctors who advocates the use of magnets in healing, believes that the force which stimulates cellular growth and division is electromagnetic energy. He and other scientists contend that the charge on the cells of the body gets depleted as cells perform their normal daily functions and that the body tries to "recharge" the worn down cells by sending pulses of electromagnetic energy from the brain through the nervous system. James Souder, President of Norso Biomagnetics in Raleigh, North Carolina, claims that studies performed on animals, and microscopic examination of blood vessels, indicate that capillary blood flow is stimulated by the movement of magnetic fields through tissue and is the dominant factor in magnetic field therapy. Is All Magnetic Enery Healing? No. As previously stated, magnetic energy is a basic force of nature and necessary to all biological systems. Magnetic energy pulses from far-off galaxies; the sun showers us with magnetic fields. Our earth, itself a huge electromagnet with north and south poles, protects us from harmful cosmic radiation. Cosmic radiation is so potent that it is capable of penetrating a 12 foot thick block of lead. But it cannot penetrate the earth's protective magnetic shield. There is increasing evidence that there are harmful effects from high pulsating magnetic energy emitted from power transmission lines, TVs, radios, computers, microwaves and myriad electric appliances. The ordinary 60 cycle alternating electromagnetic fields created by technology seem to exert stress on the body's cellular level. It is reported that they can cause memory loss, headaches, changes in heartbeat and blood chemistry. Melatonin production can be reduced, and the brain's electromagnetic signals to the cells can be blocked, diluting the body's disease-fighting ability. Studies of exposure to alternating electromagnetic fields have shown mutagenic effects, cancer cell promotion and a lowering of the body's pH to a more acidic level. In addition, energy deprivation caused by living in concrete buildings also appears to have negative effects on the body. Dr. Kyochi Nakagawa, Director of Isuzu Hospital in Tokyo says that "Magnetic Field Deficiency Syndrome," produces symptoms such as headaches, back and neck pains, insomnia, heaviness of head and general lassitude. |
posted by vanov at 9:20 PM
| How to Use Magnetic Energy for Your Benefit: While there are many applications claimed for magnetics from the reduction of scar tissue to the treatment of internal organs, the predominant use of magnetic devices is the treatment of musculoskeletal pain and myofacial pain. While, as previously stated, the mechanism by which this pain relief occurs is subject to much conjecture, there is a consensus that heightened blood flow to the area under the footprint of the magnet is one of the primary results of magnetic treatment. The results have been demonstrated by both thermographic and nuclear medicine studies. There have also been evidence of pain blocking phenomena in certain nerve fibers related to the application of magnetic fields. And researchers have been able to demonstrate changes in the electrical potential of nerve cells which raise the threshold for transmitting pain impulses as a result of magnetic fields. Some scientists subscribe to the "Hall Effect," which promotes the idea that ions in the blood are manipulated by magnetic fields thus producing a heating effect in the magnetized area and increasing blood circulation. James Souder disagrees, and insists that "from a biological perspective, magnets activate or turn on capillaries creating extra blood supply at the cellular level as opposed to the older notion that magnets produce a local heating effect to stimulate blood supply which is essentially what the Hall effect is about." Dr. Dean Bonlie, President of Magnetico, Inc. in Alberta, Canada and Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the North American Academy of Magnetic Therapy, explains that when the body is fatigued, a "loss of static charge" on the body's cells causes a "clumping of red blood cells." Through magnetic field supplementation, he says, chemical reactions are enhanced, building up the charge on cell walls which cause the cells to repel each other, reducing the clumping. With more surface area available, he says, the oxygen-carrying capacity of the cells is increased which in turn reinvigorates the body. Another source of disagreement among magnetic therapy advocates is the healing quality of negative and positive poles. Such prominent voices in the magnetic therapy movement as Dr. Philpott say that "there are distinct and opposite effects of the two separate magnetic poles on metabolic function...in terms of biological response, the separate negative and positive polarities are as distinctly opposite as day and night, hot and cold, and acid and alkali." Dr. Philpott claims that his clinical observations show that negative magnetic field energy should be used to fight infection, normalize acid base balance, increase cellular oxygen and reduce fluid retention. He claims that using positive magnetic field energy can actually decrease cellular oxygen, accelerate microorganism growth and result in acidic metabolic response. James Joseph, an independent research consultant for Optimal Living Associates, agrees with Dr. Philpott. Dr. Philpott concluded that positive magnetic field energy creates an acidic condition in the tissue and negative magnetic field energy creates alkalinity after performing before and after saliva tests on patients being treated with a whole-body negative magnetic field. Dr. Bonlie, in a similar test, found that patients who had tested over-alkaline in pretesting became more acidic, indicating that whole body treatment with a negative magnetic field brings normalcy from either end of the spectrum. Dr. Bonlie claimed that this happened because of "simple rules of physics." "When an atom is placed in an increased magnetic field," says Dr. Bonlie, "the charge is increased on the atom for a fraction of a second. This increase in energy is expressed by an increase in the velocity of some of the orbiting electrons and protons. In the case of paired electrons, one is sped up and the other slowed down. This imbalance causes a phenomenon known in physics as precession (wobble). This is much like increased molecular action which takes place from heating a solution to make a chemical reaction take place. Precession causes electron transfer which is the basis of all chemical reactions in the body. In summary, when the magnetic field is increased in which the atoms of the body exist, body chemistry is enhanced, assisting it in normalcy which improves body performance and healing." While the physics of magnetic energy is debated, its benefits are being experienced by people around the country. Dr. Ronald Lawrence of Agoura Hills, California asserts that magnets have been extremely effective in the control of arthritic pain in many of his patients. Dee Massengale, an exercise physiologist in Atlanta, Georgia suffering with fibromyaglia since 1982, says that of all the therapies she's tried magnetic devices have been one of the most valuable tools for pain management. In one of our own experiments, Anne Ziselman of Hollywood, Florida slept with magnet wraps strapped above her kneecap. She reported a reduction of arthritic swelling and a softening of the inflammation after four nights of use. "Sometimes the swelling goes away by itself, but the only times my knee has softened was when I had a cortisone shot," said Mrs. Ziselman. |
posted by vanov at 9:18 PM
| Getting Started with Magnetic Therapy: First some caveats. Magnets are not meant to be used with pacemakers or automatic internal defibrillators. Nor in cases of pregnancy. There are some other basics to know about magnets. To begin with the power of a magnet. The strength of a magnet is measured by a gauss meter in gauss units~r by the iron weight it can lift (the term gauss denotes the electromagnetic unit of magnetic flux density equal to one maxwell per square centimeter). For example, a magnet that can lift two pounds of iron weight has 530-600 gauss power; five pounds of iron weight has 900-1250 power; 25 pounds has 2500 gauss power. The magnet's strength is determined by its size, weight and the type of materiaI it is made of. Magnetic therapists have general guidelines for magnetic use. Magnets with 1000 to 3000 gauss power are recommended for chronic diseases like rheumatism, paralysis, backache and injury to large muscles. More delicate parts of the body such as eyes or ears require less gauss power of around 500. 500 gauss should also be employed when treating children. The depth of penetration of a magnetic field into the body is another important factor in magnetic healing and is in direct relationship to the size of the magnet as well as its gauss power. A magnet can have a strength of over 10,000 gauss but if it is small it might only penetrate an inch or two into the body. But a magnet of 4x6 and 1000 gauss can penetrate the body completely (magnetic energy has not been fully standardized in terms of application for all diseases, but a rule of thumb for use established by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare is a minimum of 500 gauss for any significant illness). Drinking magnetically treated water is another way to reap the benefits of magnetic energy. Magnetically treated water is relaxing to the body. Put an 8-ounce glass of water on the negative pole of a magnet for five minutes or longer and drink twice a day as a general preventative. Lastly, scientists have been recording the strength of the earth's magnetic field over the past 158 years and they claim that its magnetic field, and subsequently the intake of magnetic energy into our bodies, has been reduced by more than 8% in that time (this rate of decline has been verified by measurement of the decrease of north-south orientation of magnetite crystals in deposits in volcanic flows and sediments that date hack as far as 4,000 years). As the human body is electromagnetic by design~omposed of charged particles such as atoms and ions-advocates of magnetic therapy say that chemical and electrical actions of the body can be strengthened by exposure to the right kind of magnetic fields. The range of healing using magnetic energy has been found effective in treating complaints from acne to asthma, but knowing the proper gauss strength, how and where to place a magnet on the body and the duration of exposure to magnetic energy are variables that a trained practitioner would know best. Keep an open mind as you explore this alternative therapy, but be practical and find a therapist who can help you to maximize its benefits rapidly and safely. |
posted by vanov at 9:15 PM
| Article on Magnetic Therapy in "Usa Today" "Ironclad cures for pain? Athletes put their faith in power of magnets" By Sal Ruibal Wed., Aug. 20, 1997 Section: SPORTS Denver Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski KO's quarterbacks, then sleeps like a baby on a magnetic mattress pad. Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu throws a wicked split-finger fastball with dozens of magnets stuck to his body. Senior PGA Tour golfer Jim Colbert swings for the greens with dollar bill-sized magnets strapped to his lower back. Magnetic therapy is the hottest trend among professional athletes. But the idea of using magnetic fields to increase blood circulation in injured tissue and encourage healing by stimulating the nervous system goes back thousands of years to ancient Greece and Egypt. The original Olympic athletes might have used magnets. And in the same way that today's top athletes influence fashion and language, their eagerness to embrace alternative healing techniques is influencing the public: U.S. consumers will spend more than $500 million this year on magnetic pads, bracelets, shoe inserts, back wraps and seat cushions, the magnet companies say. The trend is so lucrative, athletes are adding brand-name magnets to their list of endorsements, along with sneakers and soda pops. Colbert, top money winner on the PGA Senior Tour the last two years, endorses Tectonic Magnets. Pro Bowl linebacker Romanowski works for BIOflex Magnets. Former San Francisco 49er Ronnie Lott, now a football analyst for the Fox TV network, is a spokesman for and part-owner of BioMagnetics International. Romanowski began using magnets seven years ago while a member of the 49ers but didn't take them seriously. The team trainer had recommended them, but it was not until Romanowski had off season surgery that he adopted the idea. "I'm a believer, definitely,'' he says. "The first time I tried them, I got pain relief. It wasn't mental. I know it wasn't mental because I know my body.'' Because they know their bodies, it's natural that top athletes would be attracted to alternative therapies, says Dinnie Pearson, a Cranial-Sacral therapist with the Mind/Body Center in King of Prussia, Pa. "Athletes use a lot of mental imagery, visualizing the correct muscle movements for their sport,'' Pearson says. "They can use that same powerful tool for healing, contacting injured areas to focus on that tissue to help it in the natural healing process.'' had an acupuncturist travel with the team earlier this year. The team credits the therapy with helping second baseman Quilvio Veras get over hamstring problems. "I think it's great,'' Towers says. "I know it worked on me. It blocks the nerve endings and takes the pain away. It's very relaxing. I'd go back.'' Not understanding how an alternative therapy works is no roadblock for jocks in search of relief, but it can be for the federal government. Magnetic therapy has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but the National Institutes of Health are investigating the phenomenon. The NIH Office of Alternative Medicine, which was created only five years ago, is funding a study of magnetic therapy at the University of Virginia's School of Nursing. Broncos safety Steve Atwater isn't waiting for the scientists to bless his magnets. "I don't know what it is, but it works,'' the 30-year-old, seven-time Pro Bowl player says. "I figure it can't hurt me, and it may help me.'' |
posted by vanov at 9:13 PM
Article on Magnetic Therapy in the "New York Times"
"Study on Using Magnets to Treat Pain Surprises Skeptics" A small trial raises hope, but it is not the last word. By Lawrence K. Altman, M.D. Tuesday, December 9,1997 Section: SCIENCE No one was more skeptical about using magnets for pain relief than Dr. Carlos Vallbona, former chairman of the department of community medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. So Dr. Vallbona was amazed when a study he did found that small, low intensity magnets worked, at least for patients experiencing symptoms that can develop years after polio. Dr. Vallbona had long been fascinated by testimonials about magnets from his patience, and even from medical leaders. But his interest in magnet therapy became more serious in 1994 when he and a colleague, Carlton F. Hazlewood, tried them for their own knee pain. The pain was gone in minutes. "That was too good to be true," Dr. Vallbona said. Dr. Vallbona knew that the power of suggestion can fool both patient and doctor. But he also wondered; could strapping small, low intensity magnets to the most sensitive areas of the body for several minutes relieve chronic muscular and joint pains among patients in his post polio clinic at Baylors Institute for Rehabilitation Research. Valid studies could allow consumers to make informed choices. And if magnet therapy were found to be safe and effective, it could relieve pain with fewer drugs. Endorsements from professional athletes are one reason Americans spend large sums on magnets to seek pain relief. But most doctors take a "buyer beware" attitude because many claims lack scientific proof or explanation of how they might work. The Food and Drug Administration has warned doctors and manufacturers about health claims for magnets. Aware of the medical profession's skepticism about magnet therapy, Dr. Vallbona sought to conduct science's most rigorous type of study. Participants would agree to allow the investigators to randomly assign them to groups getting treatment with active magnets or sham devices. But neither the patients nor the doctors treating them would know what therapy was used on which patient. First, Dr. Vallbona informally tested magnets on a few patients. One was a priest with post-polio syndrome who celebrated mass with difficulty due to marked back pain that prevented him from raising his left hand. After applying a magnet for a few minutes the pain was gone, Dr. Vallbona recalled, and, "the priest said this was a miracle." Then a human experimentation committee allowed Dr. Vallbona to test 50 volunteers with magnets that at 300 to 500 gauss, were slightly stronger than refrigerator magnets. They were made in different sizes so they could fit over the anatomic area identified as setting off their pain. It was difficult to design a system to prevent participants from learning whether they were being treated with a magnet or a sham. So Dr. Vallbona asked Magnaflex Inc., a magnet manufacturer in Corpus Christi, TX., to prepare active magnets and inactive devices that could not be told apart. The devices were labeled in code. As a further precaution, a staff member observed the patients throughout the 45-minute period of therapy to make sure they would not try to find out - by testing with a paper clip, say - what treatment they were receiving. After the investigators identified the source of the pain and then pressed on it, the 39 women and 11 men in the study graded the pain on a scale of 0 (none) to 10 (worst). Then after the experimental treatment, the participants rated their pain in a standard questionnaire. The volunteers were tested only one time. The 29 who received an active magnet reported a reduction in pain to 4.4 from 9.6 compared with a smaller decline to 8.4 from 9.6 among the 21 treated with a sham magnet. The Baylor scientists emphasized that their study applied only to pain from the post-polio condition. Nevertheless, their report in last month's issue of Archives of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, a leading specialty journal, has shocked many doctors who have scoffed at claims for magnets' medical benefits. In an article about magnet therapy for chronic pain published five months ago, Dr. William Jarvis, a professor of public health and preventative medicine at Loma Linda University in California and president of the National Council Against Health Fraud, dismissed magnet therapy as "essentially quackery." Now, Dr. Jarvis said in an interview, the Baylor study changed his mind. "But like any other pilot study, it needs to be replicated," he said. Dr. Vallbona's findings have let him to try to carry out a larger study in several medical centers, and they are expected to lead other investigators to conduct their own studies. Dr. Lauro S. Halstead of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, a pioneer in studying the post-polio syndrome, was among experts who said that further studies were needed to answer questions like: Will various strength magnets produce different degrees of benefit? how long does the pain relief last? Will the effect wear off after multiple applications? For what other conditions might magnets work? At the University of Virginia, Ann Gill Taylor's team last month began recruiting 105 volunteers with fibromyalgia, a painful muscle condition of unknown cause, to test magnetic sleep pads. Like the Baylor study, the volunteers and doctors are not told whether the subject will be sleeping on an active or sham magnet. Participants are told that if they try to determine whether their treatment is with a magnet or a sham one, it could ruin the study. But Dr. Taylor said there was no way to prevent cheating. Dr. Taylor said she also planned to conduct studies of possible uses of magnets in relieving phantom limb and stump pain among amputees. Dr. Vallbona said he did not know why magnets worked for many post-polio patients but not for others, or why some said they felt improvement in areas of the body far distant from where the magnet was applied. Magnets' medical benefits have been proclaimed for centuries. So why has it taken so long to do studies to begin to answer the questions? The reasons involve economic, political, professional and human factors. Many doctors criticize the lucrative magnet industry for not investing in studies the way drug companies often do. "They don't do simple research." Dr. Jarvis said, and "it is hard to imagine an easier study to conduct than a magnet one for pain." Yet doctors share the responsibility to do such research, and only rarely have they reported undertaking the scientifically controlled studies needed to settle major disputes about reported therapies. In many such debates, doctors demand a biological explanation for a therapy's benefits. Without documentation that satisfies them, doctors may summarily reject the claims. Yet in their everyday practices, the same doctors may use other therapies that lack scientific proof for why they work. Scientists working in nonprofit medical schools and university hospitals are strongly influenced by economics because they need government grants to pay for their overhead. Since scientific success is measured in part by the dollar amount of their grants, doctors tend not to pay for their studies, even if they are relatively inexpensive. The Baylor study was exceptional. It was done without a grant. Had it been done with government aid, Dr. Vallbona said, it would have cost about $50,000 dollars. Magnaflex provided the active and inactive magnets free, the doctors donated their time and insurance companies were not charged for magnet therapy. Until recently government agencies and the scientists who judge applications to them have tended not to support studies on magnets and other therapies on the fringe. The reluctance is well founded. Over history, so many claims for popular remedies have failed to hold up that many doctors are reluctant to put aside a promising project of their own to study something that may well turn out to be a fad. Scientists are heavily influenced by peer pressure. Senior scientists often discourage younger investigators from replicating another group's studies because doing so is less likely to advance their careers than making novel findings. But in an age of medical consumerism, patient demand is changing some research agendas. For instance, the National Institutes of Health has created an office of alternative medicine, which is paying for magnet studies at the University of Virginia. In tackling fringe areas, scientists usually know they are stepping in deep water, risking scorn from colleagues who believe that what they are studying is theoretically unsound at best and quackery at worst. Even so, many with the courage may not know how deep the waters are |
posted by vanov at 6:46 PM