By : Dr. Mark Clayson
Magnetic therapy is often regarded as one of the health practices that is one sided- many either disbelieve in it entirely or believe it is real from ‘experience’. It has been said that magnets could be used in therapy to treat broken bones and depressions, although there is no firm medical evidence for this.
A process called transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, has been used to treat mental disorders such as depression. Many have seen the ads on television about the magnetic bracelets that ‘increases blood flow, cures arthritis pains, and relaxes muscles’. The only evidence that this is true is a single experiment done in 2004, which proved it could help osteoarthritis in the hip and knee.
Many see the process like acupuncture- not a direct treatment, but something to ‘help’ the body along. The magnetic bracelets sold most likely don’t work, for it is the magnetic field in general that does the healing, not the magnet. If you are serious about trying the process, consult someone such as an acupuncturist to tell you more about it- not the people in the local health shop.
Magnets don’t cost much, and don’t hurt anyone- making it the perfect sales pitch to entrepreneurs looking to make a quick buck. Further research is being conducted, but it is often hard to control all of the parameters necessary for a successful experiment.
Some think magnet bracelets act like a placebo- but if you think it works for you, than you should obviously continue using it. If you are skeptical, it is probably better you wait for more research to be published before buying the next expensive magnet bracelet.
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