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Definition
Magnetic field therapy is the use of magnets
and electrical devices to treat and diagnose many medical conditions,
including
Purpose
Magnetic field therapy (MFT) is an
alternative treatment for a wide variety of symptoms, most notably for
pain.
While the use of magnets for healing has a
centuries-old history, only recently have some controlled studies been
done which demonstrate the effectiveness of magnetic field therapy.
The human body is surrounded by magnetic
fields present on the earth, and the body is full of magnetic materials.
Magnetic fields penetrate the body easily, because it is 70% water and
offers no resistance.
A strong magnet held on one side of the hand
can easily affect the needle on a compass on the other side of the same
hand.
Measurements show that tissue that has been exposed
to a magnet will keep enhanced magnetic signals for sometime afterwards.
Different types of magnets can produce these effects, including flat
magnetic pads and electromagnets, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
machines and nerve conduction testing devices.
The mechanism of action of MFT is not understood.
Possible explanations of its beneficial effect on the body include its
ability to increase blood flow, change the alignment of bodily
electromagnetic fields, and interact with acupuncture points and meridians
on the body.
Certainly the placebo effect, in which a treatment is
helpful because the patient thinks it is, may be acting in some cases.
However, MFT has also been used successfully in treating pain in horses,
where the placebo effect presumably is not a factor.
Claims of successful treatment have been made for
many more conditions, including cancer, arthritis, headache, sleep
disorders, neurological disease, stress-related conditions, and
osteoporosis.
Some double-blind scientific studies have shown
varying results in the use of MFT to reduce pain associated with hip
replacement and heel pain. Another small investigation demonstrated
improvement in the healing of leg ulcers.
Precautions
MFT is not approved by the Food and Drug
Administration as a treatment for any medical condition, and magnetic
therapy products are not registered medical devices. Those with cardiac
pacemakers or other implanted devices should not use magnets.
Marketers of MFT devices warn against use during pregnancy or on open wounds, and state
that magnets may cause pain, toxin release, medication interactions,
digestive difficulties, seizures, insomnia, hyperactivity, and tumor
growth.
Description
Magnetic therapy can be applied in many ways, from
the use of small, simple magnets to a large machine. Small magnets, either
embedded in flexible plastic or wrapped in cloth, are strapped over the
area to be treated, and left in place for variable lengths of time.
They
can also be carried in a person's pocket or placed in a shoe. Magnetic
blankets and mattress pads also are available. Large machines that can
generate high levels of field strength are used for treating fractures
that are slow to heal, and in pseudoarthritis, a joint disease caused by
nerve breakdown.
Risks
In the limited studies of MFT, no adverse effects
have been reported. Since the body's electromagnetic fields are easily
altered, magnetic therapy should be practiced under the supervision of an
experienced professional.
Normal Results
MFT seems to be effective, according to the
literature, for relief of some types of pain and in healing leg ulcers.
Further study is needed to confirm its effectiveness in treating other
conditions. |
