Where should I place magnets for relief? There are three schools of thought about magnet placement:
- At the site of pain,
- At the site of pain and possible referring site, and Acupressure points.
The first method, at the site of pain, is clear - just put them where it hurts. Magnets seem to work best in "balanced" application, for example, on both sides of a sore knee or stiff neck. For this reason, many magnetic products for the elbows, wrists, and knees feature several opposing sets of magnets.
The second method, at the site of pain and possible referring site, is more complex. Knee pain may be caused by an undiagnosed hip problem, or a strained back may show up as shoulder or neck pain. For this reason, do not rely on magnetic devices as medical treatment. If you experience pain, consult a physician.
The third method, Acupressure points, requires either knowledge of acupuncture/Acupressure, or a good diagram of these points and plenty of patience.
Experts recommend you continue trying any and all combinations of these methods until relief is attained. Each human body is different, and will respond differently to any type of therapy.
Close to the Skin! The most important factor in placement is: Close to the Skin. There is an exponential decrease in the strength of a magnet field as the distance from the magnet increases. At a distance of 4 inches from the magnet, the field is less than 1/16th the rated strength of the magnet. This explains why hip joints seldom respond as well to magnetic therapy as do other, smaller joints!
Can magnetic therapy hurt me? According to published clinical studies, magnet use has no side-effects. To be on the safe side, always consult your physician before beginning any type of therapy. Most magnetic products carry warning labels cautioning some potential users:
- People with pacemakers or other implanted medical devices should not use magnet therapy.
- Magnetic products are not recommended for use during pregnancy.
- Do not use magnetic products over an open wound, or in conjunction with any trans dermal drug patch.
- If soreness, rash, or an increase in pain occur, discontinue use and contact your physician.
- Keep magnetic products at least six inches away from credit cards, computers, diskettes, magnetic tapes, video equipment, or similar items, as loss of data may result.
- If you need to clean a magnetic product, hand wash or wipe with gentle detergent; do not machine-wash magnetic items.
How strong should the magnets be? Magnet strength is measured in units called gauss. For comparison the average "refrigerator magnet" may be anywhere from 10 to 100 gauss. Magnets used in therapeutic products vary from about 200 gauss to 2,500 gauss - and some even greater.
Gauss strength can be misleading. Remember that the strength of the magnetic field falls off exponentially as the distance from the surface of the magnet increases. Depending upon the strength, size, and distance from the skin, actual gauss strength inside the human tissue can be much less than the gauss rating of the magnet.
Magnets are another case where bigger is not necessarily better. A stronger magnet may be beneficial inside a mattress several centimeters away from the skin, but applied directly to the skin may not have any more effect that a less powerful magnet. A penetrating field strength of about 450-500 gauss is cited as optimal by several studies.
The depth of penetration of the magnetic field appears to be at least as important as its strength. This can also vary depending upon the strength and size of the magnet. Magnets made from Neodymium, a rare-earth metal, are unusually strong in relation to their size, and therefore believed to have the deepest penetrating fields. Some people may have a skin reaction to direct exposure to some rare-earth magnets. For this reason, many therapeutic magnets are plated with gold or other non-reactive metal.
What does alternating or north mean? Each magnet has two poles - or ends. One pole will naturally seek the earth magnetic north pole, the other pole is its opposite. They are two sides of the same force. The north-seeking pole is often referred to as Bio-North or simply North, and its opposite as South. These terms are descriptions of the magnet polarity. Terms such as positive or negative are not accurate descriptions of magnetic polarity.
Thanks to new technology in magnet manufacture, it is now possible to create magnets with both north and south poles on the same surface of the magnet. This arrangement may be called alternating or bipolar. Many practitioners and manufacturers claim that alternating (North-South-North-South) polarity arrangements are more beneficial than other forms, but there are no definitive studies that support this idea. It is often stated that the north-seeking pole of the magnet is preferable for therapeutic use. Again, there are no clinical studies to document that the effect of either pole is superior or even different.
How quickly should I expect results? The human body is incredibly complex - and each one slightly different from the next in terms of metabolism, likes and dislikes, reactions to food or medications, and so on. It only stands to reason that each human body will react differently to magnetic therapy. Some people experience immediate results, for some it may take days or weeks of consistent use to achieve results. Clinical studies report between 75-85% of patients experience relief using magnetic therapy.
Do not be discouraged if the first attempt proves unsuccessful. Experiment with different placement or magnet strength, be sure your magnetic products contain live magnets, and ask for testimonials or studies to back up claims.
