During the past few years, magnetic devices have been claimed to relieve pain and to have therapeutic value against a large number of diseases and conditions. The way to evaluate such claims is to ask whether scientific studies have been published. Pulsed electromagnetic fields -- which induce measurable electric fields -- have been demonstrated effective for treating slow-healing fractures and have shown promise for a few other conditions.  There have been many tests conducted that suggest magnet therapy can increase circulation, help you to heal faster from bruises and cuts, can help relieve the pain of arthritis, and helps to alleviate back pain problems.

One of these tests is a double-blind test study, conducted at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, which compared the effects of magnets and fake magnets on knee pain. The study involved 50 adult patients with pain related to having been infected with the polio virus when they were children. A static magnetic device or a placebo device was applied to the patient's skin for 45 minutes. The patients were asked to rate how much pain they experienced when a "trigger point was touched." The researchers reported that the 29 patients exposed to the magnetic device achieved lower pain scores than did the 21 who were exposed to the placebo device.  This is just one study of the many conducted showing positive results concluding that magnets have health related benefits.

The most widely studied application of electromagnetic field therapy in human medicine is in fracture therapy. Although the mechanisms remain undetermined, several studies report that electrical fields generated by pulsating electromagnetic field therapy stimulate biologic processes pertinent to osteogenesis and bone graft incorporation.  This form of therapy is approved for the treatment of delayed and non-union fractures in humans in the U.S. by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Effectiveness of the treatment is supported by at least two double-blind studies.

A new test has been conducted at the University of Virginia showing some new amazing results as well.  The actual results of the study are published in the February 23rd issue of the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine."  They divided 94 fibromyalgia patients into four groups; one group with sham magnets, one with no magnets, just their usual fibromyalgia medication, one group with a whole body low static exposure, and one group with a low static pad similar to the last, but with very few magnets and a large space between them.  We would call these magnetic mattress pads.  Ann Gill Taylor, R.N., Ed.D., and study investigator was quoted saying "...we did find a statistically significant difference in pain intensity reduction for one of the active magnet pad groups."  The members of this group reported that they not only felt better overall, but their pain during recovery wasn't intense, and the small number of tender points on the body had improved.  The other group using fewer magnets reported the same results.  Magnet therapy reduced fibromyalgia pain intensity enough in one group of study participants to be "clinically meaningful," the researchers said.

These sources of information have come from the following:

1. Shimizu, T., et al. Bone ingrowths into porous calcium phosphate ceramics; influence of pulsating electromagnetic field. J Orthop Res 6: 248-258, 1988.
2. Rubin, C, McLeod, K and Lanyon, L. Prevention of osteoporosis by pulsed electromagnetic fields. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 71: 411-416, 1989.
3. Cruess, R. and Bassett, CAL. The effect of pulsing electromagnetic fields on bone metabolism in experimental disuse osteoporosis. Clin Orthop 173: 345-250, 1983.
4. Miller, G., et al. Electromagnetic stimulation of canine bone grafts. J Bone and Joint Surg [Am} 66: 693-698, 1984.
5. Kold, S. and Hickman, J. Preliminary study of quantitative aspects and the effect of pulsed electromagnetic field treatment on the incorporation of equine cancellous bone grafts. Eq Vet J 19(2): 120-124, 1987.
6. Sharrard, W. A double blind trial of pulsed electromagnetic fields for delayed union of tibial fractures. J Bone and Joint Surg [Br] 72: 347-355, 1990.
7. Mooney, V. A randomized double blind prospective study of the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic fields for interbody lumbar fusions. Spine 15: 708-712, 1990.

Here is a pain relief study that had negative results:

The problem with this study is the way they attempted to treat the subjects.  Magnet therapy isn't a medication that cures you when the pill hits your mouth.  Magnet therapy is merely a trigger, or catalyst.  Look at this study as a visit to the doctor.  You are sick, you are then prescribed a medication to treat that with no guarantee of a cure, and you are expected to take the medicine.  If you only take the medicine 6 times in three weeks (which is exactly how the study went),  it would be obvious that the little amount of medication you took would not do much good, and your body would be left to heal itself.  Magnet therapy is effective only when it is around you, so by treating these patients 6 times in a three week period, you are doing very little for their recovery.  But magnet therapy, unlike medication, can be constantly worn without any known negative effect or possibility of overdose.  To this day there has been no record of anyone dying from an overdose of magnetics!

Some people doubt that magnet therapy helps you to heal, but everyone is entitled to an opinion.  There are skeptics from all walks of life and in all areas of research.  There were once individuals who said the earth wasn't round, but we all know how wrong they were; and they too were a majority then.  It just goes to show that the human mind is truly and ultimately influenced by themselves, and those they feel associated with. 

There have been people who made outrageous claims of "miracle magnets" that are a cure all.  These are the people who take advantage of those in need, simply because they can.  These individuals have created a bad name for all others in the field, and we want to show you two of these companies below.

Legal and Regulatory Actions

In 1999, the FTC obtained a consent agreement barring two companies from making unsubstantiated claims about their magnetic products. Magnetic Therapeutic Technologies, of Irving, Texas, is barred from claiming that its magnetic sleep pads or other products: (a) are effective against cancers and diabetic ulcers; (b) could stabilize or increase the T-cell count of HIV patients; (c) could reduce nerve spasms associated with diabetic neuropathy; (d) and could increase bone density.

Pain Stops Here! Inc., of Baiting Hollow, N.Y., may no longer claim that its "magnetized water" or other products are useful against cancer, diseases of the liver or other internal organs, gallstones, kidney stones, urinary infection, gastric ulcers, dysentery, diarrhea, skin ulcers, bed sores, sciatica, heart disease, auto-immune illness, neuro-degenerative disease, and could stimulate the growth of plants.

As I stated previously, these sorts of miracle cures are fraudulent and make those in this particular field of science seem bad, but one rotten grape doesn't mean the entire bunch is rotten.

The Bottom Line

There is scientific basis to conclude that magnet therapy can influence the body. Many of today's products produce a significant magnetic field at or beneath the skin's surface.

Please note that we do not prescribe magnets as medication nor do we make any claims as to the effect on you.  This page is to be used as reference only.  The studies above have been cited and were not conducted by us, for us, or with our knowledge prior to.

Horses & The Benefits of Bio-Magnetics and Magnethotherapy

Bio-magnetics is a natural science dealing with the application of magnetic fields to living things.

Some of the effects that magnetic energy has on living metabolic systems are....

*oxygenation of tissues

*fights infection

*reduces fluid retention

*encourages deep sleep

*supports biological healing

*reduces inflammation

*normalizes acid base balance

*relieves/stops pain and other symptoms

*promotes mental acuity

*reduces/dissolves fatty deposits

*aids in reducing fat and calcium deposits in circulatory system

*promotes growth of healthy tissue

Magnethotherapy is the treatment of illness/discomfort with magnetic energy/current.

Magnethotherapy is...

*Natural, simple, fast, safe, inexpensive

*External, non-invasive

*Free from any adverse side effects.

What Magnethotherapy does...

*Stimulates blood flow

*Increases circulation

*Improves lymphatic drainage

Magnethotherapy is...

*NOT a cure

*NOT chemistry

The magnetic field does not heal; it merely aids the cells in creating an optimum environment in which the body can begin to heal itself.