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Magnet Therapy

Magnets have been used for health purposes for centuries to help pain control arna are considered part of complimentary and alternative medicine.  Here's an overview of a therapy you may find helpful. 


So, how do they work?
  Magnets produce measurable forces called magnetic fields.  Static magnets have magnetic fields that don't change, unlike electromagnets which generate magnetic fields only when electrical current flows through them.  They are usually made from metals like iron or alloys which are mixtures of metals.  Magnets come in different strengths.  The ones marketed for pain usually claim strengths of 300 to 5, 000 G, many times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field (about .5 G) and much weaker than the magnets used for MRI machines (15,000 G or higher).

They are generally considered safe when applied to the skin, but they may not be safe for some people, such as those that use medical devices like pacemakers or defibrillators.  There are many products to try including patches and disks, shoe insoles, bracelets, and mattress pads.  To ensure you are doing the right thing for your health make sure to include your health care provider in any decisions you make regarding alternative medicine.

More research is needed to reach a firm conclusion regarding the power of magnets to reduce pain, but a recent clinical trial for back pain suggested the possibility of a small benefit from using magnets for pain.

 

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