In some parts of the world, magnetic therapy is used to help people suffering from depression Magnets are believed by many to have healing powers. Many claim that magnetic therapy is very helpful in reducing back pain, neck pain, muscle soreness, carpal tunnel, and arthritis.
There are positive testimonials aplenty. People claim that placing magnets on their body relieves pain that mainstream medicine could not.
Most scientists and doctors believe magnetic healing therapy to be nothing more than the placebo effect. They don’t believe that magnets are strong enough to effect the blood flow underneath the skin. Because it’s not taken seriously by the mainstream medical community, magnetic therapy is considered to be a form of alternative medicine.
Alternative healers still encourage clients to visit certified physicians and to take their prescribed medicine. Even if magnetic therapy does appear to work, it still should never be used as any sort of substitute. It’s intended to supplement other regular treatments for soreness and pain.
In some parts of the world, magnetic therapy is used to help people suffering from depression as well. According to anecdotal reports, Tibetan monks use magnets to help relieve depression. They hold magnets while meditating in order to enhance the calming experience.
Interestingly, clinical studies have been done about magnetic therapy. When the magnetic field is north-up, males tend to be energized and females seem to feel inhibited and down. Likewise, when the magnetic field is south-up, women tend to be energized and vice versa.
Transcranian Magnetic Stimulation—or TMS—is the process of activating specific areas of the brain with electrical energy. This is done with a coil of wires placed on or near the head. In order to treat depression, the TMS needs to placed over the front part of the head, since that part of the brain is associated with mood. This is said to get the part of the brain that is responsible for mood regulation up and going again, thus relieving depression.
Magnetic therapy can come in the form of jewelry, pillows, mattresses, back pads, wraps, seat cushions, and so forth. There are even magnetic pet for animals! While some believe that these products are nothing more than attempts to rip people off, proponents of magnetic therapy argue that they really can help.
Whether magnetic therapy really can help treat pain and depression, or if it’s nothing more than a placebo effect, we may never know. Still, it’s an interesting concept, and hopefully more studies will be done in the future.
