Do magnets really help ease/cure mild ailments like if you literally put them close to your body part? ?

Question

There's a Co. in Canada whose basic component in their products is the magnet and has claims of its healing properties. How efficient are they? Are they really harmless?

Answer 1

While magnets have been touted for 100's of years,(Mesmer, DD Palmer who invented chiropractic, Paracelsus) there are absolutely no proven health benefits at all from magnets.  Pooterilgattos personal testimonial notwithstanding...

The most common claim (not the only one) is that the magnet acts on the iron in the hemoglobin molecule and draws the redblood cells to the injured area to stimulate healing. Sounds plausible? Almost like science.?

Except:

-the form of iron in the hemoglobin molecule is non-magnetic.(oops)

-if actually true, simply by putting a magnet up to your skin should make it red and warm..like if you put a heat source or rubbed it. Try this at home...nothing happens

-the gauss field of the typical magnets sold for "healing" purposes extends about 1 mm beyond the magnet. About the thickness of a piece of several pieces of paper, therefore it can't even penetrate the skin. (see how many pieces of paper you can hold up with a fridge magnet before it falls) The field drops off by 1 over the square of the distance. (basic physics..look it up) So, in those strap-on wrist and knee gadgets they sell, the magnetic field won't even penetrate the fabric that holds the magnet!

-if little magnets can draw blood to the skin surface, then big magnets should have an even greater effect. But an MRI is a giant magnet with a field many thousands of times stronger than the magnets sold for "healing" purposes. I haven't heard of anybody having the blood sucked out of their body or turning red from having an MRI

-there isn't a single credible study ever done that shows any effect at all beyond the usual Alt Med endpoints "feels good" and "more relaxed". (Pet your dog folks...the effect is the same and you'll be helping another creature in return!)

Answer 2

Certainly harmless, but as far as any benefits go, there's so much speculation (in both directions) that it would be hard to get a definite answer for oneself without trying them out.  Even if it were just a placebo effect, it would still be worth the time and money if they could diminish some pain.  You can buy some of these items to test them out here:  

http://www.quadrabloc.com

Answer 3

I have used magnets to take the pain out of Arthritis.It does relieve pain it did not heal the osteoarthritis. I have used Magnets to heal broken bone, a broken rib was healed in 3 weeks, it is expected to heal in 6 weeks. While skepticism is often expressed. The claims I have heard is that the magnet will take the pain away from cancer patients, it will not heal the cancer. The strength of the magnet is what makes the difference  Strong magnets - about 2000 gauss  Medium Magnets about 500 gauss  Ceramic low power magnets - about 200. gauss.  

Answer 4

No, magnets do nothing for you. There is absolutely no scientific evidence. Not to mention, did you know the earth has a very large magnetic field itself. I would say no because there have been evidence of problems when people live to close to power lines because of electromagnetic radiation. Don't let them rip you off.