SOUL + BODY: More Ways Magnets Heal

For centuries, magnets have been used to treat a host of illnesses, and today, they are a multimillion-dollar business. But do they really have healing power? Here’s the latest:
    • Depression A large-scale study conducted by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a noninvasive technique that uses bursts of magnetic energy to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, is an effective treatment for people who suffer from major depression. Participants in this study had not responded previously to conventional antidepressant medication. For the study, some were given active TMS; others were given “sham” TMS (a placebo). After four to six weeks, the participants who were given active TMS had positive response and remission rates that were approximately twice those of the participants who received the sham. This landmark research could herald a new approach to treating major depression and could be particularly beneficial for patients who cannot tolerate or who have not responded to pharmaceutical treatments.
    • Microcirculation A five-year study at the University of Virginia, funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, found that magnetic therapy had a beneficial effect on microcirculation — a major claim made by many companies that sell magnets. Researchers first measured the blood vessel diameter of laboratory rats and then placed strong magnets — about 10 times the strength of a refrigerator magnet — near the rats’ blood vessels. When they measured the rats’ blood vessel diameter after exposure to the magnets, they discovered there had been a significant effect in relaxing and dilating constricted vessels, which relates to increased blood flow, reduced swelling, and improved wound healing. They concluded that magnets could be used in much the same way as ice packs and compression are used to treat sprains, bumps, and bruises — but with faster and better results. The researchers hope to continue to assess the effectiveness of magnets through clinical trials and testing in athletes.
    Additional studies on the healing power of magnets are underway at NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. These include:
    • Static magnets, used to relieve fibromyalgia pain and for improved quality of life
    • Pulsed electromagnets, used to alleviate migraine headache pain
    • Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), used to minimize symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
    • Electromagnets, for injured nerve and muscle cells

Monika Rice