What is Magnetic Therapy Treatment

In times gone by, numerous well-known folks have used magnetic therapy treatment. Cleopatra was possibly the first documented celebrity to sleep on a magnetic bed, also known as a lodestone, to keep her skin youthful. Aristotle and Plato were two other prominent advocates for the healing power of magnets. The personal physician to Queen Elizabeth I said she used magnets under his supervision as well. Nowadays, the field of classical electrodynamics has continued to astound researchers as it provides unexpected relief for apparently permanent ailments from stroke-related speech impairments and comas through to post traumatic stress disorder and chronic depression.

Twelve months ago, a Chicago man drove over a curb, flipped his car and ended up in a coma. Over the last year, he would occasionally open his eyes but brain damage was said to be so severe that medical professionals agreed that he would almost certainly never regain responsiveness. Nevertheless, after fifteen sessions of magnetic therapy, the man opened his eyes and looked at his mother. Doctors believe the electromagnetic pulse from transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS sent a wake up call to the nerve cells. Before long, he was able to comply with simple instructions such as following the movement of a thumb around the room and speaking single words. Although it is too early to say whether electromagnetics can work for all coma patients, researchers around the globe are excited about the possibility of this non-invasive treatment, which can be carried out without the use of drugs or anaesthetics.

Chronic back pain is another reason to use magnetic pain reducing products. Therion, a leading manufacturer of magnetic therapy products, won the coveted "2008 Gear Award" from Shape You, for their Platinum Lower Back Support system. The magnetic back brace provides relief for sufferers of lower back pain from sciatica, arthritis, muscle strains, arthritis, fibromyalgia and herniated discs.

Through thirty-six research grade magnets at targeted locations, the lumbar region receives a soothing sensation from a 12,800 gauss magnetic field.

According to the Magnetic Therapy Council, the pain of sciatica can be resolved in just a few days when a magnetic brace or magnetic pillow is used in conjunction with deep penetrating massage and cold ice therapy.

"Massage will relax the muscles that have gone into spasm around the trapped nerve, the cold or ice will help reduce the inflammation and heat around the injury, and both of these will prepare the tissues and muscles, so that the magnetic field can penetrate more quickly into the damaged area," the site says.

The therapy can be done three to four times a day for ten minutes at a time.

Certainly, magnetic therapy treatment is not some sort of magic cure all and although a magnetic pillow or magnetic pad may not be expensive, actual transcranial magnetic stimulation is. TMS is expected to cost anywhere from six to ten thousand dollars, depending on how many treatments are required. On one hand, it is cheaper and less invasive than surgery; but conversely, there are few studies to validate the long-lasting efficiency when treatments are stopped. Perhaps researchers have just hit the tip of the iceberg for magnetic treatments and many more breakthroughs are sure to come.