Despite claims that have been going on for centuries and products sold worldwide bringing in profits in the billions, people have been asking the question, "Do magnets relieve pain?" There have been many tests done, but the results have largely been found to be inconclusive. Reports from those who use magnets to help relieve pain have been more sure of the results and claim numerous benefits form the use of magnets. Is this all in their head or is there something to this?
What are the claims?
Going back as far as the ancient Greeks, there have been claims saying that magnets can cure or help all kinds of pains. Today those claims vary from helping arthritis or even cancer and maybe depression. Much of the attention, though has been on its effect on circulation. The industry has grown into a billion dollar industry selling products of all shapes and sizes from just a few dollars a piece or hundreds of dollars. A lot of the attention has been on its effect on blood circulation when placed on the affected area, the electromagnetic field having a positive impact on the body.
There have been quite a few people who have made a lot of money selling people on magnets promising all kinds of benefits, but delivering on very few if any. The numerous claims that have been made have caused many people to doubt their power.
There have been tests done recently, however, that show when a magnet of even a smaller size is placed over the blood stream that there is an increase in circulation. Blood circulation does help with healing, but how much it actually helps is unknown. It does lend credence to some of the claims made by those who use magnets for help in controlling pain. How magnets cause the circulation to be improved is unknown, but the evidence is there to show that it does help somewhat.
It seems that magnets help reduce inflammation much like an aspirin does or the use of cold compress. Magnets have the benefit of not having any negative side-effects like many anti-inflammatory will after a long period of time. They are also quite a bit more convenient than other pain treatments.
As with many other pain treatments, you should go in understanding that not every treatment is going to work on everyone the same. Also, realize that many claims that you hear and read about concerning magnets are true. While there has been seen some results, it should be noted that the results are far from being conclusive and should all be taken with a grain of salt.
Will magnets help your pain? You probably shouldn't go and spend much money on them, but if you are looking for something that might aid in your pain management without the side-effects, then using magnets might work for you in the same way that people have said for thousands of years.
