Health Attraction:  Biomagnetic Healing

 Introduction

             Magnets can do a whole lot more than stick notes to your refrigerator.  They are utilized in many toys like the kissing dolls and that face with the metal shavings encased in plastic with the magnetic wand to create mustaches and beards on the face.  The magnetic force can hold paper clips together, create sculptures and are included in many magic tricks.

            They exist not only outside your fridge, but inside as well.  They are part of the mechanisms of your television, VCR and your computer.  A compass (which was invented by the Chinese) contains a magnetic arrow to point North.  Medical Diagnosis is sometimes dependent on the use of magnets in the MRI, PET, and CAT Scan.  Surgeons have used magnets to aid in the removal of shrapnel from the body.  Pulsed electromagnetic fields are used to heal nonunion fractures in horses and in humans.

            Cleopatra wore jewelry made of Lodestone, which has magnetic properties.  The Yellow Emperor’s Book of Internal Medicine from 2000 B.C. mentions the use of magnetic stones.

            Today magnets are used in a majority of Japanese households for health and healing.  Our Earth is a magnet.  It has an iron core with a North and South Pole.  It emits a magnetic field.  Thousands and thousands of years ago, the Earth had a Gauss of 4.  Now it has a Gauss of .5.  A Gauss is a measurement of the strength of a magnetic field.  It was named for a German scientist named Carl Friedrich Gauss in the early nineteenth century.  A refrigerator magnet is about 10 Gauss.  A therapeutic magnet is at least 10 times that strength.  Gauss refers to the number of lines of magnetic force in 1 square centimeter.  A 500 Gauss magnet has 500 lines of magnetic force in a square centimeter.

How does the Earth’s Magnetic Field Affect Us?

            The Earth’s magnetic field is diminishing and the incidence of chronic disease is increasing.  This could be the reason for the increase in the occurrence of cancers, fibromyalgia, arthritis and insomnia.

            Lourdes, France and Sedona, Arizona have higher magnetic fields than everywhere else.  It is believed the water contains less bacteria and more immune boosting power in these areas.  Cancer is rare among the Hopi Indians in Arizona.          

            There was a study done involving a group of mice.  One half of them where placed in cages shielded from the Earth’s magnetic field, and the others were not.  The mice in the cages that were shielded lost their fur and died.  The others remained healthy.

            Homing Pigeons rely on the sun’s position and the Earth’s magnetic field to find their way.  On a cloudy day, when the sun is not visible, the birds rely on the magnetic field method.  Scientists attached magnets to the birds on a cloudy day and they became confused and lost their way.  The attached magnets interfered with the bird’s ability to use the Earth’s magnetic field

What is a magnet?

            Everything that exists is made up of atoms.  An atom consists of a nucleus of protons (which are positively charged particles), neutrons (which are neutral and don’t emit a charge), and the same number of electrons (which have a negative charge) to form a neutral atom.  Quantum Physics (which is the study of these indivisible particles and how they emit and absorb energy) has shown that a distinction between matter and energy is lost at a subatomic level.  This is a very important point as will be shown later.

            Many atoms of the same kind make molecules.  The atoms of metals such as iron, nickel, aluminum and cobalt are easier to magnetize because the electrons line up when exposed to a magnetic force.  The electrons of wood, plastic and paper do not respond in this fashion making them unsuitable to become magnets.

            Neodynium and boron are 10X more powerful than iron so most of your permanent magnets are composed of these metals.  A refrigerator magnet is permanent.  Magnets of the sculpture toy are not.  They lose their magnetic properties when they are not exposed to the magnetic base of the toy.

             When these metals are placed in a magnetic field, the atoms line up like little soldiers in front of the general.  This causes a polarity.  When iron filings are placed around the polarity they show the lines of force called the magnetic flux lines.

  When two negative or two positive poles are placed in contact with each other they will repel.  When a positive and negative pole in proximity to each other they will attract.

A scientist named Michael Faraday did an experiment.  You may have done a similar one in high school.  He wrapped a metal coil around a donut shaped piece of iron and attached a power source and a compass.  When the battery was turned on a current flowed through the wire (this is called electricity- a flow of electrons) and this caused the metal ring to become a magnet and create a magnetic field that deflected the compass.  This experiment shows that electricity and magnetism are similar.  This is also a very important point. 

            We know the body is electric and has electric fields because we can measure brain waves in the EEG, heart waves in the EKG and electrical impulses of the muscles in the EMG.  There is a special imaging method that shows the body has an aura.

How do these magnets work in the body?

             Basically, magnets work by emitting a magnetic field and that force penetrates the skin.  There are many theories about how this occurs.   One theory suggests that the magnetic field attracts the iron portion of the red blood cells increasing the blood flow, oxygen delivery, immune response and the removal of toxins.  As a result, inflammation, swelling and pain are reduced and healing is facilitated.  Linus Pauling, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in Chemistry in 1954 discovered the magnetic properties of hemoglobin, which is the iron-containing portion of the red blood cell.

            Another theory involves calcium.  Calcium may be attracted to the site, which adjusts the pH of the blood promoting optimum enzyme and hormone function.  Magnets may pull calcium out of painful joints.

            The magnetic field may affect the pineal gland.  This gland is located in the center of the brain and is responsible for regulating seratonin, enzymes, immune response, carbohydrate metabolism, pigment by melanin, governing of stress tolerance and raises melatonin levels at night to calm and promote sleep.

            Pain relief may be achieved by blocking the depolarization potential of the cell.  Pain changes the polarity of the membrane.  By raising the depolarization potential of the cell, it raises the endurance of the cell and combats fatigue.  Depolarization makes the cells perform less efficiently and results in fatigue.

            Some feel that magnets act like an antioxidant and help control damage from free radicals in degenerative disease and aging.

            From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, the Yin (blood and fluids) and the Yang (Qi) flow through the channels.  Yin and Yang are opposing forces like the positive and negative poles.  When they are out of balance Qi is obstructed and pain and disharmony occurs.

What conditions can you use magnets for?

            Magnetic insoles are used for lower back, leg and foot pain, and peripheral neuropathy of diabetes, numbness and tingling.

            Magnet dots can be placed on the shoulders for pain.  Anthony Hopkins claims that within two weeks of starting magnet therapy he experienced relief of shoulder and neck pain.

            Headbands can be used for headaches.

            There are bracelets and hand wraps for arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis and carpel tunnel syndrome.

            Magnetic mattresses and pillows are available for fibromyalgia, achy muscles, sleep disturbance, neck, shoulder and back pain resulting from accidents or sports.

            Horse trainers use magnets for nonunion fractures and tibular stress syndrome in horses.

            They are used for tibular stress syndrome in humans.

            They are popular with tennis and golf professionals.  They are used for tennis elbow.  Golfer Jim Colbert and 90% of the senior PGA players use magnets.

            They can be used during exercise to prevent strain.  Dan Marino from the Miami Dolphins uses magnets.

            Long distance truck drivers from companies like Indian River use back magnets and pads for back. 

            Magnets can be used for menstrual discomfort and phantom limb pain from amputation.

            Stylish necklaces are available for neck pain, asthma, lung problems and thyroid dysfunction.

            Magnets are not a cure.  They reduce pain and alleviate symptoms.

They enhance the body’s utilization of healthy food, exercise and herbs.  They should be used as an adjunct to Amma, Acupuncture, Stress Management, Exercise and Diet.

Are there any contraindications to magnets?

Yes.

1. People with pacemakers

2. Pregnancy

3.  People who have metal plates, pins and stents (Titanium is O.K.)

4. Open wounds and post-operatively because they decrease the stickiness of the platelets like aspirin and may increase bleeding time.

5. Epilepsy

6. Cochlear implants

7. Cancer and Infection.  Some people believe that the South Pole can increase viral, bacterial and cancer growth.

 Conclusion

             Remember matter, energy, magnetism and electricity and Qi are all the same.  They can all exert an influence on each other.  In Amma the therapists’ energy emits a force on the clients’ channels to facilitate the movement of Qi, Blood, and Fluids and promote healing.

            The Magnets are like miniature traveling Amma Therapists that continually keep Qi flowing freely and allow healing to take place.

            You may not be able to see the Qi, but you can feel the heat or tingling.  That is the evidence that the Qi is there.

             Click here for more information on Magnetic Healing and how to obtain them.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Becker M.D., Robert O.  The Body Electric:  Electromagnetism and the Foundation of      Life.  New York:  William Morrow, l985.

 Free, Valerie.  The Fields of Healing.  www.atlanticrising.com/issue5/ar5heal.html.

 Ferraro, Susan.  Drawn to Magnets.  New York Daily News.  Tuesday, June 22, l999.

 Lawrence M.D., Ron, and Rosch, M.D., Paul J.  Magnet Therapy:  The Pain Cure Alternative. California:  Primahealth, l998. 

Livingston, James D., Driving Force.  Cambridge, Massachusetts:  Harvard University Press, l996.

 Null Ph.D., Gary. Healing With Magnets. New York:  Carroll & Graf Publishers, l998.

 Null Ph.D., Gary.  Biomagnetic Healing.   www.garynull.com/Documents/magnets.htm. 2000.

 Tierra O. M.D., Michael, Biomagnetic and Herbal Therapy. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin:  Lotus Press, l997.

 Whitaker, M.D., Julian, and Adderly, M.H.A, Brenda.  The Pain Relief Breakthrough:  The Power of Magnets.  Boston:  Little, Brown and Company, l998.

 www.globalhealthproducts.com/maghealing.html.