Magnetic Field Therapy

 Various pioneers of magnetism as therapy were the French Royal Society of Medicine in 1777; Franz Anton Mesmer, who catalyzed the use of hypnosis and ' animal magnetism ' in mind-body medicine; the French chemist Louis Pasteur, who believed that magnets stimulated the fermentation process; and Dr. C.J.Thacher  of the Chicago Magnet Company, who assumed that using the body and clothing magnets and accessories helped alleviate disease-related pain in the limbs. 

 The father of modern homeopathy Samuel Hahnemann frequently experimented with and promoted the use of therapeutic magnets. 

 Contemporary theory says that magnetic fields can affect the human body's work. 

 In his book A Practical Guide to Vibrational Medicine (New York: Quill, 2000, p. 266), Richard Gerber, M.D., wrote: "The spectrum of natural and man-made magnetic fields includes a variety of different forms and characters of magnetism. Each of these magnetic field forms has the potential to influence human biology openly or silently. 

 For human survival both internal and external magnetic energy fields are required. 

 In Magnet Therapy: An Alternative Medicine Complete Guide (AlternativeMedicine.com Books, 2000), co-authored by Dwight K. Kalita, Ph.D., and William H. Philpott, M.D. Burton Goldberg, wrote that negative magnetic fields 

• normalize pH;  
•  oxygenate cells;
• resolve cellular edema; 
• usually reduce symptoms;
• inhibit microorganism replication and slow down infection; 
• reduce pain and inflammation; 
• govern rest, relaxation, and sleep; 
• evoke anabolic hormone production (melatonin and growth hormone); 
• clear metabolically produced toxins from the body;  
• eliminate free radicals; 
• and slow down electrical brain activity.
   

 While negative fields have a tranquilizing effect, positive magnetic fields have a stressful effect, disrupting metabolic function, producing acidity, inhibiting cell oxygen flow, and encouraging microorganism growth. 

Supporters of magnetic therapy also assert that magnets used in beds, clothes and chair pads affect the ability of the body to fight exhaustion and control body temperature even under severe atmospheric conditions. 

Many patients may experience discomfort or symptomatic reactions to certain medications, or may have more serious toxin reactions that may be released into the body. 

Magnets are also not approved for use during pregnancy or for prolonged periods on the abdomen. 

While modern practitioners have widely accepted magnetic field diagnostic procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the application of the positive magnetic pole is known to stimulate tumor growth, facilitate addictive behaviour, and cause seizures, hallucinations, insomnia and hyperactivity. 

Clinical monitoring is needed for magnetic therapy. Gerber also cites an illness identified by Japanese researchers led by Dr. Kyoichi Nakagawa in the 1950s called "magnetic-field deficiency syndrome (MFDS). 

Several people in Japanese cities encountered symptoms including chronic fatigue and insomnia that were ultimately due to the fact that in large modern buildings iron and steel girders blocked the flow of magnetic energy from the Earth. 

It was concluded that people who spent considerable time in those buildings did not receive as much magnetic energy as those who spent time in wood buildings or other organic materials did.  

In other experiments, blocking the flow of magnetism by covering the heads and adrenal regions of master dowsers with magnetically shielded material has affected their ability to detect weak magnetic fields.