Attracted to magnetic therapy

A concerned reader (and son) writes about his mother and how attracted she is to magnets.

Dear Consumerline,

Of late, my mother has been into all sorts of magnetic products. I heard that magnets are good for strained muscles and such, but she’s going all out with this. She owns several magnetic massagers and drinks water solely from a water bottle with a magnet inside. Are there any downsides to this? I wonder if you could give me the complete lowdown on these products.

– JAN MICHAEL ALDEGUER

The magnetic appeal of your letter drew our attention to the website of the Magnetic Therapy Sales Specialists Inc. Yes, like iron filings to a magnet. Fact is, the use of magnets for healing has been documented worldwide. However, some of us may only be familiar with the magnets that are found all over our refrigerator door, where we like to post all sorts of reminders and frequently called telephone numbers, from pizza delivery to the beauty parlor and sometimes even the funeral parlor. We’re not talking about that kind of magnet, that’s got anywhere from 10 to 100 gauss (unit of magnet strength). We’re talking about therapeutic magnets with a strength that varies from about 200 to 2,500 gauss.

Indeed, magnetic therapy has attracted quite a following even in this country. If this piece has attracted you to read this far, here are some FAQs and their answers, as provided by Magnetic Therapy Sales Specialists Inc.

How does magnetic therapy work?

No one really knows for sure. But some doctors believe that the magnetic field affects the iron component of the blood, hemoglobin, thus increasing circulation to the area where the magnet is applied.

Another theory is that the magnetic field energizes and oxygenates the white corpuscles in the blood stream, which are said to be nature’s healing agents. The charged ions increase the blood flow, which provides increased oxygenation to the blood. This increased oxygenation enhances the body’s natural healing powers, resulting in less pain, decreased inflammation and, possibly, increased energy levels. Speaking of the latter, some athletes wear magnetic accessories (pendants or bracelets), for instance, to be able to perform at peak levels under pressure.

Where should I place the magnet for relief?

There are three schools of thought here:

• At the site of pain: Just put the magnet where it hurts. Magnets seem to work best in "balanced" application – like on both sides of a sore knee or stiff neck. This is why many magnetic products (for elbows, wrists, knees, etc.) feature several opposing sets of magnets.

• At the site of pain and possible "referring " site: This is more complex because knee pain, for instance, may be caused by an undiagnosed hip problem, or a strained back may disguise itself as a shoulder or neck pain. Thus, if you experience pain, you should consult a doctor and not rely on magnetic devices.

• Acupressure points: This method requires either knowledge of acupuncture/acupressure or a good diagram of these points plus tons of patience.

How safe is magnetic therapy? Who can/can’t use it?

According to clinical studies, the use of magnets has no side effects. But to be on the safe side, consult a doctor before going into any type of magnetic therapy (there are as many treatment options as there are magnet users). Note, too, that most magnetic products carry warning labels, such as:

• People with pacemakers or other implanted medical devices should not use magnet therapy.

• Magnetic products are not recommended for use during pregnancy.

• Do not use magnetic products over an open wound, or in conjunction with any transdermal drug patch.

• If soreness, rash or an increase in pain occurs, discontinue use and call your doctor.

• Keep magnetic products at least six inches away from credit cards, computers, diskettes, magnetic tapes, video equipment or similar items, as loss of data may result.

• Do not machine-wash magnetic products – simply hand wash or wipe with gentle detergent.

How quickly do results show?

Each human body will react differently to magnetic therapy – people have different metabolisms, reactions to medications, etc. Some people may experience instant results while for some others, it may take days or weeks of consistent use to achieve results. According to clinical studies, between 75 and 85 percent of patients experience relief after magnetic therapy.

Here’s a letter from a senior citizen card-carrying reader:

Dear Consumerline,

In the interest of all senior citizens out there, I would like to inform you about what happened to me and my wife recently. I took my wife to Clinica Manila at Megamall that afternoon and the doctor there prescribed her an antibiotic, Levox, which is rather expensive at P177 each. The prescription was for seven pieces to be taken once a day. We first went to a lesser-known drug store. Being a senior citizen, my wife showed the attendant her senior citizen card. After a while, the girl returned to say that they only had five pieces of the prescribed antibiotic left, so we decided to just leave and buy somewhere else. But we saw another outlet of this drug store, a bigger one, and decided to try our luck there. We asked about Levox and the girl said they carried it. She was attending to other customers so we waited for quite sometime. Then my wife brought out her senior citizen card and you know what the girl said? "Sorry, but we only have five pieces left." And to think that I was watching her all this time and she never even checked anywhere.

Is this because this drug store doesn’t really intend to sell more than five pieces of this expensive antibiotic to senior citizens, who are entitled to as much as 20 percent discount on their purchase? Out of Megamall, we went to the first Mercury Drug and got all seven pieces of Levox without any problem.

– DOMINADOR UY

If there’s anything bugging you and you think we can help, e-mail us at ching_alano@yahoo.com.