Here is a typical story about biomagnetic therapy: A local doctor, who happens to be open-minded about certain less conventional health therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic, has been taking his 12-year-old daughter to see an orthopedic specialist for pain in her elbow. Turns out the daughter has a bone-growth irregularity, and the specialist recommends allowing the bones in the joint to develop more fully before taking corrective action.

About the same time, the father/physician has been talking with a former colleague about magnet therapy. He hears that magnets increase blood circulation to an area and boost the number of red blood cells, thanks to the interaction between an electro-magnetic field and electrolytes like sodium and potassium in the bloodstream.

There might be a catch. The colleague's wife is involved with a Japanese multilevel marketing firm that sells therapeutic magnet products. The colleague provides some product samples, along with a thick stack of translated research literature, which "has been mostly done in Russia."

The physician is skeptical but decides to try a magnet wrap on his daughter's elbow.

"Her pain started to decrease almost immediately," he recalled. "Within a few hours it was practically gone. At first, her elbow would start hurting again if she stopped using the magnet. Gradually, over a few weeks, the pain would go away and stayed away.

Anecdotes abound about biomagnetic therapy for pain relief. It's estimated that about 20 golfers on the PGA Senior Tour wouldn't be able to compete each week without magnets attached with elastic wraps, Velcro, belts or medical tape attached to knees, backs, elbows, necks, hips and other body areas.

Jim Colbert, one of the circuit's big winners, credits his success to wide-strip magnets he wears on his back. He also sleeps on a magnetic mattress pad product, which is typically fabric-covered foam padding with the magnets sewn inside. He said his back pain used to sideline him for a good part of the golf season. Now he hasn't missed a day, and keeps ringing up prize money.

FEELING GOOD

Chi Chi Rodriguez, another popular senior player, has been using a magnetic mattress since a trip to Japan some 30 years ago. Magnets are widely used for pain and overall well-ness in that country, as evidenced by the dozens of tiny ones taped to the body of New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabo.

Pro football players are reporting quicker recovery from injury with the use of magnets. Ronnie Loll, the former all-pro safety with the Oakland Raiders, is a spokesman for Bioflex, one of several American magnet therapy companies chasing the Japanese manufacturer Nikken.

"I was willing to try anything within league limits to relieve pain during my playing days," said Loll, now a broadcaster with the Fox net-work. "But, believe me, I would not have kept using magnets if they didn't work."

Many doctors have doubted that the experiences of such pro athletes can be replicated in clinical trials. But one controlled, randomized study published in the Archives of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine last November is beginning to change some minds. In the experiment, which involved 50 people suffering from pain years after a bout with polio, researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston found significantly reduced symptoms among subjects using magnet devices with power slightly stronger than refrigerator stick-ons. The results were corrected for any placebo effect.

"For some people with pain symptoms, magnets are not only the best treatment but the least expensive one," said Dr. Julian Whitaker, co-author of "The Pain Relief Breakthrough: The Power of Magnets." (Little, Brown and company). "Most anyone with back pain should benefit from using them."

Whitaker says magnets can be equally beneficial for arthritis, menstrual cramps. carpal tunnel syndrome and various sports injuries. His book details the history of magnet therapy, With its roots in China (where it is still used by some acupuncturists), India and Egypt.

He explained magnets are not respected by American doctors because there are few U.S. studies confirming results. One obstacle is the magnetic fields can't be patented, so any company wishing to prove that magnets work - at considerable expense if government endorsement is the goal - only does the heavy lifting for a host of competitors.

"I think magnets have potential to work for cancer and other diseases, maybe autoimmune disorders," said Whitaker. "I don't know how the mechanisms will work, but think it can be effective."

Paul Tyler brings us up to-date on findings related to electromagnetism. He reports that the National Institute of Mental Health studied rats addicted to morphine and found that current stimulation to the lower part of the concha (posterior to the external auditory meatus) precipitated signs of morphine abstinence. Researchers (Sjolund, Clement-Jones, Salar and others) have reported an increase in B-endorphins in cerebrospinal fluid following electro-acupuncture and other forms of electrotherapy. Increased rat brain levels of serotonin, tryptophan and hydroxyindole acetic acid have been reported. Numerous studies show changes of calcium ion levels in the brain following the use of magnetic fields.

It is believed that the body's own production of B-endorphins is turned off by drug addiction and that electro or magnetic stimulation enhances the natural production and release of encephalms and £3-endorphins by the body, preventing the onset of withdrawal symptoms. Tyler speculates that calcium is the critical factor and not the endorphin system. He further states that modern medicine has studied and treated the chemical side of the equation but has almost completely ignored the electrical/magnetic side. The body's natural chemicals are released by an electrical signal so it seems plausible that an external signal can do the same at a specific site without drugging the rest of the body.

Magnetic fields work much more quickly and effectively than heat, infrared light, anti-inflammatory drugs, trigger-point injections or microwave diathermy. It's likely to be four or six months before an injured skier or other athlete is back in play again from the conventional treatment of ice, followed by heat to reduce swelling. Heat alone will not stimulate therapeutic repair of injured tissue or muscle. An ample supply of nutrient-rich blood is needed. Healing requires resumption of normal blood flow to the injured site, not simply pain relief. In magnetic therapy, knee braces can be removed more quickly; weightlifters can reduce lower back pain; sciatica (inflammation of sciatic nerve running down the hip and thigh) and carpal tunnel syndrome can be relieved.

Osteopathic physician Sanford Paul, Mercerville NJ, is convinced of the effectiveness of magnetic therapy. "Though I use conventional medical methods I find that the application of biomagnets has helped in some difficult traumatic-injury cases. I feel that biomagnets should be part of the total armamentarium of future physicians," he says. However, "Unless used properly, their value is no greater than that of a regular magnet."

Orthopedic chiropractor Kurt Vreeland, White River Junction, Vermont, physician for the U.S. Olympic ski jumping team, uses magnets for ski and other injuries. "I have used magnets with good results on everything from rotator cuff injuries to what they used to call in football 'hip-pointer'.

Source: Fitness Magazine, February 1992

Golfers Can Now Benefit From the Amazing Therapeutic Power of Magnets

By Martin Meyer, Herbologist - Nutritionist

You can obtain more energy, enhance your ability to focus and relieve chronic pain just by applying a magnetic bracelet or magnetic wrap.  Are you tired of daily pain killers for knee pain, neck pain, sciatica, arthritis, bursitis, muscle pain, shoulder pain, tennis elbow, back pain. Then why not try magnetic therapy? The newest neodymium rare earth permanent magnets have helped millions and are used worldwide.

A powerful magnet smaller than a penny placed near a pain or injury may do wonders for you and relieve your pain as many have experienced. The magnetic field produced by permanent magnets is a safe natural energy source. There are no known harmful exposure levels and no limitations by Governmental agencies. All Magnet Force magnets are of the highest energy neodymium rare earth and are identified, differentiating between south pole and north pole.

SINCE THE EGYPTIANS

The science and use of Magnetic Therapy has been known ever since Egyptian times, and has been continuously practiced all over the world. Because many Americans have been fed up with the ever burdening cost of medical care and its sometimes failures, it has forced them to look for alternative therapies for their aches and pains. A host of therapies have surfaced some old, some new. Chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, herbal, vitamins, biofeedback, homeopathy, and permanent magnetic are just a few therapies offered. Magnetic therapy has the most appeal, because of its effectiveness. It is a natural therapy, non toxic, no pills, no needles, no salves, no side effects and most important, a one time low cost for everyone. Magnetic therapy, when coupled with professional therapy, proper nutrition and exercise, has proven to be the most effective and economical. Magnets can be used over and over, and will last for years.

BIOMAGNETISM IN THE HUMAN BODY

Biomagnetism works in the human body through the circulatory system, the nervous system and the endocrine system. Magnetism is continuously penetrating every known particle, right down to the single cell. Its ordering effect on living systems arise from the fact that magnetism is a blueprint of life itself. All known energies have, as a base, this electromagnetic field. The latest research indicates that magnetism has a very significant beneficial biological effect on human beings.

Blood contains ferrous hemoglobin (iron) that functions as a carrier of oxygen and carbon dioxide. As blood circulates the lungs, fully magnetized ferrous hemoglobin is able to transport more oxygen to cell tissue as well as taking more carbon dioxide waste from the cell back to the lungs for removal. This means more energy and less fatigue as tissue cells and internal organs stay substantially healthier. Also golfers report an energy reserve allowing their play on the 18th hole to match first tee energy, this in turn enables greater concentration and execution for your game.  Magnetic bracelets and wraps recharge the body's magnetism. The body, like the earth, is a biomagnetic unit that vibrates at approximately 7.9 cycles per second direct current. Our electric devices, TV, computers, lights, appliances etc. vibrate at 60 cycles per second alternating current. Magnetic devices serve to balance the body and counter the deleterious excitement of the 60 cycle per second vibration.

Dr. Nakagawa, of Isuzu Hospital in Tokyo Japan, has identified a malady that he calls "Magnetic Deficiency Syndrome". It is believed that we call this problem Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

REACHING OUTER SPACE

Magnets are used in spacecraft to protect the astronauts from bone loss, disorientation, and other magnetic deficiencies. Magnetic Therapy is the cutting edge of a healing, health, energy boom that is sure to revolutionize the way we treat our bodies. Magnets will not only help your golf game it could also improve the length and quality of your life and that of your loved ones.