Re: Weil on using magnets for joint pain

[Guest guest]

Weil on using magnets for joint pain

Interesting bit about some research on magnets and joint pain:

http://health./experts/weilhealthyliving/57/pain-fighting-magnets

The alleged ability of magnets to cure a variety of human ills is getting lots of attention these days. You may have heard about a study in England that showed that magnetic bracelets provided pain relief for patients with arthritis of the hip and knee that was comparable to such treatment as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including COX-2 inhibitors such as Celebrex and the recently-withdrawn Vioxx). A group of researchers in Devon, England tested magnets on 194 patients between the ages of 45 and 80. The patients were randomly assigned to wear bracelets with standard field strength of 170 to 200 mTesla , a magnet with a weaker field strength of 21 to 30 mTesla, or a look-alike non-magnetic bracelet. Results showed that the average score on a pain scale index called the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis lower limb pain scale (WOMAC A) dropped 2.9 points among the patients wearing the standard magnet. The change among those wearing the dummy bracelet was 1.6 points. The researchers found no statistically significant difference in pain relief between those wearing the standard and weak magnetic bracelets. They said this might have been due to the fact that the weak bracelets were found to range in magnetic strength to as high as 196.

Earlier studies have suggested that magnets may help relieve the pain of other conditions. The best known study took place in 1997 at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. It showed that 76 percent of patients with severe joint and muscle pain due to post-polio syndrome reported less pain with magnet therapy, compared to only 19 percent of those who received placebo treatment.

While the new study from England is encouraging, I'm sure it won't be the last word on whether or not magnets offer dependable pain relief for osteoarthritis. All told, the studies showing that magnets help with pain relief are outnumbered by those that find no helpful effects. I've recommended trying magnetic insoles for foot pain (plantar fasciitis) - they seem to work for some people. You should be aware, however, that using magnets is not risk-free, particularly if you have a pacemaker or other implantable medical device such as a defibrillator, insulin pump, or liver infusion pump. We have no proof that magnet therapy is safe during pregnancy, and there have been anecdotal reports of dizziness, nausea and prolongation of wound healing and bleeding among people wearing magnets. They also can get quite expensive, especially if you buy them from multi-level marketing companies and in forms other than bracelets (blankets and mattress pads, for instance). Be careful and don't wear out your wallet.

[Guest guest]

The Japanese have been using alternative medicine

for many more years than we here in this educated

country, and they have found magnets to be

wonderful for relief of pain and inflammation. I

know they are the best thing I ever found for my

back. It took 20 minutes for me, a total

non-believer, to have so much pain relief, so I

say, skeptics, don't knock it until you have tried them.

Lynda

At 07:40 PM 4/30/2007, you wrote:

>Interesting bit about some research on magnets and joint pain:

>

><http://health./experts/weilhealthyliving/57/pain-fighting-magnets>htt\

p://health./experts/weilhealthyliving/57/pain-fighting-magnets

>

>The alleged ability of magnets to cure a variety

>of human ills is getting lots of attention these

>days. You may have heard about a study in

>England that showed that magnetic bracelets

>provided pain relief for patients with arthritis

>of the hip and knee that was comparable to such

>treatment as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory

>drugs (including COX-2 inhibitors such as

>Celebrex and the recently-withdrawn Vioxx). A

>group of researchers in Devon, England tested

>magnets on 194 patients between the ages of 45

>and 80. The patients were randomly assigned to

>wear bracelets with standard field strength of

>170 to 200 mTesla , a magnet with a weaker field

>strength of 21 to 30 mTesla, or a look-alike non-magnetic bracelet.

>

>Results showed that the average score on a pain

>scale index called the Western Ontario and

>McMaster Universities osteoarthritis lower limb

>pain scale (WOMAC A) dropped 2.9 points among

>the patients wearing the standard magnet. The

>change among those wearing the dummy bracelet

>was 1.6 points. The researchers found no

>statistically significant difference in pain

>relief between those wearing the standard and

>weak magnetic bracelets. They said this might

>have been due to the fact that the weak

>bracelets were found to range in magnetic strength to as high as 196.

>

>Earlier studies have suggested that magnets may

>help relieve the pain of other conditions. The

>best known study took place in 1997 at Baylor

>College of Medicine in Houston. It showed that

>76 percent of patients with severe joint and

>muscle pain due to post-polio syndrome reported

>less pain with magnet therapy, compared to only

>19 percent of those who received placebo treatment.

>

>While the new study from England is encouraging,

>I'm sure it won't be the last word on whether or

>not magnets offer dependable pain relief for

>osteoarthritis. All told, the studies showing

>that magnets help with pain relief are

>outnumbered by those that find no helpful

>effects. I've recommended trying magnetic

>insoles for foot pain (plantar fasciitis) - they

>seem to work for some people. You should be

>aware, however, that using magnets is not

>risk-free, particularly if you have a pacemaker

>or other implantable medical device such as a

>defibrillator, insulin pump, or liver infusion

>pump. We have no proof that magnet therapy is

>safe during pregnancy, and there have been

>anecdotal reports of dizziness, nausea and

>prolongation of wound healing and bleeding among

>people wearing magnets. They also can get quite

>expensive, especially if you buy them from

>multi-level marketing companies and in forms

>other than bracelets (blankets and mattress

>pads, for instance). Be careful and don't wear out your wallet.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

-Lynda,

My sed rate is 30. I think that is what is causing my head to feel

like it is floating in a jar. I have inflammation in my knees,

elbows, hips, neck, ankles everywhere. I don't see why it can't also

be in my brain as well that is what it feels like.

Also my thyroid is out of whack, every time I swallow it is really

bad. I have finally got appointments with new Dr.s scheduled.

I miss everyone. I have been working since April 13th. 3 days a week

but I am really wiped out on the other days off.

Terri P

-- In , Lynda <coss@...> wrote:

>

> Yes, bless Dr. Weil. Some are not afraid to speak up. I would try

> some on the inflammation in your throat area. Apparently what

> magnets do is to increase the blood flow and reduce inflammatory

> particles in the area.

>

> Lynda

>

> At 09:57 PM 4/30/2007, you wrote:

>

> >Lynda,

> >I don't know if you read what Weil says about magnets, but he

seems

> >to think they might be effective, based on the latest research.

> >

> >It's always nice when research backs up alternative medicine

claims,

> >isn't it?

> >

> >Bindi

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for posting this!See what's free at AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Thank you Lynda. This is very helpful.

Lynn

> > > > >

> > > > > >Lynda,

> > > > > >I don't know if you read what Weil says about magnets, but

he

> > > >seems

> > > > > >to think they might be effective, based on the latest

research.

> > > > > >

> > > > > >It's always nice when research backs up alternative

medicine

> > > >claims,

> > > > > >isn't it?

> > > > > >

> > > > > >Bindi

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

>