Magnetic therapy is a method of healing using external magnets to help heal the body.   Albert Roy Davis and Walter C. Rawls (1) developed the biomagnetic convention of designating the separate poles of magnet.  Using this, the end of a freely suspended bar magnet that ends up pointing in a northerly direction is designated as the biomagnetic south pole is called the biomagnetic north pole (+).

“Robert O. Becker, M.D., (2) added a valuable prospective for the more prolonged use of negative (north pole seeking) magnetic energy.  He isolated the evidence that initially any injury registers electromagnetic positive + (south pole seeking) whether this is a cut, bruise, or broken bone.  In the case of a broken bone, the broken area registers electromagnetic positive for about 3 hours and then it becomes electromagnetic negative.  He found that during the healing process, the body concentrates electromagnetic negative energy at the site of injury and it is only when this is present that healing can occur.”

The emphasis of this article is to indicate there are two basic types of magnetic therapy, which are negative magnetic therapy and positive magnetic therapy.  Most of the beneficial reports on magnetic therapy reveal that negative magnetic therapy is useful for healing.

A negative electrical (magnetic) field in the body is usually considered necessary for healing.  Positive magnets can disrupt this negative field.  For example, sleep is the period when healing, repair, and growth of tissue takes place and negative magnetic energy is conducive to sleep while positive magnetic energy can be disruptive.  Thus positive magnetic energy may be disruptive to sleep and can be detrimental in relation to the healing effects that take place during sleep.  Another example, the oxygenation of cells and tissues occurs in the presence of a negative magnetic field.  Cancer does not like oxygen.  Cancer exists in acid environments.    A negative magnetic field can increase oxygen, which can lead to a reduction of acid pH, which can lead to more alkaline pH.   A positive magnetic field can lead to increased acidity, which can result in oxygen deficits.  Thus a positive magnetic therapy might promote cancer while a negative magnetic therapy may be anti-cancer.  The wrong therapy might be dangerous when magnet therapy is used in cases such as cancer.  There are other benefits that can be listed for negative magnetic energy, but the point is most of the reports and clinical observations being reported are about negative magnetic therapy, not positive magnetic therapy.

Many over the counter magnets are sold:

1.      Consider using only those magnets that are monopolar – negative charge only one side.  Bipolar magnets that have both a negative and positive charge can be potentially detrimental.  An example of a negative magnet would be a magnet that has a negative charge on one side and a positive charge on the other side.  That way you can place the negative charged side of the magnet against your body with the positive side facing away from the body.

2.      You also want to get the correct thickness and shape of magnets.  If the magnet is too thin, too weak, or the wrong shape it may not be effective.  For example, strapped on correctly the positive side will be facing away from the body.  However, if the magnet is too thin, too small, or the wrong shape, the positive side of the magnet may still be in contact with the body.  (For example, you might need a thicker and more rectangular magnet for the buttocks.)  Sitting on a wrong type magnet may result in the positive side of the magnet contacting the body.

3.      Another consideration is the penetration of the magnets.  If you are targeting an organ, you may need a magnet capable of eight inches of penetration or more. If the magnet is not penetrating enough, you may not gain any benefit.

In conclusion, review carefully the material you may study about magnets.  Determine if your research indicates monopolar magnets or biopolar magnets were used.  Consider using monopolar magnets with a negative charge on one side and a positive charge on the other side. Until proven otherwise, consider that negative magnetic energy may be more proper for healing then positive magnetic energy.  Consider the thickness and shape of the magnets when purchasing them, for if they are not thick enough, even the positive side of the magnet may still contact the skin and result in positive magnetic energy at the site of contact. There is not a great deal of reported research on positive and negative magnets in the medical field.  Therefore if you choose to use magnetic therapy it is your own choice.  Thus you should consider caution, that the therapy you choose can be potentially harmful as well as beneficial. You must make your own choice.  We only advise to not choose magnetic therapy until you have found sufficient information to guide you on your choice of negative or positive magnet therapy.   Good luck.  

Note – email us at RHONDELLM@aol.com for special needs for monopolar magnets.  Also check out the product page for our Mag Patch.  This product is listed in our specialty section of the product page.

C. S. Brown, et.al. (3) in their research on chronic pelvic pain found a significant reduction of pain was related to duration of exposure to static magnets placed on trigger points in the pelvic region.

C. Vallbona et.al. (4)  “The application of a device delivering static magnet fields place over a pain trigger point results in significant and prompt relief of pain in postpolio subjects.”

M. Weintraub (5) found that there was a 60% statistical reduction of pain and 100% elimination of burning foot syndrome in diabetic patients who used static magnetics.

According to E. Israeli et.al. (6) “From the experiments conducted so far, mostly in the 10,000 gauss range, it seems as though the magnetic field causes an intensification of the entire tissue, a thickening of the collagen fibers and as a result of this, an over-all increase in collagen density.”

And a very significant contribution by M. J. Smith et.al (7) who found that a magnetic field of greater than 12,000 gauss is needed to effect intercellular enzymatic production in vitro.

1.      Davis, A. R., Rawls, W. C., Magnetism and it’s Effects on the Living System, Acres U.S.A. Metairie, LA 1974

2.      Becker, R. O. and Marino, A. A. Electromagnetism & Life, State University of New York Press, Albany, NY 1982.

3.      Brown, C. S., Parker, N., Ling, F., Wan, J., Effect of magnets on chronic pelvic pain, Obstet Gynecol 2000 April 1;95.

4.      Vallbona, C., Hazelwood, C. F., & Jurida, G., Response of Pain to Static Magnetic Fields in Postpolio Patients: a Double-Blind Study, Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 1997 Nov;78 (11): 1200-3.

5.      Weintraub, M. I., Magnetic Bio-Stimulation In Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Am. Journal of Pain Management Vol. 9 No. 1, Jan; 1999: 8-17.

6.      Israeli, E., Karni, Z., Schur, Z., Barzilai, D., Collagen Development in Tissue Cultures in Vitro Under Static Magnetic Fields., Isr J Med Sci 1971 Mar; 7 (3) 465-8.

7.      Smith, M., J., Cook, E. J. , Activation of Trypsin by a Magnetic Field, 143^rd Am. Chem. Soc. Meeting, Cincinnati, OH 1963.

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