Does Magnetism Heal? -Roger Mason

This column continually exposes the supposed remedies that really don't work, so you might be surprised to see magnetic healing promoted here. Magnetic healing is surprisingly effective. There are quite a number of books on the subject. The basis of this is that a magnet has two poles- north and south. The north (the pole that points north) gives energy, and is considered "warming". The south (the pole that points south) takes energy away, and is considered "cooling". (A few authors wrongly use exactly the opposite terminology.) It is very important to understand  you must use either the north or the south pole specifically, and not just "magnetism" per se. Magnetism using  no polar reference has no meaning and no value. Any product that merely sells magnetized articles without reference to the north and south poles is a prima facie fraud. You'll see "magnetized" products like mattress covers and shoe sole inserts that have no polarity at all for example.  
 
You will find that the products that are pole specific are vastly overpriced. You can buy your magnets at any Radio Shack or on the Internet for a few dollars. Make your own magnetic bands, belts, or patches with velcro straps. Buy the discs, squares, and rectangles, and not the horseshoe or long bar magnets. You can determine the pole by floating the magnet on a small piece of wood in water to see which side points north. (Use a compass to determine north.). Yin attracts yang, and yang attracts yin in Oriental philosophy. If you have an inflamed condition (hot) like arthritis or bursitis you want to use the SOUTH pole to take energy away and cool it down. If you have a weakness like a broken bone (without inflammation), or cut, you want to use the NORTH pole to add energy and warm the area. This is the basis of magnetic therapy- yin and yang.  
 
Read some of the books available. There have been published studies on using magnets for healing. Most of these  are on electromagnetic healing, but we are only concerned with simple fixed bipolar magnets. In the September 1990 Journal of the American Medical Association showed cancer cell growth in petri dishes could be advanced or retarded with a simple magnet. NASA routinely puts magnets in the spacesuits of astronauts since their health deteriorates when they lack the natural magnetic forces on earth. Major sports teams have been using magnets for decades on their million dollar players. Physicians, especially in Russia, have known about magnetism for many years. This isn't something new. We need more clinical studies here and more information for the general public. 
 
You do not use a magnet 24 hours a day, although you'll find short term studies that do exactly this. That way the body would get used to the magnetism. The best thing is to use the magnet 12 hours (preferably when you sleep) and then not use it for the next 12 hours. Cycle this on and off. If the condition worsens rather than improves, then reverse the magnet. If that doesn't bring any relief then do not use magnets for this condition. Please remember this is just adjunct therapy, so please don't tape your magnet on and drive to McDonalds to eat. Healthy diet, proven supplements, natural hormone balance, fasting, and exercise are always the cornerstones of healing.  Magnetic healing can be very powerful and dramatic even as just a supportive therapy.  
 
What conditions have responded to magnetic therapy? Chronic pain, inflammation, bacterial and fungal infections, increased circulation, reduction of stress, better sleep, more energy, faster healing, burns, skin problems, injuries, post-surgery healing, muscle spasms, and many more such conditions. Try magnets and see if they help you. Experiment and remember that your personal results count for everything. This is something science needs to take a closer look at, so we can understand better how to utilize it.