In order to preserve her youth, Cleopatra supposedly wore a magnetic amulet on her forehead, as seen in practically every picture of this ancient Egyptian queen. The ancient Greeks also used magnets for healing; even Aristotle was convinced of their healing power. In the 15th century a physician named Paracelus used magnets extensively for healing. A visionary, he is recognized as having brought medicine to the Dark Ages.

Magnetic therapy has been around for thousands of years and many cultures have used magnets for their alleged healing and therapeutic properties, including the Chinese, Indians, Hebrews, Arabs, besides the Egyptians and Greeks.

I’ve been a sceptic of magnetic therapy for years. To be honest, I’ve pooh-pahed many alternative remedies. Then cancer hit, and my mind opened to natural, non-invasive therapies. After all, acupuncture was practised by the Chinese since ancient times, yet it is only in recent years that mainstream Western medicine accepted it as a legitimate form of treatment for various ailments.

So recently, after doing considerable research into the subject of magnetic therapy, I bought a magnetic bracelet for my sister who lives overseas. She’s been suffering from pain in her knees for a long time and I hope the bracelet will help alleviate her pain. She bought a cheap magnetic bracelet for herself some years back and it did absolutely nothing for her.

The one I just gave my dear sister cost considerably more as it incorporates four kinds of technologies into one bracelet – Unipolar Neodymium Magnets, Far Infrared Therapy (FIR), Negative Ions and Germanium. Unipolar Neodymium Magnets – a recent discovery – are rare earth magnets which are 10 times more powerful than magnets commonly used in most magnetic jewelry. My sister’s new NewTeq4 magnetic bracelet uses 1,500 Gauss neodymium magnets. As for the other three technologies, well I’ll write about them another time. It’s late and I have to walk my dog :)

Magnetic therapy has its sceptics as well as its supporters. According to medical researchers reporting in the British Medical Journal in 2004, magnetic bracelets, worn by many for their supposed health benefits, do reduce the pain of osteoarthritis.

The researchers, from the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth in the United Kingdom, had conducted a study on 194 patients, aged 45 to 80, who had osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. In the randomised controlled trial of magnetic bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, patients were either given a standard strength magnetic bracelet, a weak magnetic bracelet or a non-magnetic, dummy bracelet.

The researchers found pain was significantly reduced in the patients wearing the standard magnetic bracelet compared to the dummy one. There was little difference between the weak magnet group and those wearing the dummy magnets after 12 weeks of the study.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, the researchers said: “Pain from osteoarthritis of the hip and knee decreases when wearing magnetic bracelets.” Their magnetic therapy research suggested that the benefit of magnetic bracelets was clinically useful, but higher strength magnets seemed to be needed.

They said: “We cannot be certain whether our data show a specific effect of magnets, a placebo effect, or both. Whatever the mechanism, the benefit from magnetic bracelets seems clinically useful.”

They pointed out that the benefits were in addition to existing treatments and these should not be stopped without the patient speaking to a doctor.

Will the magnetic bracelet I chose for my sister work for her? We’re giving it three months to find out. Fortunately, it was really elegant and expensive-looking, crafted in stainless steel with gold plating. My sister gasped at its beauty when she opened the sleek and stylish gift box. It looked lovely on her wrist, so I don’t think she’ll have any problem wearing it to work everyday. An ordinary piece of costume jewelry would have cost around the same price, so even if this magnetic bracelet turns out not to have any significant therapeutic or healing properties, at least it looks beautiful and will give my sister pleasure for a long time to come. Pat on the back for me!

Posted: February 22nd, 2010 under Alternative Remedies, Joint Health, Wound Healing, pain relief.
Comments: 1

Adult humans have 206 bones, while the skeleton of an infant contains 350 (the bones fuse together as you grow). More than half of your 206 bones are found in your hands and feet. No wonder joint care and pain relief is such big business. Imagine 206 bones moving together hour after hour, month after month and year after year. Cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and synovial membranes work together to protect and support the joints and allow you to execute various movements.

Without proper care, your joints can easily wear out and become inflamed and painful, a condition called arthritis. Should that happen, what can you do to relieve joint pain and improve your condition? Here are a few simple tips:

Massage
Use pure essential oils combined with mixing oil to massage the area which hurts. Lavender, for instance, has healing properties, while eucalyptus is soothing. Stroke in the direction of your heart.

Ice Therapy
As soon as you feel the pain beginning, you can apply ice packs hourly for 15 minutes each time. The following day, if the pain persists, you may continue with the ice packs for 15 minutes each time but reduce the hourly applications. Try doing this no more than half-a-dozen times that day.

Aromatic Warm Baths
Fill your bathtub with warm water and put in several drops of pure essential oils, like eucalyptus and lavender. Enjoy a nice, relaxing soak which will also help you to destress as well as relieve the pain.

Exercise
Low-impact activity such as walking, swimming and biking helps to build muscle around the joints to support them. Do this daily and you will probably lose weight too, which will reduce the burden and stress on your skeleton and joints, especially weight-bearing joints like the knees, feet, back and hips. My knees used to hurt terribly because of worn-out and inflamed joints. The pain was so excruciating that I couldn’t even get out of bed in the mornings. Going for regular walks helped me lose excess weight as well as build up the muscles around my joints. I’ve been pain-free for years now.

Nourish Your Joints and Connective Tissue
With age, glucosamine levels in the body declines. Glucosamine helps to keep cartilage and joints healthy. When the cartilage wears down, osteoarthritis results. Nutrients to support normal levels of synovial fluids, which help to lubricate the joints and tendons, are vital for joint health too. Feeding your body with antioxidants and nutrients which help to support your immune system also help to keep joint deterioration and pain at bay. Give your body the nutrients it needs for musculoskeletal health and healthy joints.

Walk Right
Are you wearing footwear which will support your joints and reduce impact when you walk? Is having the wrong gait causing your joints to wear out? The right footwear can help you correct your posture as well as the way you walk. Throw away shoes and sandals which don’t’ meet these criteria.

Watch Your Posture
Good posture helps to protect your back, legs and feet. Keep your spine straight and avoid lopsided positions.

Invest In Ergonomically-Designed Seating
Do you have at least one good ergonomically-designed chair at home or at work which supports your body correctly? Chairs which don’t support critical areas like your spine, legs, neck and arms can strain your joints and cause your body to ache. Low seats and chairs without armrests should also be avoided, as you may have to strain to get in and out of them.

Avoid Sudden Movements and Straining
Sudden twists and turns, stretching, lifting, jerking, pushing, pulling, bending, and reaching can hurt your joints and muscles. Keep your movements gentle, fluid and steady. Float like a butterfly.

Distribute The Pressure
Carrying a heavy plate? Use both your hands – palms and fingers- to distribute the weight. Avoid putting too much load on any single joint. Let the stronger joints and muscles of your body, like the shoulders and the arms, support a heavy load, rather than just trying to carry it with your hands. If you can sling it over your shoulders, please do so. In an episode of reality TV show, “The Amazing Race”. contestants (two per team) had to carry a full-grown pig on a pole for 200 yards. Those who tried to do so by using their hands only kept falling and dropping the carcass. On the other hand, one team – which included the oldest contestant – who put the pole across their shoulders managed to complete the task faster and with less effort.

Rest and Sleep
Healing is delayed when your body doesn’t get sufficient quality rest and sleep. Put your poor, aching feet up and give yourself a break!

Posted: June 16th, 2009 under Antioxidants, Exercise & Fitness, Immune System Health, Joint Health, Rest & Sleep.
Comments: 1

I was in the supermarket recently when I heard loud scratching and grating noises. Looking across the aisle, I saw a group of people dragging their feet lazily as they slowly moved along. There were two adults with three young children, so I assumed they were a family. All of them were walking in exactly the same way. Not a single person lifted their feet even once.

Most health problems can be traced to bad habits. As youths and young adults, we may get away with unhealthy diets, appalling hygiene, poor lifestyle habits and various vices, but the consequences eventually catch up with us. The adults in that family I observed in the supermarket had poor posture as well as terrible gait. They were probably bothered by aches and pains. Over the years, their bones may even have become malformed . Already, their children couldn’t seem to keep their spines straight. I could see joint problems, muscle aches and pains and possible bone deformity in their future.

If only all children were taught proper posture and how to walk correctly from the time they start taking their first steps. Choosing good footwear which will provide support and cultivate proper gait is another important lesson which many are clueless about. Arthritis, crooked feet and toes, twisted spines, out-of-joint or worn out hips, and other painful joint, bone and muscle ailments can be prevented. Perhaps a walking and posture program should be part of the school curriculum!

By establishing the right foundation during the formative years, much pain and suffering in the adult years can be avoided. Instead, growing numbers of people are seeking pain relief solutions like corrective surgery, implants, expensive orthopedic shoes, inserts and accessories, and so on.

If you’re suffering from aches and pains, take heart. There are ways to relieve joint and muscle pain, as well as improve your condition. You can still enjoy a good quality of life. Start by taking the right step today. And don’t forget to teach your kids and their children how to do the same.

Posted: June 15th, 2009 under Health Basics 101, Joint Health.
Comments: none