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June 6, 2003
Just a superficial attraction?
Is magnetic therapy worth considering seriously or is it just
a placebo?
BAILA LAZARUS EDITOR
The next time you catch a glimpse at the inside of someone's shoe
and you notice an odd-looking insole, you may be looking at the
latest in physical well-being: magnetic therapy.
Part of a growing field known as "energy medicine," magnetic
therapy uses static magnets to create magnetic fields in shoes,
clothing, beds and even water.
Thousands of testimonies from people around the world support the
idea that these magnetic fields are therapeutic. Physical pain has
disappeared, people sleep better, they don't get headaches as often,
they have more energy, their emotional well-being has been strengthened
– the list of improvements goes on. At least one report published
recently in a medical journal suggests a direct link between wearing
magnetic insoles and a reduction in the neuropathic pain from which
many diabetics suffer. And other reports discuss the possibility
that "magnetics," as it is often referred to, may help
alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome or even reduce depression.
And the products are certainly not limited to insoles (although
they form a large part of product sales). You can get vests, wrist
bands, head bands, socks, mattresses, pillows and comforters, all
with various types of magnetic technologies. There are even special
devices to purify and oxygenate the water supply in your home.
But what, specifically, these products are doing physically to the
human body and how they work is still a bit of a mystery.
According to www.painrelief.org.uk,
it is believed that "bioelectromagnetic therapy helps to restore
health by helping cells regain their natural electromagnetic frequency."
Yet, on the very same page, it states, "No one knows exactly
how bioelectromagnetic therapy works."
A little disappointing, to say the least, but perhaps a stop at
www.nikken.org
might clear things up. Nikken, after all, is a world-renowned producer
of "wellness technology products" and their Web site is
devoted to creating physical, emotional and even financial well-being.
The thing is, Nikken never says their magnetic technology can do
anything. They will say they are focused on disease prevention,
but they don't say how. They promote the importance of a good night's
sleep (who doesn't want one?) but don't expressly say how their
sleep system can help.
"The patented Nikken Kenko Dream Sleep System is like nothing
else," says the promotional information. "It is based
on the way your body is naturally designed to sleep ... a complete
system designed to give you the very best sleep you can get."
That's all well and good but there's no explanation of how this
is achieved. Other promotional material says their "PIMag"
water system is "designed to produce water your body needs."
Well, all human bodies need water but how this particular type of
water can benefit a human body more than tap water or filtered water
is unclear.
Other testimonials are also vague: "When we tried the products
and saw what they did for athletes, I was astounded," says
one trainer. But he never actually explains what it is that these
wellness products did.
Even the notion of why they are called wellness products, when the
companies make no claims about how they can help people, is obscure.
"They are called wellness technologies because people feel
good when they use the products," said a Nikken sales representative.
Even the president of Nikken, Kendall Cho, says they do not sell
their products as therapeutic devices. He will admit that customers
believe they receive benefits from magnetic products. An interesting
choice of words. But very different from saying that customers do
receive benefits from their products.
In other words, for all anyone knows, such magnetic therapy products
might be complete placebos. That is, the improvements in physical
health, sleep patterns or mental well-being, might all be brought
on by a state of mind that believes the magnetic fields are doing
something.
Well, that might be all anyone needs to feel less pain, rid themselves
of headaches, get a better night's sleep and have more energy but
this may not work for everyone. Buyer beware!
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