Pulling Power

Scientists are being drawn to magnets as a therapy for the future

It may help with headaches, depression cramp and arthritis

The power of magnets has always been intriguing but now some scientists are going so far as to say that it could be the medicine of the future.

As we can probably all remember from our schooldays, a magnet contains iron or another metal which generates a force field - magnetic field - around it. In the case of our planet, Earth, this field is quite weak.

An electromagnetic (em) field surrounds any material through which an electric current flows, including electric wiring and appliances, power lines and our bodies. But the only em radiation we are able to see is light - the wavelength of the rays determines their colour. Other em rays include infra-red, ultra-violet, gamma and X-rays, radio waves and microwaves.

There's been plenty of discussion about the possible harmful effects of em fields. Not so well known are the possible benefits. The evidence is far from conclusive but it looks as though magnet therapy (magnotherapy  or bioelectromagnetic therapy) won't harm, and might positively help some people with headaches, sleep problems, depression, infection, muscle aches, cramp, cancer and arthritis.

It's thought that these improvements may be triggered by the stimulation of circulation and immunity, the alteration in the movement of calcium both in and out of cells, and the reduction of fluid retention outside cells.