Magnetism and Your Health

What Is Magnetism?

Magnetism is a force of attraction (or repulsion) that acts at a distance. Any time a charged particle moves, it creates a magnetic field around its path of travel. The term magnetism refers to the phenomenon associated with a magnetic field, and the magnetic force that it causes. The magnetic force exerted between two magnetic poles can be beneficial or detrimental depending on the circumstance.

What Does Magnetism Have To Do With My Health?
To be honest, there are many conflicting views when it comes to magnetism, and its relation to our health and well being. Human beings are in fact magnetic beings, and we are surrounded by electromagnetic fields that can influence our health, both positively and negatively. Read on to see how different types of magnetism can affect you…

Sources of Magnetism
Magnetism is a universal source. It has been established that all living cells are electromagnetic by nature. There are two sources of magnetism:

Natural Sources (Positive Source)
There are only two sources of natural magnetism available to us – our brain and the earth.

Our Brain as a Magnetic Source
Our brain cells have the capability to generate electricity and produce a pulsed, electromagnetic field with efficiency. When the brain’s pulsed magnetic frequency matches the frequencies of various tissues and organs, the brain and the Earth work together to create “magnetic resonance”. When magnetic resonance occurs, this allows the body to repair damaged cells, make enzymes and enhance immunity.
Magnetic resonance is what enables MRI’s (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to allow us to view inside our bodies. The MRI measures the vibrations within our bodies thereby creating an image.

The Earth as a Magnetic Source
The Earth is meant to provide a steady magnetic field that our bodies can draw upon to enhance molecular reactions.

Scientists have recorded a decline in the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field over the past 165 years. Today the magnetic field of the Earth is about 0.5 Gauss. It is estimated that 4000 years ago, the strength of the Earth’s field was 5.0 Gauss. This is a significant decline. Since the Earths magnetic field is depleting, our bodies are not always able to achieve the magnetic resonance necessary to restore and rejuvenate our organs and tissues. This leaves us at risk for illness.

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF’s) (Negative Source)
An electromagnetic field is a combination of an electric field and a magnetic field that is produced by an electrically charged object. EMF’s can have a much higher and harmful frequency than natural sources of magnetism and they can also pollute our air, water and food.

The Danger of Too Much Exposure to EMF’s
The technological age that we live in has us exposed to negative EMF’s everyday and at higher and stronger levels than ever. Being overexposed to EMF’s can have some harmful effects on your health and well-being:
• You can put yourself at risk for developing chronic ailments as the magnetic resonance in your body can be overridden by electric frequencies, thus impeding the ability of your organs and tissues to repair themselves.
• Electromagnetic fields can cause electromagnetic stress on our bodies.

What Magnetic Sources Do You Encounter Daily?
Think of all the sources of magnetism you are exposed to on a daily, or nearly daily basis: cell phones, microwaves, televisions, computer monitors, fluorescent lights, power lines, and the list goes on and on! Though their negative affects may not be imminent, they are present. Te following provides you with a few steps you can take to decrease your exposure to EMF’s:
• Avoid buying a house near high voltage power lines or a power site;
• Avoid unnecessary computer usage – they emit electromagnetic ?elds from all sides;
• Avoid carrying your cell phone or personal assistant device on your person all day;
• Use your cell phone on speakerphone when possible;
• Find a headset that offers electromagnetic radiation reduction (air tube). Do your research on this one, as some technologies will emit even more radiation;
• Choose a device with the lowest SAR (Speci?c Absorption Rate) possible that measures the strength of the magnetic ?eld absorbed by the body. SAR rankings are available online;
• Avoid sleeping with an electric blanket;
• Avoid being in an environment of ?uorescent light all day – incandescent light is much less harmful;
• Limit your use of a microwave oven as it may even affect the molecules of the food you eat. If you do, use safe materials like glass to microwave your food;
• Limit your TV use and avoid sleeping in front of one all night;
• Limit your use of personal electric appliances such as electric razors and hairdryers.

How to “Attract” Better Health
A magnet is made up of one positive and one negative pole – North and South. Since each pole attracts molecules with an opposing charge, and since our bodies are made up of molecules that are both positively and negatively charged, it is believed that a magnet on our body can lead to improved blood ?ow. By improving blood ?ow, our cells are better able to absorb oxygen, get access to more essential nutrients, clear the body of toxic waste, and speed up the repair of damaged tissues.
Besides increasing blood circulation, other theories on why magnets bene?t the body include:

• Having an effect on iron in the blood
• Altering the body’s pH balance
• Improving electrical conductivity of cells
• Stimulating new cell growth

The Health Benefit of Magnets
The concept of using magnets for health and healing is a relatively new concept in North America, however there is nothing new about the idea that magnets have the ability to promote healing. They’ve been used in this capacity for hundreds of years and are commonly used in Eastern countries today. Despite this, magnetic therapy is considered an alternative therapy and no medical claims can officially be made relating to its bene?ts. Nevertheless, there are many studies that show the positive effect of magnets on:
• Fibromyalgia
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Cancer
• Multiple sclerosis
• Arthritis
• Blood circulation
• Pain management
• Recovery from injuries
• General healing and post operative-recovery
• Sleep

The Benefits of Magnetic Sleep
Because the Earth’s magnetic ?eld has decreased, the idea behind a magnetic bed is to restore the natural effect of the Earth’s magnetic field. Sleeping on a magnetic bed recharges your body in the same way you recharge your cell phone battery at night.

A Magnetic Sleep system also works by stimulating the pineal gland in the brain which produces the hormone melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep patterns. Studies have shown that when people use magnetic pads, their pineal gland is stimulated and they experience improved sleep.

What To Look For In A Magnet
Not all magnets are created equal. Design is very important in order for the magnet to provide you with health benefits. Here are some basic guidelines to look for:
• An equilateral design –equal in length and angles to create a consistent magnetic field.
• Magnets between 300 – 5000 Gauss, if being used for pain management.

Who Should Not Use Magnets
Though, as this article proves, magnets are beneficial to the health of many- there are individuals who should not use magnets. These individuals include:
• Pregnant women
• People who use a medical device such as a pacemaker, de?brillator, or insulin pump and,
• People who use a patch that delivers medication through the skin (Unfortunately, magnets may cause dilation of blood vessels, which could affect the delivery of the medicine.)
If you are unsure whether or not you can use magnets consult your natural health care provider.