Historically it is reported that magnets have been around for an extremely long
time. Magnets were first documented around 2500-3000 years BC. Their origins are
first noted in Asia Minor in a vast land called Magnesia. The earth there was
enriched with iron oxide which attracted metals to it. The locals named it
Magnetite.
Another story is told of a young boy, who lived 2500 years BC, called Magnes— a
shepherd on Mount Ida. One day he was tending his sheep whilst wearing sandals
which contained iron in the sole. He found it hard to walk up the mountain as
his feet felt heavy and stuck to the rock face. Mount Ida was found to contain a
rock called Lodestone, which is the first known
magnetic mineral. It is reported
that Lodestone was named Magnes after the boy who discovered it, and it later
came to be known as magnet.
Cleopatra was probably the first celebrity to use magnets. It is documented that
she slept on a Lodestone to keep her skin youthful. The therapeutic knowledge
was passed to the Greeks who have been using magnets for healing since 2500 BC
Aristotle and Plato talked of the benefits of Lodestones in their work.
Magnets have been used in Chinese medicine from around 2000 BC in-conjunction
with reflexology and acupuncture. It is still used today as a first line
treatment for many common complaints.
3,500 years after they were first discovered, magnets have gained popularity in
Europe and the USA. In the 15th century a Swiss physician Paracelsus recognised
the therapeutic powers of magnets. He wrote medical papers on the influence of
magnets on the inflammatory processes within the body.
In the 16th century an English doctor Dr William Gilbert made a scientific study
of electricity and magnetism. He published one of the first books about magnetic
therapy called “De Magnet”. Dr Gilbert was also Queens Elizabeth I personal
physician and it is said that she used magnets under his direction.
Michael Faraday, also known as the founder of Biomagnetics made extensive
discoveries in magnetic healing during the 18th century. His work is still used
as a framework for modern day magnetic treatments. Dr Mesmer (the father of
hypnotism) and Dr Samuel Hahnemann (the father of homoeopathy) also contributed
to his remarkable work.
20th century pioneers include Dr Kreft a German doctor who in 1905 studied the
healing effects of magnets on rheumatic disease, sciatica and neuralgia. 1926
revealed Dr Criles work on the impact of magnets on cancer cells and this was
followed 10 years later in 1936 with Albert Davis carrying out tests on the
effects of the north and south poles of a magnet.
However the last 15 years has shown a prolific increase in medical research into
magnetic therapy. There have been over 57 studies in the USA into incurable
diseases and magnetics. Some of the most recent are:
1990 – University if Hawaii tested magnetic fields on patients with
osteoarthritis.
1992- Stiller et al a randomised double blind trial of wound healing in venous
leg wounds.
1999- New York Medical College tested magnetic insoles on diabetic patients.
2001- University of Virginia tested magnetic mattress covers on patients with
Fibromyalgia.
2004- University of Exeter and Plymouth tested magnetic bracelets on patients
with osteoarthritis
Magnetic therapy is gaining in popularity worldwide with many celebrity
devotees including:
Cherie Blair
Bill Clinton
Anthony Hopkins
Prince William
Queen Elizabeth II
Shirley MaClaine
Venus Williams
Michael Jordan
Andre Agassi
Jack Niklaus and many more.
Magnetic devices are now registered as prescribable medical devices in 54
countries worldwide With new research being completed each year and doctors at
last acknowledging that it is not “witch doctory” we shall hopefully see, with
in the next few years, magnetic devices being prescribed on the NHS
in-conjunction with conventional pain killing drugs.
