Bio-Magnetic Therapy
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February 2008 BIO-MAGNETIC THERAPY HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT UNIT MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT DIVISION MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA 002/08 Prepared by: Puan Noormah Darus Principal Assisstant Director Health Technology Assessment Unit Medical Development Division Ministry of Health Malaysia Reviewed by: Datin Dr. Rugayah Bakri Deputy Director Health Technology Assessment Unit Medical Development Division Ministry of Health Malaysia ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF BIO-MAGNETIC THERAPY INTRODUCTION Bio-magnetic healing is the therapy that helps the body heals itself. Magnetic healing is nothing new. Early records in scientifically advanced civilizations, tell us that magnetic forces have long been prized for their restorative properties. Chinese manuscripts dating back thousands of years describe the Eastern belief that the life force, termed "qi", is generated by the earth's magnetic field. Bio-magnetic therapy is the art and science of application and removal of magnetic fields for therapeutic benefit. Magnetic field is an invisible region of space around a magnet or electric current in which a detectable force is exerted from the body of the magnet. TECHNICAL FEATURES It is important to distinguish between static magnet therapy and electromagnetic therapy which is not the same. Research into magnet therapy is divided into two distinct areas: pulsed bioelectric magnetic therapy and fixed magnetic therapy. Static magnet therapy: A fixed magnet emits a magnetic field which is caused by electrical charges in motion. Static magnet therapy is a form of alternative medicine claiming that certain medical disorders can be effectively treated by exposure to static magnetic fields, produced by permanent magnets. Static magnet generates a field which penetrates the skin, tissues and bones, increasing the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients which in turn promotes healing. Electromagnetic therapy: It involves the application of electromagnetic waves to the patient to diagnose or treat disease. An electromagnetic apparatus gives off an electric and magnetic field. Practitioners claim that when electromagnetic frequencies or energy fields within the iii body go out of balance, disease and illness occurs. By applying electromagnetic energy from outside the body, usually with electronic devices, practitioners claim they can correct the imbalances in the body. Practitioners claim that these methods can treat ulcers, headaches, burns, chronic pain, nerve disorders, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, gum infections, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, cerebral palsy, heart disease, and cancer. CONCLUSION Bio-magnetic therapy such as in the form of band or bracelet is not a registered medical device with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The review showed that there were evidences of no effectiveness when using bio-magnetic therapy to treat chronic low back pain and pressure ulcers. However poor quality evidences showed that there was some pain reduction in the treatment of knee pain and improved leg ulcer healing. RECOMMENDATION Based on the above review, biomagnetic therapy in the form of band or bracelet cannot be recommended. It is not a replacement for standard medical treatment. More clinical research is warranted to provide evidence of effectiveness for its use in treating any medical condition. iv TITLE: BIO MAGNETIC THERAPY 1. INTRODUCTION Bio-magnetic therapy is the art and science of application and removal of magnetic fields for therapeutic benefit. Magnetic field is an invisible region of space around a magnet or electric current in which a detectable force is exerted from the body of the magnet [1] level III. Bio-magnetic healing is the therapy that helps the body heals itself. Previously it was used in ancient Egypt, rediscovered by NASA and is now accessible to all. Take the fact that iron makes up about 4 percent of our blood content and then imagine magnets attracting metal and you have the basis of the therapy. Magnets placed on the body increase blood flow in a specific area, much as exercising does; indeed often giving a similar feeling of euphoria. Early astronauts returned from brief bursts into gravity-free space with diminished bone density and compromised immunity. Nowadays space suits are lined with magnetic material and astronauts suffer no ill effects after months aloft [2] level III. Magnetic healing is nothing new and can be seen by looking at early records of scientifically advanced civilizations, which tell us that magnetic forces have long been prized for their restorative properties. Ancient Greece discovered the very first natural magnet in the form of the lodestone, and Hippocrates, the father of medicine, noted its healing powers. Chinese manuscripts dating back thousands of years describe the Eastern belief that the life force, termed "qi", is generated by the earth's magnetic field. Today, many believe that certain places on earth, such as Lourdes, France, and Sedona, Arizona, owe their healing powers to naturally high levels of this qi, or bio-magnetic energy [3] level III. 5 2. OJECTIVE/ OBJECTIVES To determine the safety, adverse events and effectiveness of the Bio Magnetic therapy 3. TECHNICAL FEATURES It is important to distinguish between static magnet therapy and electromagnetic therapy which is not the same. Research into magnet therapy is divided into two distinct areas: pulsed bioelectric magnetic therapy and fixed magnetic therapy [4] level III. Static magnet therapy: A fixed magnet emits a magnetic field; and a magnetic field is caused by electrical charges in motion, as opposed to an electric field, which is produced by electrical charges in different concentrations, more in one place than the other, regardless of whether or not they are moving. In a static magnet, the electrical current moves in terms of electrons orbiting around the atomic nuclei. An iron body is magnetized when the electrons become aligned to a greater degree. Static magnet therapy is a form of alternative medicine claiming that certain medical disorders can be effectively treated by exposure to static magnetic fields, produced by permanent magnets. Static magnet generates a field which penetrates the skin, tissues and bones, increasing the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients which in turn promotes healing. Electromagnetic therapy: It involves the application of electromagnetic waves to the patient to diagnose or treat disease. An electromagnetic apparatus gives off an electric and magnetic field. Electric fields are associated with the displacement of charged particles, usually electrons, but sometimes charged particles called ions. Electromagnetic therapy, which includes several different approaches, is claimed to use electromagnetic, microwave, or infrared energy to diagnose or treat an illness by detecting imbalances in the body's energy fields and then correcting them. Electronic devices, which emit some form of low-voltage electrical current or radio frequency, are often involved. Magnets and other unconventional treatments may also be a part of electromagnetic and energy field therapy [2] level III. 6 The effectiveness of magnetic treatment depends largely on four factors, according to Dr. John Zimmerman: strength, thickness, number of magnets used, and spacing. Magnets vary in strength, and it's important to remember that stronger magnets penetrate more deeply than do weak ones and that the reading at the surface of the magnet is different from the reading at its core. In other words, a magnet that is a 2000 gauss at its core may only be 200 gauss at its surface [3] level III. Practitioners claim that when electromagnetic frequencies or energy fields within the body go out of balance, disease and illness occurs. They claim that these imbalances disrupt the body's chemical makeup. By applying electromagnetic energy from outside the body, usually with electronic devices, practitioners claim they can correct the imbalances in the body. Practitioners claim that these methods can treat ulcers, headaches, burns, chronic pain, nerve disorders, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, gum infections, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, cerebral palsy, heart disease, and cancer [2-4] level III. 4. METHODOLOGY 4.1 SEARCH METHODS PUBMED, PROQUEST and MEDLINE via EBSCO were searched using the keywords magnetic therapy, bio-magnetic therapy, electromagnetic therapy, static magnet therapy, magnetic therapy safety, magnetic therapy effectiveness and efficacy, magnetic therapy adverse events either singly or in combination, with the limits to human study, year of publication from 2000 – 2008. In addition websites for existing HTA agency, society websites and cross- referencing of the articles retrieved were also carried out accordingly to the topic. 7 5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION While very little research on magnet therapy has been done in the United States, there has been a lot of work in this field in Russia, Czechoslovakia, and the Western European nations over the past 30 years. In the 1980’s and 1990’s a lot of research has been done by the Russians, but the studies were mostly case reports, case series and testimonials. This review focuses on the latest scientific evidence from year 2000 until 2008. From the search, 39 articles were retrieved. Only eighteen studies were relevant and taken as references. However, only one systematic review, five randomized control trials and one experimental study were reviewed. A systematic review of all relevant literature was done and the evidence graded according to the US/Canadian Preventive Services Task Force (Appendix)