Alternative medicine is a booming industry, with people becoming more conscious about their health and trying to find healthier and more natural alternatives to aid their well-being. However, not all alternative medicine techniques are useful. Some simply don’t work and others can even be harmful.

The use of magnets in medicine goes back as far as Cleopatra. In ancient Egypt, it was thought that magnetism was capable of fighting infections, diseases, and relieving pain. The use of magnetic bracelets was highly popular in the 1800s, but it wasn’t until the 1970s when Albert Roy Davis developed his theory that magnetism was capable of eliminating malignant cells and relieving pain caused by various forms of arthritis.

© Titanium Magnetic Therapy Anklet / Amazon

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), magnetic therapy does help to relieve pain, however, the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) says that the use of magnetic devices has no medical effect whatsoever. While normally, it doesn’t cause any harm or side effects, they don’t work at all, according to this organization.

Despite these contradictory recommendations from two official bodies, the alternative medicine industry continues producing not only magnetic bracelets, but also magnetic socks, sleeves, clothing, and many other devices for athletes and people with painful conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

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Do they really work?

While there are millions of people who use these devices and the industry itself produces millions of dollars every year, two scientific studies from 2007 and 2013 concluded that magnetic bracelets don’t work as a treatment for pain caused by various illnesses and that they have no greater effect than a placebo during experiments carried out.

© Titanium Magnetic Therapy Bracelet / Amazon

In conclusion, magnetic bracelets normally have no side effects. Only people with pacemakers or insulin pumps should take care to avoid any kind of magnetic interference. So, using these devices is a personal choice.

However, the use of these devices shouldn’t, under any circumstances, substitute an approved pain relief treatment. The only danger of magnetic therapy would be to mistakenly believe that it can cure the pain when there is no supporting medical evidence.

Sources: Healthline, Livestrong

This article is solely for informational purposes. Do not self-diagnose or self-medicate, and in all cases consult a certified healthcare professional before using any information presented in the article. The editorial board does not guarantee any results and does not bear any responsibility for harm that may result from using the information provided in the article.