MAGNETIC treatment for all illnesses

THE CASE

There is an amazing array of magnetic devices on the market that purport to treat a diverse range of human (and even animal) illnesses. Browsing through the Internet revealed a range of magnetic devices that included pillows, underlays, body supports, innersoles, spas, jewellery and veterinary products. If there are so many products available, surely there must be some therapeutic benefit? Well - no, not really.

In the US the FDA considers static magnet therapy as useless but harmless, and there have been some successful prosecutions against vendors making outlandish claims of being able to treat specific conditions such as cancer.

Most rigorous studies found that magnets were of no benefit. One of the few studies that did demonstrate a benefit with magnets (and naturally the one most quoted) was discredited on the grounds that two of the researchers failed the "nul hypothesis" test, in that they had previously used magnets to treat their own pain, therefore they were not disinterested parties to the study. Moreover as this study was supposed to be the pilot study for a larger study never carried out, the results were never intended to be definitive.
Examine this diagram. It purports to show that the induced field in magnetised blood cells would cause the cells to separate. For a start there is not enough iron in red blood cells for the field from even the most powerful magnet to overcome the other forces acting on blood cells in liquid blood. Secondly even if the field did predominate, it would cause the cells to clump, as the north pole on one cell attracted the south pole on its neighbour and so on, just like iron filings. This is exactly the opposite of what is claimed.

For a history of magnetic therapy see the chapter "the Magnetisers" in the excellent book "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" By Charles Mackay. Although this was first written in 1841 it will give you a good idea of the culture of this industry. Not much has changed.

The following was the mode of operation: -- In the centre of the saloon was placed an oval vessel, about four feet in its longest diameter, and one foot deep. In this were laid a number of wine-bottles, filled with magnetised water, well corked-up, and disposed in radii, with their necks outwards. Water was then poured into the vessel so as just to cover the bottles, and filings of iron were thrown in occasionally to heighten the magnetic effect. The vessel was then covered with an iron cover, pierced through with many holes, and was called the baquet. From each hole issued a long moveable rod of iron, which the patients were to apply to such parts of their bodies as were afflicted. Around this baquet the patients were directed to sit, holding each other by the hand, and pressing their knees together as closely as possible to facilitate the passage of the magnetic fluid from one to the other.

This eighteenth century fad is no sillier than this item that I just found on eBay, the magnetic stirrer or magnetic wand. Unusually for this type of device it comes with a complete explanation on how it works. Unfortunately it is a load of pseudoscientific codswallop (or bunkum if you are American), and it is written in English that is almost as poor:

We are shown by physics that chemicals and water are able to change weight by being influenced by magnetic fields. There are more hydroxyl ions created in order to form bicarbonate, calcium, and other alkaline-type molecules. These molecules are what help reduce the acid from the traditional pH level of seven or greater. Magnetism also has an affect on the bonding angle between the oxygen atom in a water molecule and hydrogen. This causes a hydrogen-oxygen bond angle within the water molecule that is reduced from 104 to 103 degrees. In turn, the water molecule begins to cluster in groups of six or seven, rather than the normal level of 10 to 12. The smaller the cluster, the better the water absorption across the cell walls.

MY VERDICT

Don't waste your money.