Frequently Asked Questions about Magnetic Therapy

Q: How do magnets work in the body to help relieve pain?
A: Magnetic therapy is a safe, non-invasive method of applying magnetic fields to the body for therapeutic purposes. Whether used independently or as an adjunct to your current treatment, magnet therapy provides effectiv, natural pain relief for a wide range of conditions, making it an excellent choice for anyone. It helps speed the healing process and can improve quality of sleep without any adverse side effects.Today there are over 300 studies worldwide on magnetic therapy, and researchers have a much better understanding of the mechanisms of action involved, including:
1) influencing the sodium-potassium ion balance in nerve cells - to reduce the electric potential, thus reducing pain signals
2) relaxing smooth muscle walls of capillary blood vessels - allowing for improved blood flow, faster removal of inflammation, and accelerated healing rates
3) affecting the lymphatic system, allowing inflammatory agents and toxins to be flushed out of the body more efficiently
Additionally:
4) A number of MRI studies show the sinuses to be magnetically sensitive - magnetic therapy in turn, helps reduce sinus pain and congestion
5) A negative magnetic field can improve melatonin production in the pineal gland - responsible for inducing deeper, more restful sleep

Q: Is magnetic therapy safe? Are there any side effects?
A: Yes, magnetic therapy is very safe. The World Health Organization has issued a formal statement confirming that static magnetic fields pose no health risks whatsoever. No complications have ever been reported with its proper use. However, they should not be worn with implanted medical devices (pacemakers or insulin pumps, etc.). Avoid use during pregnancy as the effect of magnetism on the fetus is not fully known. Nor should you use if you are using transdermal drug delivery systems.

Q: Can everyone wear them?
A: Please read above answer. Our products are not intended for diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. It is recommended that persons with known or presumed medical conditions seek advice of their physician. Consult your medical professional for specific guidelines on how to manage your injury. Always follow the individual instructions of your physician or healthcare provider. Emerson WorldWide assumes no liability or responsibility for the use of its products.

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Q:. How long should the magnets be worn?
A: Emerson WorldWide magnet products can be worn at your convenience. The results vary from person to person; there is no time limit and no counter indication.

Q: How does magnetic therapy work?
A: All physical and mental functions are controlled by electromagnetic fields produced by the movement of electro-chemicals (ions) within the body. When an injury occurs and tissue is damaged, positively charged ions move to the affected area, triggering pain and causing inflammation. In order for pain and inflammation to be relieved and healing to take place, the electromagnetic fields at the injury site must be restored to their normal balance. The application of a magnetic field to an injured area helps restore the electromagnetic fields back to normal levels. The magnetic field relaxes capillary walls, as well as surrounding muscle and connective tissues, allowing for increased blood flow. More oxygen and nutrients are transferred to the injury site, while inflammatory-related toxins are removed. The overall process restores the normal electromagnetic balance of the area, relieving pain and inflammation, and promoting accelerated healing.

Q: Is magnetic therapy an officially recognized alternative health treatment?
A: Yes. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) classifies magnetic therapy as a form of Energy Medicine. The NCCAM is one of the 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health, and falls under the Public Health Service in the Department of Health and Human Services. The NCCAM states “Static magnets have been used for centuries in efforts to relieve pain. Numerous anecdotal reports have indicated that individuals have experienced significant, and at times dramatic, relief of pain after the application of static magnets over a painful area.”

Q: How does magnetic therapy reduce joint pain?
A: Magnetic fields influence cell behavior by inducing electrical changes around and within the cell. Improved blood supply increases oxygen and nutrient transport, activating and regenerating cells. Increased calcium transport stimulates the repair and growth of cartilage while at the same time decreasing pain.

Q: How does magnetic therapy provide back pain relief?
A: Magnetic therapy has proven to be very effective in relieving back pain, provided it is properly applied. Through improved blood supply, oxygen levels increase. This activates and regenerates cells, and induces electrical changes around and within the cell--speeding the healing process. Pain is reduced by negative magnetic fields working to rebalance the electrochemical ion concentrations within nerve cells.

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Q: How quickly will magnetic therapy work?
A: That depends on the type of condition, its severity, and how long you have been in pain. Everyone's body will also respond differently to magnetic therapy. In general older people respond to therapy faster than younger people.For acute injuries, most people start feeling better in a day or two. Some actually see results within hours or even minutes.With chronic pain related conditions, it could take several days or even a week or two before you start to feel better.

Q: How do I obtain the best results from magnetic therapy?
A: The key to using magnetic therapy for pain relief and healing is consistency. If you don't use the product every day as directed you could see the pain come back and slow your healing process. Consistently using magnetic products will help reduce pain and promote healing.Sometimes your pain may actually come from a place that doesn’t hurt. For example pain in your knee might be a result of a hip problem. If magnetic therapy does not seem to be working try shifting the magnet to another, related area.Magnetic therapy products can also be placed over acupuncture points.

Q: What determines the effectiveness of a magnetic therapy product?
A: To be effective, a product must create a magnetic field strong enough to penetrate completely through the injured area at a therapeutic level. The problem is that the strength of a magnetic field dissipates rapidly with increasing distance from a magnet. Many times an injured area can be several inches below the skin. If a product is not properly designed, the magnetic field will drop below therapeutic levels before it even reaches the injury site, rendering the product completely ineffective.Four factors determine the strength and effective penetration depth (how far the field can reach) of a product's magnetic field:
The size of the magnets
The number of magnets used
The polarity (negative or positive) facing the body
Manufacturer's gauss rating
All four factors must be known to be able to determine the effectiveness of a magnetic therapy product

Q: How effective is magnetic therapy?
A: According to most experts in the field, if magnetic therapy products are designed and used properly they can be 80% - 90% effective.The catch is that Biomagnetics is a far more complex science than most people realize. Knowing how to accomplish this level of effectiveness is no easy task. It requires highly specialized designs and manufacturing methods, and educated guidance for informed use. Emerson WorldWide has taken great care to distribute the most effective magnetic therapy products available and provide you with the instructions and customer support that you need to get the best results.

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Q: What is Gauss and why are thre so many different ones?
A: Gauss is the measurement that evaluates the power of penetration of a magnet.The manufacturer's gauss rating is the amount of magnetic energy at the magnet's core. Because magnets are made from different types of material, each magnet has a different gauss rating.Think of gold and the different carat ratings (10k, 14k, 18k, 24k). It's the same with magnets - they have different quality grades. The higher grades are more powerful and have a higher gauss rating. There are three basic types of magnets used in biomagnetics:
* Flexible rubber magnets - although commonly referred to as "refrigerator magnets", the magnets used in magnetic therapy are much strong and thicker. Their gauss ratings range from 2300 to 2650. Refrigerator magnets have a gauss rating of about 1500.
* Ceramic magnets - a compound made of strontium carbonate and ferric oxide powder. Ceramic magnets are available commercially in 2300 gauss (grade 1), 3800 gauss (grade 5) and 3950 gauss (grade 8). Very high energy research grade materials are available from specialty producers with gauss ratings of 4,000 to 4,300.
* Neodymium magnets - This is the strongest type of magnet. It is a blend of the rare earth element, Neodymium, with Iron and Boron. Commercial Neodymium magnets are a typically 10,800 gauss (grade 27) or 11,000 gauss (grade 30). Higher energy grades of 12,300 gauss (grade 35) and 12,800 gauss (grade 38) are available from specialty producers.

Q: Is gauss rating a good indicator of how effective a product will be?
A: No it is not. Size is equally as important. Larger magnets have more mass than smaller magnets. That means they can store a greater amount of magnetic energy. In some cases a larger magnet with a lower manufacturer's gauss rating can actually be stronger than smaller magnet with a higher gauss rating.That’s why the manufacturer's gauss rating alone is not an indication of how effective a magnet will be. You must know both the manufacturer's gauss rating and the size of the magnet to get an accurate picture.

Q: I have seen products on websites with gauss ratings of up to 280,000. Is that possible?
A: No it is not. Even an MRI machine can't generate that much power. Many companies use manufacturer's gauss ratings to exaggerate the strength of their magnets. For example, they might use 12,300 gauss magnets, but the magnets used are tiny so they will only generate a small magnetic field. That means that they may not do anything to ease your pain.When you see really exaggerated gauss ratings like 30,000, 100,000 and 280,000 that usually means that a company is adding up the total gauss ratings of all the magnets used in their product. This is deceptive because it tells you nothing about how effective the magnets will be. It violates the laws of physics. If you have 28 magnets with a 10,000 gauss rating each, your total gauss rating is still 10,000, not 280,000.

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Q: How long will magnets last?
A: The magnets in our products are guaranteed for a lifetime.

CAUTION
Do Not Use: if pregnant, or if you are wearing a pacemaker, consult a physician prior. Keep the magnets away from extreme heat, credit cards, watches, recording tape, computer disks as the magnetic field may cause problems with these items.