Straddling the Science/Magic Line: A Look At Magnetic Therapy
What's the difference between science and magic? It's our
understanding of what makes something happen.
If magic is hocus-pocus, science is simply well understood
hocus-pocus. Fire? Solar eclipse? Volcanic eruption? Earthquake?
Once we can explain it, it becomes science. But sometimes we're
stuck straddling that science/magic line.
Consider magnets.
Remember when you were a kid back in elementary school and you
first discovered the wonder of magnets? What a thrill it was to
explore the possibilities! There's nothing like messing with
natural forces to spark a child's imagination.
Thirty five years later, I'm still fascinated by magnets.
Magnetic therapy has been used for thousands of years in Asia
and Europe. Some believe that magnets help restore the flow of
blood through the capillaries, therefore assisting in the
flushing of toxins that may accumulate due to injury or illness.
Magnets have been used to relieve the pain of arthritis, carpal
tunnel, migraines, joint injuries, menstrual cramps, and much
more. There has been some research in the last couple of years
indicating that magnetic therapy may offer relief to those
suffering from depression and attention deficit disorder.
Yet we're not sure how--or if--this really happens. It's got to
be some kind of placebo effect, right? We're all looking for
simple solutions to help us feel better. Sometimes we want
things to work so much that they actually DO. Does that mean
it's all a bunch of hooey?
I've learned a lot about magnets since my husband started
developing and distributing Bodylinx, a line of inexpensive
magnetic bracelets. Tom stated right from the beginning that he
wanted to downplay the jewelry's possible health benefits. He
likes the bracelets because they