by Debbie Shimadry
Magnetic substances can be dated back to 2500-3000 years BC. The first recording of magnets originated in Asia Minor, in a place referred to as Magnesia. The land was saturated with great quantities of iron oxide causing the earth to exert a pull on any metal. The citizens appropriately called it Magnetite.
An alternative to this is the discovery of magnetism by a young boy, shepherding on Mount Ida, in 2500 years BC. The discover y cam after he realised that the metal rivets in his footwear were stuck to the rock making it troublesome to walk up the mountainside. His name was Magnes.
Mount Ida was found to contain a rock called Lodestone, which is the first known magnetic mineral. It is reported that Lodestone was named Magnes after the boy who discovered it, and it later came to be known as magnet.
It has been written that historical figures such as Cleopatra have used magnets for their beneficial properties. Cleopatra rested on Lodestone to retain her young, fresh looks. Further documentation including the written works of Plato and Aristotle profess the Lodestones benefits and its use in Greek medicine since 2500 BC.
Following on from the Greeks, Chinese medicine then began to use magnets in 2000 BC along with their other treatments, reflexology and acupuncture. In fact, its popularity in the east remains today and is widely used for many different ailments.
Western cultures in Europe and America have also use magnets with ever increasing popularity. A Swiss physician in the fifteenth century called Paracelsus, penned numerous research papers with regard to the reduction of inflammation within the body caused by the placement of magnets on a person.
Nearly one hundred years later, English Royal doctor, William Gilbert, completed controlled research into the effects of electricity and magnetism. Dr William Gilbert was responsible for one of the first books the use of magnets for healing titled, “De Magnet” and frequently advised Queen Elizabeth I on the use of magnets for her health and wellbeing.
Michael Faraday, also known as the founder of Biomagnetics made extensive discoveries in magnetic healing during the 18th century. His work is still used as a framework for modern day magnetic treatments. Dr Mesmer (the father of hypnotism) and Dr Samuel Hahnemann (the father of homoeopathy) also contributed to his remarkable work.
Modern faces include a German doctor, Dr Kreft. In 1905 he looked at how magnetic fields can improve the symptoms of conditions such as neuralgia, rheumatism and sciatica. In 1926 Dr Criles ran studies on how cancerous cells would react to magnets. Then ten years later, Albert Davis was responsible for the accurate testing of magnetic north and south poles.
The examples of research and studies have grown with its popularity during the last 15 years. In excess of 57 studies have been carried out in the USA on all manner of illnesses and magnets. Here are a few of the most modern research programmes;
1990 - University of Hawaii studied the presence of magnetic fields on osteoarthritis sufferers.
1992- Stiller et al a controlled scientific trial of the healing of venous wounds in the leg.
1999- New York Medical College took patients with diabetes and did tests using magnetic insoles.
2001- University of Virginia tested mattress covers with magnets on sufferers of Fibromyalgia.
2004- University of Exeter and Plymouth used magnetic bracelets and studied their effects on osteoarthritis patients.
The popularity of Magnetic Therapy all over the world is still increasing and has many followers including celebrity faces such as:
Cherie Blair
Andre Agassi
Bill Clinton
HRH Queen Elizabeth II
HRH Prince Charles
HRH Prince William
Cherie Blair
Venus Williams
Michael Jordon
Andre Agassi
Jack Niklaus and many more.
About the Author:
Author Debbie Shimadry Dip HE Dip MT (MC) renowned BBC radio expert guest can help you reduce your pain and improve your mobility with this free
magnetic therapy pain relief report
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