An increasingly large number of people are beginning to use magnets as a supplementary treatment for a variety of health-related conditions. Personal testimonials as to the positive effects of magnet therapy are plenty. Those opposed to magnet therapy often argue that positive results are merely a product of the placebo effect – but to that we say, who cares? If the purpose of a therapy is to relieve the sensation of pain, and the therapy achieves that purpose successfully, then the therapy is an effective one. Magnet therapy should not be viewed as a substitute for regular visits to the doctor, recommended surgeries or medications, etc. It is generally in conjunction with conventional treatments that magnet therapy can be at its most effective. Modern magnet therapy products come in all shapes and sizes, and are made of a variety of materials. Magnetic jewellery is an especially popular accessory, as it affords the wearer a fashionable and discreet means of using magnet therapy. Other magnet therapy products include back and joint supports and magnetic bandages, which are designed to offer more concentrated treatments for pain and discomfort in specific parts of the body; magnetic insoles for shoes; magnetic seat and mattress pads; and a wide variety of other products out there on the market.

Magnet therapy in its various forms has been claimed to produce positive pain relieving effects in the treatment of a great number of conditions, including back and neck pain, arthritis, muscle soreness, carpal tunnel syndrome – and the list goes on.

Some people are so firmly convinced by the effectiveness of magnet therapy that they choose it as an alternative to over-the-counter painkillers. One of the advantages of using magnet therapy as an alternative to painkillers is that there appear to be no risks associated with magnet therapy other than the possibility of it being ineffective. Meanwhile, painkillers sometimes have side effects that can result in health problems for users. The effectiveness of painkillers is also debatable, as over-the-counter medications are limited in their effectiveness to begin with. Furthermore, users can build up tolerances to drugs they take frequently, rendering them even less effective for pain relief. I would just like to point out though that magnet therapy is not a proven avenue of medical treatment, but that for many people it does act as an effective supplementary treatment for pain and discomfort. The best way to test it is to try it out for yourself. Magnet therapy products tend to be relatively inexpensive – so get yourself a bracelet and see what you think. If it isn’t doing anything for you, then at least you’ve got a nice new addition to your jewellery collection!