A very interesting study and interesting read

PORTLAND, Ore. -- With the medical-magnet market growing by leap and bounds—said to be as high as $300 million in the U.S. and $5 billion worldwide--claims of medical efficacy range from curing carpal tunnel syndrome to eliminating arthritic pain. Unfortunately, no scientific study has yet to verify any of these claims. Time-varying electromagnetic fields have been scientifically verified to have positive medical effects--such as curing cancer in rats--but the static fields generated by the bracelets for wrists and ankles, and the pads for the back and feet, have never been properly scientifically tested.

Now, researchers at the University of Virginia have made the world's first scientifically verified claim for positive medical benefits from static magnetic fields, albeit the most useful medical application found by the researchers is not one claimed by bracelet and pad makers.

The new study set out to prove whether or not a static magnetic field could cause constricted blood vessels to dilate, thereby increasing blood circulation--a common claim made by companies selling magnetic therapies. What the researchers found was that the magnetic fields do, in fact, reverse constriction to dilation, as magnetic therapists claim, but more important, the magnets also caused the opposite effect: dilated blood vessels constricted. The latter--constricting dilated blood vessels--has valid medical applications in reducing inflammation after injuries, according to the study that was conducted by Professor Thomas Skalak, a University of Virginia biomedical engineer, along with his former student, Cassandra Morris, a doctoral candidate in biomedical engineering.

Once the scientists discovered that magnetic fields can....Read More.........

Posted by Jay Roberts at 05:07 AM | Permalink