First let us ask does it work at all? The answer to that may well depend on who is receiving the question. Alternative therapies such as using vitamin & herb remedies, and of which magnet therapy is one, certainly all have their detractors.

Most of these seem to be physicians who are convinced that only modern drugs will ever work for anyone, because that is what most doctors are trained to believe.

The giant multi-national pharmaceutical companies, who also realize the benefits of multi-vitamins & supplements, and who produce these drugs, want doctors to think that way, because it maximizes their profit margins. That is not to say that these corporations are necessarily hiding any other truths, but they certainly seem unwilling to admit that they are not always right.

Of course modern drugs have made a lot of difference to many people's lives, and it would not be in the interests of the world to turn our backs wholesale on these products, but neither is it wise to pronounce that any treatment not emanating from the doors of the mega-bucks industrial complexes is either nonsense or fraudulent.

A lot of drugs for example, are based on plants and are the basis for organic healing herbs medicine (from rapidly disappearing rainforests some of the time) and yet herbalists are not given that much respect or credence from the pharmaceutical titans either. So we must consider things with care, and look at the evidence with a neutral eye, as all scientists are supposed to with their research, but unfortunately often do not.

It seems that the old adage, `he who pays the piper, calls the tune' can often be very true.

Magnetic therapy has been around for a very long time indeed, in ancient China, India, Egypt, Persia and Greece; its path was both known and followed. The Russians also have a long history of its use, and in some of the dark days of World War II, Soviet soldiers were often treated with magnets in the front line, as more conventional medicinal supplies ran dry.

The Russians are a practical people after all, if something works they will use it, and clearly it did. Not for them was time wasted on theoretical arguments about the doubts, claims and counterclaims that we are familiar with today: there was an invader to be thrown out after all, and all had to play their part in the fight.

In such prosperous times as we have today, things like this might be a cause for amusement, but this reaction would be totally wrong. It is in times of crisis that we can learn much, often when things are calm then those that rule the roost do not have their views challenged, because their wares are so widely available, and knee-jerk presumptions can all too easily be made about those who call for alternatives to be tried.

It is though, only in the western world where magnets are viewed with suspicion by the establishment. In Japan, magnetic therapy is officially recognized by the Ministry of Health, and all across the east, magnets are commonly seen being prescribed for use.

Here too, things are starting to change, with much recent research pointing to surprisingly (for some) effective results for the management and control of chronic pain conditions all over the body via the use of therapeutic magnets used in water purification systems, among others.

Muscles, joints and nerves can be affected by magnetic fields just as has long been claimed.

The notion of a placebo effect is now immediately raised by the opponents of magnetic therapy. This is where some patients can respond favorably to a treatment because they can see that something is being done about it - but researchers do what is known as `double blind' tests to fight against this possible placebo effect. This involves none of the patients, or the researchers involved in the trials, being aware of which people are receiving genuine magnetic treatment and which are being given false therapy until after the time period has ended; and the results are collated and published.

Another powerful argument against the placebo argument is that many vets use magnets to help heal animals; pets in the home, zoo animals and perhaps most interestingly of all (purely from an economic point of view) is that top racehorse owners are increasingly being drawn towards magnetic therapy for their prized runners as well.

Another claim made against therapeutic magnets is that any benefits that occur are more to do with warming the muscles or joints than anything else. It may be true that if a person is wearing a magnetic therapy elbow support for example, or a magnetic back brace or knee wrap, then that portion of the body will naturally warm up simply because it is snugly covered; preventing heat loss from the skin.

But this explanation does not seem to take into account that many sufferers who do wear these products, like Nikken magnets, and have already tried other, non-magnetic supports that are just as warm and well made, but without gaining much subsequent relief from their aches and pains.

So the detractors will try again: Perhaps patients rest more when they are reminded of their pain by the presence of a magnetic therapy device of some sort or another?

This seems unlikely. Most people wear their flexible wraps or firm magnetic supports to enable them to lead an active life, like golfers and other sports enthusiasts for example, and those suffering from carpel tunnel syndrome, may not be able to rest their wrists and hands during the day at all, if in an office job with lots of keyboard duties to attend to. Which is why they seek help from magnetic wrist and hand products in the first place.

Also, many who suffer from bodily pains say that their joints stiffen up when not used for a long time, like early in the morning after a night's sleep (if this is possible). So those who opt for magnetic body supports to be worn, or sleep systems, like magnetic beds, mattresses, comforters or overlays and pillows are only doing the same resting at night as they would be anyway. So maybe they sleep more, comes the retort. Well in that case, magnetic forces must be working to take the pain away through the day and night so that they can, will be the answer!

It is estimated that over a hundred and twenty million people worldwide regularly use some sort of magnetic therapy every day, from magnetic bracelets and necklaces, to insoles that stimulate reflexology points in the feet, to shoulder wraps and back belts for pain in the upper, middle and lower back.

There is a wide assortment of things available to those who believe magnetism can help them, and to suggest that all of these people are simply kidding themselves or are unaware of other factors that may be helping them instead is quite frankly an insult.

Of course some of these may be given as gifts by concerned friends or relatives, but often this is because they have tried it out for themselves or know others who have. Not all of these numbers can be put down to people just trying out anything that comes along. Because they would reject it and spread that word accordingly if they found that they were not helped.

Many magnetic therapy manufacturers and retailers also offer money back guarantees, so they must be quite confident that most of these will not be claimed.

Still some reject this and say that it does not matter what people say works, if it cannot be scientifically proven to do so.

Pulse magnetic therapy has been so, it is known and accepted that this methodology will help fractured bones and damaged tendons and ligaments to heal quicker when the damage is subjected to a powerful pulsing magnetic field.

The perceived problem with magnetic therapy is that the fields usually do not penetrate that deeply into the body, so the doubters say how can it be doing much good at all anyway?

Enthusiasts retort that this is a misunderstanding of the situation, and that the subtleties of magnetism are not understood. They do have a problem here because some even argue amongst themselves about how exactly magnetic therapy does work, but surely just more proper and neutral research is needed.

One idea is that the pH level of the blood can be improved thanks to magnetic therapy. When inflammation and pain are present, it is said that an increase in local blood acidity occurs. Magnets can perhaps power up blood vessels which have a biochemical means in them to keep the alkalinity from salts and acid levels in check, increasing the work of these natural `pumps' will allow the blood to affect the problem area with alkaline chemicals which neutralize the acidic forces which are thought to contribute to the irritation and swelling of problem joints.

The acidity of the blood might even be the cause of the pain problems in the first place. With blood vessels perhaps losing some of their abilities to control their pH balance because of either physical or mental stress or aging, and in this case regularly wearing magnets might prevent muscular or joint pains from starting up. So a possible case here of prevention being better than cure applies if this is correct, with the magnets in effect being on, `guard duty.'

Another thought is that the flow of the blood is most affected, with the magnets ionizing or energizing the blood stream. Ionizing is the affecting of neutral atoms with either a positive or negative electrical charge (electrical and magnetic fields are related, because both effect the actions of sub-atomic particles in sometimes similar ways).

It is theorized that such ionization energizes the red blood cells (which contain magnetic iron) and allow them to oxygenate areas of the body much quicker to increase health and fight against pain caused by muscle inflammation.

Inflamed muscles can lack a healthy flow of blood around them, and an increase in both the circulation and oxygen carrying capabilities of the blood stream will help to soothe things down as well as carrying away the toxins that inevitably build up.

Another theory is that the magnet by having its north pole (with a negative polarity) facing inwards to the skin can attract the positively charged ions in the body. These are thought to excite body tissues and cause inflammation of joints and muscles where they are vulnerable because of damage or wear. Conversely the negative charge on bioelectric functions is thought to calm down tissue and allow it to heal better, or at the very least not to worsen, and the magnet will not attract any of these away from the particular area when facing with the south pole (positive polarity) facing outwards.

This is why only that area of the body affected by pain need to have close magnets in close proximity, like a magnetic ankle support for a sore ankle, for example.

Though some do recommend multi-polar systems, with both poles facing inwards on the same surface. Here the arching flow of magnetized electrons are both attracting and repulsing the magnetic fields from neighboring magnets (in the case of multiple batches of small magnets sited within the product), as well as interacting with the opposing poles on the same, resulting in a slightly different way of a magnetic field relating with nerves and skin cells.

But here the range of the magnetic force is only just into the skin, whereas the uni-polar or unidirectional magnets allow for the deeper penetration of their static fields into the body.

Others who believe prefer a different approach. They say that the entire body is interconnected in its activities, and therefore the quest for health and fight against pain should reflect this.

Taking their initiative from acupuncture, the ancient Chinese system of medicine using needles placed in strategic points around the body to restore a flow of life force and remove blockages, they do similar things with magnets.

These `spot' or `dot' magnets sometimes made of highly magnetic neodymium (rare-earth magnets), are positioned in these `acupoints' and held there by reusable plasters. This may be anywhere on the body, and not always close to the area that has the complaint.

The purpose of this is to keep the bodily system in a perfect energy balance, to allow for optimum health and the prevention and removal of ailments.

So there are different ways that this therapy might work, and different ways to apply it when trying it out.

Some folks also like to magnetize their food and drinks before consuming them, water can itself be slightly magnetized. Other ways that magnets can alter water is by using magnetic water softening and conditioning systems, and this will improve the water’s properties and is believed to make it healthier.

And health is what we all crave for, so if it is true that arthritis for example, can really be helped by magnetic therapy, then it would be a far better option for most sufferers than to take large and regular doses of drugs.

The magnetic companies themselves are careful about such claims, almost all (though there are a few exceptions which make very strident and much doubted views about the affects of magnets on cancer cells) merely say that millions of people believe it works, and use products to that effect every day.

This much is certainly true, so as gauss (a unit of magnetic strength) becomes a more and more familiar word in health debates in Europe and North America, perhaps we also, like those in other parts of the world, shall become increasingly attracted to the idea of magnetic therapy in the years to come.

Matt Jacks is an article writer for hire providing valuable tips and advice for consumers purchasing Nikken magnetic products, information about the Nikken sleep systems and living air purifiers. His numerous articles offer moneysaving tips and valuable insight on typically confusing topics.