According to the American Cancer Society, over 11 million cancer survivors will celebrate their birthdays this year. Each survivor has a multitude of research and treatments to thank for aid in winning the battle over her life. One controversial treatment some cancer patients are turning to is magnetic therapy.
History
While interest in magnetism for healing has existed for centuries, the idea really took off in the 1970s thanks to Dr. Albert Roy Davis. He claimed that magnetic fields affected biological systems. Among other curing claims, he alleged that magnets could kill cancer cells. Starting off in Japan and China, and most recently in the U.S., magnetic therapy has become a multimillion dollar industry.
How It Works
Advocates for magnetic therapy insist that negative poles of magnets possess healing qualities. The negative poles supposedly lower the acidity within the body. Because are thought to diminish in less acidic environments, magnets are thought to prevent the spread of cancer, if not reverse it.
Application
Magnets are applied directly to the body in different sizes, sometimes using jewelry or patches for attachment. Magnetic shoes and blankets even exist. The length of time magnets are worn changes depending on the prescribing physician.
Legitimacy
While advocates for magnetic therapy swear by the treatment, little supporting scientific evidence exists. The evidence that does exist is highly controversial, due to length and scope of the studies. Most studies have determined that magnetic therapy does nothing for the body. In many cases, no difference was found between magnets and placebo.
As far as cancer-specific magnetic therapy research is concerned, there is none. Due to the lack of sufficient supporting data, most professional physicians reject magnetic therapy for cancer as fable.
Dangers
Two main dangers exist in . The first danger is for cancer patients who decide to undergo magnetic therapy alone, rejecting other types of cancer treatments. Because magnetic therapy is not proven to help fight cancer, these patients run a serious risk of death.
The second danger lies in patients who have pacemakers. Magnets can disrupt these devices, causing serious repercussions.
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