The continuing pain and discomfort of arthritis drives many people to seek different forms of relief, both orthodox and less traditional. One of the more unconventional ways is by treating arthritis pain with magnetic therapy. This is a method that has been gaining in popularity recently both in the USA and around the world.

What is magnet therapy? Magnet therapy is the positioning of strong magnets around the body in the belief that they will induce a therapeutic effect on the patient. These magnets are strong 'medical' magnets that are much stronger than the fridge magnets that you have at home.

How are they used? The magnets are often worn on the body in the form of inconspicuous jewelry such as bracelets or necklaces. The recommendation is to wear them close to the site of pain. The magnets are also available in blankets so that they can cover a larger area of the body while you are sleeping.

How do they work? Nobody really knows how they exert their effect and there is little medical evidence to back up their claims. Some distributors have said that they work by improving the blood flow to the affected area. This in turn brings more oxygen, nutrients and endorphins, which then work to reduce inflammation and pain.

Does it work? The jury is still out on this one. There are thousands of people around the world who claim that they have less arthritis pain with magnetic therapy. Distributors of these products even claim to have had success with animals. This is interesting because it means that patients are not just responding to a placebo effect. But there is a lack of medical evidence to back up these claims.

What conditions are treated? - the most common conditions that magnetic therapy has success with are painful conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Some people claim to have had good success with other conditions such as headaches/migraines and also as an aid in overcoming sleeplessness/insomnia.

Are there any side effects? Unlike some treatments for the pain of arthritis, there are no known side effects of using magnet therapy.

So is it worth treating arthritis pain with magnetic therapy? Only you can decide on that after researching this area. There are strong arguments on both sides as to whether the therapy is effective or not.