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Magnets zap migraines

Headache pills might be superseded by portable device.

Migraine sufferers might soon be able to block an imminent attack using a device that targets the brain with a powerful magnetic field.

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Posted by Michael Hopkin on June 22, 2006 01:32 PM |

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As a scientist myself, I am curious as to the long-term effects of this device. From my graduate education in physics I understand that these devices stimulate nerves by co-aligning the polar water molecules in the brain with an electro-magnet. This is analagous to sweeping a magnet over a floppy disk. And we all know what happens to the data on the disk when you do that. The stronger the magnet... there you go. So, I prefer to deal with my migraines the old fashined way: bed rest and NSAIDs. I'll refrain from buying these machines.

Posted by: Shale D., M.S. | June 22, 2006 07:28 PM

I've been using magnetic ear rings to keep my migraines at bay for several years now. According to my PCP, the 1000 gauss ear rings are located over an accupunture point and are truly stopping my migraines before they ever begin. Since using the ear rings, I no longer miss work due to migraines. Bravo for this article. I am familiar with the TMS study for depression. It truly is a wonderful time we live in.

Thank you, Cindy Key

Posted by: Cindy Key | June 22, 2006 08:13 PM

I have rsd, a neurologic disease that causes sever pain. The pain originates in the brain from over excited pain signals. I am wondering if this migrane device would have an effect on the pain???? Could someone get back to me with info on contacting the person who is doing the study on this device or at least forward this e-mail to him. I would appreciate it. To date nothing has been found to decrease the pain effectively. Thankyou, Natascha Hudson

Posted by: Natascha Hudson | June 24, 2006 09:10 PM

I'm just a layperson, with no professional background in medicine or physics. But it doesn't take a scientist or doctor to read over some articles and come to some compelling conclusions. I've always been skeptical about such extraordinary claims as magnets being a cure all. All I have to offer in my defense are some links:

Wikipedia - Magnet Therapy

Vet Task Force - Magentic and Electromagnetic Therapy In Horses

The Straight Dope - Can Magnets Alleviate Pain?

Quack Watch - Magnet Therapy

Posted by: Paul | June 25, 2006 01:07 AM

As Cindy Key has noted regular magnets might work just as well for migraines. I use one or two 0.3T neodymium magnets to block coughing spasms in my throat. They work as well as codein cough syrup.
Alfred Levinson

Posted by: Alfred Levinson | June 26, 2006 10:21 PM

Ear rings and accupuncture? Hasn't accumpuncture been thoroughly debunked for decades? It's junk. There are no such things as accupuncture points as defined by accupuncture practitioners. There is no Chi, there are no meridians, etc... Isn't this a science site?

Posted by: Scott P. | July 7, 2006 03:52 AM

Folks write in and claim to have the only correct answer and they use science to back their claim. Boy that's dangerous, especially when it's obvious the writer has done no serious investigation on their own. Closed minds yield additional suspicion and interfere with forward momentum. None of the last sentence is science, just philosophy.

Posted by: Tom Kueh | July 7, 2006 06:05 PM

I am a scientist and I suffer badly from migraines. Usually I rely on drugs like Zomig, but since I was pregnant and am now breastfeeding I have to deal with the pain otherwise. If you've never had a migrain it is hard to understand that one might reach out to what Scott P calles "junk". Although I am not convinced that magnets truly have a physical effect I believe in the psycological effect of a placebo drug and in the case of migraines: what ever helps is good!

Posted by: Astrid Strelow | July 10, 2006 06:18 PM

Here is a site on magetics and pain you may find of interest: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/magnet/magnet.pdf

Posted by: Carol Riddick | March 17, 2007 04:53 AM

Hi,
I am morish from http://www.migraineinformation.org/
I can link to your website from : http://www.healthcarescam.org/ (PR 4 page)

In return, can you give us the following link:

Title: Home Remedies for headaches
URL: http://www.migraineinformation.org/migraine-treatment/home-remedies.htm
Description: When you have a headache, it can really affect every part of your day. Learn how to cure cure headaches without spending much money and time.

Exchanging links from content pages, rather than traditional links pages will help more in terms of both getting visitors and search engine rankings.
Let me know what do you think about this.

Best Regards
Morish Odumbe
Email:morish.odumbe1@gmail.com

Posted by: Morish Odumbe | October 1, 2007 09:31 AM

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