Magnets have a long history in medical applications. In 18th century Europe, the use of magnets was just another type of what we now call “faith healing.” To this day, people continue to experiment with magnetic therapy. The magnetic devices that are claimed to be therapeutic include: magnetic bracelets, insoles, knee and wrist bands, back and neck braces, and even pillows and mattresses. Magnetic therapy has become so common that a Google search for “magnets and pain relief” returns over 700,000 results. Some advocates of magnetic therapy claim magnets to be a strong alternative to conventional pain medication. But are magnets a legitimate form of medicine? Besides the use of magnets in everyday life—in televisions, refrigerators and computers—magnets have acquired a medical reputation for relieving pain. Magnets are said to increase circulation to problem areas, reduce swelling and aid in recovery. As of 2007, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCAM) had performed a number of preliminary scientific studies with no clear results on the efficacy of the healing powers of magnetic devices. Just as important, NCAM, continues to pronounce magnet therapy as a mystical form of relief that is very real but cannot yet be explained. Still, magnet merchants dominate internet searches. As explained by Cepeda, Carr and Sarquis, “…it is crystal clear that billions of dollars [$300 million in the U.S. alone] have already been spent on magnet therapy, or perhaps, wasted on magnet therapy. To be blunt, there is no proven benefit to magnet therapy.” This paper will examine the legitimacy of magnet therapy, the pseudoscience that acts as evidence to its supporters and the science that challenges its fac... ... middle of paper ... ...D Carr, and T Sarquis. "Static magnetic therapy does not decrease pain or opioid requirements: a randomized double blind trial." Anesthesia & Analgesia 104 (2007): 290-294. 2. Harlow, T, and C Greaves. "Randomized controlled trial of magnetic bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee." BMJ 329 (2004): 3. "Magnets." US Food and Drug Administration. 8 May. 2012. . 4. Mook, Douglas G. Classic experiments in psychology. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2004. 5. Ruscio, John. Critical Thinking in Psychology: Seperating Sense from Nonsense. Wadsworth Publishing, 2005. 6. Smith, Randolph A. Challenging Your Preconceptions: Thinking Critically About Psychology. Wadsworth Publishing, 2001. 7. Stanovich, K E. How to think straight about psychology. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2001
For the past few centuries western medicine has made significant improvements in medical technologies; however, as the pendulum swings we are obliged to remember that eastern medicine has been prevalent for numerous centuries. Eastern medicine includes many medical avenues that are slowly becoming more popularized in the western world. For example, I have noticed therapies such as acupuncture becoming much more accepted that in previous decades. Moreover, in the past year I have learned a great deal about the therapeutic effects of magnets, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) which is also known as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).
King, B., Nash, M., Spiegel, D., & Jobson, K. (2001). Hypnosis as an intervention in pain management. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 5(2), 97-101.
During one of the third grade morning classes while observing in the Magnet program, I was asked to assist the class with doing the lesson. The class itself is working on project that was very technical and skill based. Being asked to help was very exciting. I had only been observing at the school for few weeks and only helped students occasionally if I noticed the student was in need of assistance. The project the class was working on involved using a large of wet media like paint and Mod Podge finishes. I spent majority of the class circulating through the room and providing assistance where I could be of use to either the teacher I was observing with or the students. This usually involved offering guidance or advice on how the students
In the 1950’s, it was common so see people with frightened, uneasy, rejecting, and even arrogant attitudes towards people with mental illnesses. They considered those who were mentally ill as psychotic, violent and frightening. In the today, people are more accepting and understanding when it comes to mental illness, but some people are still ignorant with their responses, just like back then. In the 1950’s mental health treatment was typically provided in large state hospitals and other intuitions. Back then, topics like mental health were kept hush hush; people much rather putting those who were mentally in away in a state facility where someone else could monitor them. Today, people are more understanding.
In Southeastern Asian cultures, coining is a common home remedy used to relieve colds, headaches, and pain. Coining involve using a coin with balm oil to rub repeatedly on skin causing bruising (Nguyen, 1985). In Western medicine, coining is not view as a health benefit, but as health care providers, it is important to interject different beliefs from patients in which we are caring for. According to my grandma, coining is an effective home treatment that has been passed on for many generations. My grandma explained that when someone has a cold, it means the body has caught the wind, thus, we use coining to help scrape the wind away. Parts of our cultural value include curing ourselves of illnesses naturally and not rely on Western medicine. However gradually, I remember my grandma having frequent doctor visits due to her recurrent illnesses. Although my grandma was compliance with going to the doctors, she was stubborn with taking her medications. It was not until after several visits that the doctor became very adamant that her symptoms would get worst if she continues to refuse her medications. The fear of her symptoms will get worst forced her to cooperate. Although my family’s main health belief was coining; however, they accepted Western medicine when coining wasn’t effective.
For hospitals to reach their peak in the healthcare world they must work to achieve a prestigious credential by the American Nurse's Credentialing Center ( Truth about nursing). In order to receive such a credential, hospitals must fulfill a set of criteria that will take a lot of work and reform within the hospital itself. To receive magnet status hospitals have to express the fourteen forces of magnetism along with the strict list of requirements (Flores, 2007). Magnet status along with everything has its benefits along with its problems. This credential has been researched in depth, and some research feels that certain thing should be changed in order for magnet hospitals to be the best they can possible be. Lastly, there is no doubt that magnet status is of great value because of how it transforms hospitals from great to greater.
After having studied the placebo effect for our last paper, I was greatly intrigued by its' importance in understanding health and implications for the connection of mind and body. As I acknowledged in my previous paper, the placebo effect is often documented in a scientific study, yet is considered to be something not completely understood and therefore deemed unreliable by the medical community. However, what I found from my research was that there does seem to be an inherent reliability and could thus be a cornerstone for the concept for mind-body healing.
In the 1980s, hospitals were struggling with a nursing shortage. A new recognition called the Magnet program was awarded to hospitals which fulfilled certain requirements and had attracted and retained nurses (Dumpel, 2008). The question asked is if hospitals with Magnet Recognition deliver higher standards of care when compared to other hospitals. It is also been brought up that these hospitals are attracting more nurses to work for them due to their superior work environments. This paper will explore the actual effects the Magnet Program has on hospitals.
D.D Palmer believed in a body’s’ ‘innate intelligence’, and believed subluxation to be the ultimate cause of all diseases, promising to be overcome through spinal manipulation. (Lantz, 1995). This theory cured the deaf janitor, and marked the birth of the chiropractic profession. The cause that led to the great schism occurred when Dr. Carver and enrolled students in Palmers Collage debated the techniques being taught, searching for evidence based theory, and structure for manipulations, moving away from the previous spiritual and innate intelligence grounded theory. (Rosenthal et al. 1981). Carver opened a new collage, rejecting and evolving from D.D Palmers one cure model, and introduced the search for ‘clarification’ of the chiropractic overall structure and function through scientifically based evidence. (Rosenthal et al.
The company behind MagnaSoles claim that their inserts work because of science that seems true. With their “pseudo-science,” they claim that “magnetism...reflexology...Terranometry” help the feet to be in “alignment with Earth” which will help the body in whole. These words have a mocking tone with it as there are root words in them. The root words make things easier to understand and because many
There are many different uses of alternative medicine and that can be used in a variety of situations. Some people may be skeptical of alternative medicine since they are not aware of the facts and statistics. By homeopathy becoming more popular people will not be as skeptical. “Despite the successes of many alternative therapies, the phrase "alternative medicine" has not acquired a completely respectable air. To many, especially doctors trained in conventional medicine, "alternative therapies" seem unscientific and dangerous” (Badertscher). As the author shows that although alternative medicine may seem skeptical to people, there are many reasons to prove that alternative medicine is an overall better solution. Badertscher also explains the many benefits to his view of alternative medicine of seeking to work with the body 's own natural healing processes” (Badertscher). For example, a person may suffer from chronic back pain may decide to go to a chiropractor instead of using medication such as oxycodone. In this Badertscher shows the benefit that using the body’s natural healing does and that it puts the person in control of their
In “Six Pillars of Energy Medicine: Clinical Strengths of a Complementary Paradigm” David Feinstein and Donna Eden (2008) argue that clinical experience and scientific investigations make energy medicine more reliable, and according to them because of six major reasons energy medicine can be used as a support to conventional medicine or as a full system for self-care and self-help. Energy medicine utilizes electromagnetic fields in the body because electromagnetic fields are managing all cells’ roles in the bo...
The ancient Romans were the first to use electricity to treat disease several thousand years ago; however, “electrical medicine” has improved and has been utilized in the forms predating ECT in a relatively short amount of time. In the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, doctors began to notice that giving people camphor could “cure lunacy” (Abrams, 2002). The doctors noticed that when administering camphor orally, it caused seizures, and upon waking up, were “in a rational state” (Abrams, 2002). In fact, in 1798, a German scientist reported that 80% of manic patients that were treated with camphor and had seizures, were cured (Abrams, 2002). As medical and technological advances occurred, so did the use of inducing a seizure to cure mental illness. In 1934, a scientist was able to bring a schizophrenic patient, who had been on a hunger strike and had not moved in four years, to recovery through a seizure that had been brought on by camphor (Abrams, 2002). And, “thus, convulsive therapy was born” (Abrams, 2002). By the end of the year, this scientist published results of the same action given to twenty-six schizophrenics, ten patients were cured, thirteen had no re...
During the early 1900s, the practice of medical science became accepted in our society. Many of the Swedish massage was mingled in with those of medical doctors and medical practices. (A type of “mechano-therapy” emerged of a combination with other therapist preformed by a physician or a nurse’s assistant.) Over time, these practices were absorbed into what would be general medicine. In the 1920s Masseurs and Masseuses had lost most of their market to doctors. They mainly found work with wealthy individuals who wanted a general, relaxing form of massage. After World War ll, a group of massage operators formed the American Association of Masseurs and Masseuses. This later became the forerunner of today’s American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). The goal of these associations is to raise the status of massage as a unique and effective treatment for healing. In the 1980s the AMTA was formed. The first thing they did was establish a code of ethics and change their titles from masseurs and masseuses to massage therapist. Now the profession of massage is enjoying renewed vigor and influence in alternative medicine. Recent trends have pointed the continuing promise and growth of massage therapy as a health care career.
There are many organizations pursing the accreditation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program (Pinkerton, 2008). It is a great achievement when an organization receives Magnet recognition. However, “several factors must be considered by those organizations making the decision, and these factors can be grouped and reviewed using the recently released empirical model for the Magnet Recognition Program” (Pinkerton, 2008, p. 323).