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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sue Doe Nym on March 16, 2002, at 10:04:25
Just heard a radio show. Salesman said they help fiber myalgia and depression.
Well??????????????
Posted by Chris A. on March 16, 2002, at 19:19:19
In reply to Magnetic mattresses anyone???, posted by Sue Doe Nym on March 16, 2002, at 10:04:25
If the salesman would give you a thirty day trial period you might try it. The good research on magnetic therapy is slim. My college-aged daughter just did a presentation on magnetic therapy for her alternative medicine class, and left no stone unturned in looking for good research. What you'll find are testimonials, anecdotal evidence and theorizing by the salesmen. She found only two studies that were quasi-scientfic. Neither addressed fibromyalgia or depression.
She's the expert. I'm not!Blessings,
Chris A.
Posted by Joy on March 17, 2002, at 11:19:50
In reply to Magnetic mattresses anyone???, posted by Sue Doe Nym on March 16, 2002, at 10:04:25
Salesman say anything. There may be some people that have injuries that magnets MAY help, but I tried the top of the line for 2 weeks and found no difference at all. Then they tell you some people feel better in one or two days, but it may take longer for others. [They have to tell you that if you've been sleeping on it two or three weeks with no results]. I am a bit skeptical. If it really worked great, everybody would be sleeping on them or using the magnets and word of mouth would cause a tremendous demand for the product. I don't see that at all. Don't mean to be negative; but I was disappointed myself.
Joy
Posted by SueDoeN on March 17, 2002, at 14:24:38
In reply to Re: Magnetic mattresses anyone???, posted by Joy on March 17, 2002, at 11:19:50
Posted by IsoM on March 17, 2002, at 14:38:29
In reply to Magnetic mattresses anyone???, posted by Sue Doe Nym on March 16, 2002, at 10:04:25
The magnetic fields of our own planet are much stronger than the puny magnets in these mattresses. Magnetic therapy was long ago debunked as pseudo-science. Unfortuantely with the increase of pain, sleep problems & interest in New Age therapies, magnetic therapy has made a return. It's bunk - pure & simple!
Posted by SueDoeN on March 17, 2002, at 15:07:05
In reply to Re: Magnetic mattresses anyone??? » Sue Doe Nym, posted by IsoM on March 17, 2002, at 14:38:29
Posted by IsoM on March 17, 2002, at 15:28:45
In reply to Yea, we will buy ANYTHING for a little relief!! (nm) » IsoM, posted by SueDoeN on March 17, 2002, at 15:07:05
When people suffer, they're desperate for something that helps. That's why I'm always on the look-out for something that will work. But it pays to be a skeptic. Approaching new ideas from that angle helps. Be happily prepared to find a real working treatment (for whatever it is) but look at it from a skeptic's viewpoint. Make them PROVE that it really does what it says. Make the back it up with sound science, not just anecdotal stories.
For me, I find that a water-bed (the one that has soft sides & looks like a regular mattress) is best. If someone says they don't offer enough support, it's because they haven't added enough water. You can adjust the firmness by adding or taking away the amount of water in it. I keep it on max heat - heat helps my joints & muscles, & have a very light cover, a down quilt over me. A pillow that I can mash into the right shape for different positions is good too - also down. Not a cure-all but it helps with pain a lot.
Posted by beardedlady on March 17, 2002, at 15:33:12
In reply to Re: Magnetic mattresses anyone??? » Sue Doe Nym, posted by IsoM on March 17, 2002, at 14:38:29
I don't even understand why people think this would work. After all, magnets don't do anything to copper, magnesium, etc., and we have no steel minerals in our bodies.
I think I'd rather sleep on Harrison Ford or some other guy with animal magnetism!
beardy : )>
Posted by Sue Doe on March 17, 2002, at 16:32:54
In reply to What can magnets possibly do?, posted by beardedlady on March 17, 2002, at 15:33:12
Great sense of humor!!!!
I love to laugh.
Sue Doe
Posted by IsoM on March 17, 2002, at 16:53:23
In reply to What can magnets possibly do?, posted by beardedlady on March 17, 2002, at 15:33:12
Posted by colin wallace on March 18, 2002, at 6:34:33
In reply to What can magnets possibly do?, posted by beardedlady on March 17, 2002, at 15:33:12
Harrison Ford has a well known penchant for females with ZZ-TOP style facial hair....
Posted by beardedlady on March 18, 2002, at 6:52:56
In reply to Re: What can magnets possibly do?Bearded Lady, posted by colin wallace on March 18, 2002, at 6:34:33
Unfortunately (or fortunately, if you're his wife) he doesn't have a penchant for cheating at all! And while I don't either, no one has to give me a million dollars to do it just that once with just that guy. Or Robert Redford. Or George Clooney. Or...
; )>
Posted by Sue Doe on March 18, 2002, at 9:25:32
In reply to Badda Bing! » colin wallace, posted by beardedlady on March 18, 2002, at 6:52:56
Posted by Zo on March 18, 2002, at 20:45:07
In reply to Badda Bing! » colin wallace, posted by beardedlady on March 18, 2002, at 6:52:56
Posted by OldSchool on March 18, 2002, at 21:33:27
In reply to Re: Magnetic mattresses anyone???, posted by Joy on March 17, 2002, at 11:19:50
> Salesman say anything. There may be some people that have injuries that magnets MAY help, but I tried the top of the line for 2 weeks and found no difference at all. Then they tell you some people feel better in one or two days, but it may take longer for others. [They have to tell you that if you've been sleeping on it two or three weeks with no results]. I am a bit skeptical. If it really worked great, everybody would be sleeping on them or using the magnets and word of mouth would cause a tremendous demand for the product. I don't see that at all. Don't mean to be negative; but I was disappointed myself.
> JoyI was in the rTMS clinical trials several years ago. If you are familiar with that, you will know that rTMS is high potency magnet stimulation for depression. It was somewhat effective, kinda sorta. Not like ECT is effective though. I could feel an AD effect as soon as the doc fired that magnet burst into my forehead...actually felt good just didnt last very long.
As far as a magnetic mattress...I am very skeptical of that sort of thing and would be VERY skeptical of any alternative medicine treatment using magnets. I have read about a few industrious individuals with severe depression who went thru the trouble of buying a real high strength magnet and fixing it over their bed so it is over their forehead all night long as they sleep. Thats quite drastic and unconventional...I seriously doubt it would work. But who knows, maybe if you got an industrial strength magnet from a science supply store or something. I shouldnt even write this, some crazy individual will read this and try to do it.
Have you ever read about air ionizers for depression? You can buy these air ionizer machines and put them in your bedroom. Its a machine that kind of stimulates how the air gets in a thunderstorm, with electrically charged particles in the air. I read about this in a book called "Beyond Prozac."
Old School
Posted by IsoM on March 18, 2002, at 23:14:05
In reply to Re: Magnetic mattresses anyone???, posted by OldSchool on March 18, 2002, at 21:33:27
Air ionizers have been around for twenty or more years & there was a big hoopla about the benefits of of negatively charged air particles to make you feel good. I was interested back then & read what I could find on it. Much has been written since then & again it comes down to hype & salesmen's pitch.
The difference between the ionization of the air after a storm & what these ionizers give is similar to the magnets in mattresses as opposed to the Earth's magnetic field. After a thunderstorm blows away, the air itself is slightly ionised. What an portable ionizer does is attach a negative charge to the fine dust & smoke particles in household air, not the actual air itself.
An ionizer makes a great air cleaner. When these dust particles receive a negative charge, they're attracted to a surface with a positive charge. The negatively charged particles don't float about in the air, effecting your mood - they head to an opposite charged object instead. Ever notice how much fine dust accumulates around your TV & computer, on the wall & places nearby? It's from the electrical charge from those systems. If you put your nose down close, you can sometimes smell the ozone too - a sharp, metallic smell. Ozone is considered a harmful gas & many ionizers give off a fair amount. If you feel no benefit from working around your computer, you're not going to feel anything from an air ionizer either.
Sorry to throw another monkey wrench into the discussion.
Posted by SueDoeN on March 19, 2002, at 8:37:35
In reply to Re: Air Ionizers » OldSchool, posted by IsoM on March 18, 2002, at 23:14:05
>I have a friend who makes and sells zappers on the net. I haven't seen one or tried it, but I think it's something you put on your finger and get a quick electrical zap. If anyone's interested, I'll find more.
Of course, I can't say I would go to far to try to get one.
Posted by IsoM on March 19, 2002, at 13:15:21
In reply to Well, then. What about zappers? » IsoM, posted by SueDoeN on March 19, 2002, at 8:37:35
Sounds suspicious, but I know nothing of these. Again, something to check out.
Posted by Ron Hill on March 20, 2002, at 11:49:18
In reply to Re: Air Ionizers » OldSchool, posted by IsoM on March 18, 2002, at 23:14:05
IsoM,
Good information. Thanks for posting it.
-- Ron
------------------------------------> Air ionizers have been around for twenty or more years & there was a big hoopla about the benefits of of negatively charged air particles to make you feel good. I was interested back then & read what I could find on it. Much has been written since then & again it comes down to hype & salesmen's pitch.
>
> The difference between the ionization of the air after a storm & what these ionizers give is similar to the magnets in mattresses as opposed to the Earth's magnetic field. After a thunderstorm blows away, the air itself is slightly ionised. What an portable ionizer does is attach a negative charge to the fine dust & smoke particles in household air, not the actual air itself.
>
> An ionizer makes a great air cleaner. When these dust particles receive a negative charge, they're attracted to a surface with a positive charge. The negatively charged particles don't float about in the air, effecting your mood - they head to an opposite charged object instead. Ever notice how much fine dust accumulates around your TV & computer, on the wall & places nearby? It's from the electrical charge from those systems. If you put your nose down close, you can sometimes smell the ozone too - a sharp, metallic smell. Ozone is considered a harmful gas & many ionizers give off a fair amount. If you feel no benefit from working around your computer, you're not going to feel anything from an air ionizer either.
>
> Sorry to throw another monkey wrench into the discussion.
This is the end of the thread.
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