 Amended
May 2009.
I am often asked “how does your magnet compare?” With the amount of companies selling magnetic therapy products it is little wonder that people are confused. So here I will attempt to explain and compare with some of the company products that I come across the most whilst I exhibit around the country. Before I do this however, I will state that this is a comparison on strength of the magnets and NOT a comparison on benefit. Anyone can do this comparison as long as they have access to the products in question. I will also explain some of the terminology used by some companies.
In order to determine the weight a magnet can carry I use the edge of a normal new (shiny) 2p piece as seen in the photograph. In this case my standard Pulse wristband holds 3!
Below is a comparison of some of the companies currently offering magnetic therapy products similar to my own: Bioflow – TrionZ – Armadillo – Magnopulse – Nikken – Jewellery - MAGNETiC
UK based company products made in China, UK and Europe.
Products sold by Independent Agents through multi-level marketing scheme.
Products: Wrist straps, gold plated/stainless steel bangles and bracelets, body support, dog, cat collars, horse
rugs and boots and more recently garden accessories and household goods.
Wrist strap: Magnet strength is approx 2000 gauss. South pole round magnet set in a metal cup then set in a plastic case. Old design 15mm Dia, New design 11mm Dia. Fabric or leather straps using either hook and loop fastening or watch type buckle.
C.R.P (Central Reverse Polarity). No evidence to show that this supposed configuration is more beneficial than a single unipolar magnet, in fact all magnets have a reverse polarity around the edge as the magnetic field lines travel from pole to pole i.e. North to South.
Note: Bipolar is when two poles of the same strength is on the same surface. Unipolar is when one pole only is on the surface with the opposing pole on the other side or end.
Unipolar penetrates far deeper into tissue than bi-polar due to the scientific fact that magnetic field lines will travel the shortest distance between the poles.
A trial was conducted 2003/4 to show magnets are beneficial in Osteoarthritis in hip and knee. The trial was NOT conducted for the benefit of Bioflow and was funded by the Arthritis Association. No other product was used as a comparison.
(This quote is from the actual trial paper).
Is the effect real?
”Our study has not entirely resolved the extent to which the effect of magnetic bracelets is specific or due to placebo. Blinding did not affect the pattern of results, but the validity of the self reporting of blinding status could be questioned. Although the analysis of per-specification bracelets also suggests a specific effect, the result is only a trend and needs confirmation. Therefore, we cannot be certain whether our data show a specific effect of magnets, a placebo effect, or both”.
Unfortunately the term “bracelet” was used by the
media who published an article on the trial which only confused
the public into buying inferior magnetic jewellery.
Patent is for design NOT effect.
Magnet material: Neodymium.
Penetration of effective magnetic field: Approx 7cm.
Weight it can carry: 2x 2p pieces end on end.
Price starts for standard wrist strap £35 to £60 for
strap with an extra small relay magnet set near the buckle.
Replacement/part exchange: Yes for 50% of original cost.
90 day money back guarantee: Yes
New on the market. US base, Japanese manufacture.
Two small magnets, one north and one
south, set in a plastic case with a one size elasticised strap.
Claims:
a. Patented orientation. Not sure how you can patent the “orientation” of a magnetic field?
b. Medical grade magnets!!!!!!! No such
thing!!!
c. Maximum penetration??? Penetration 2-4mm!!!!
d. 2 x 1000 gauss magnets. 500 gauss each!
Magnet material: Unsure
Penetration of effective magnetic field: approx 4mm max!
Weight it can carry: 1x 2p piece, just.
Price around £18.
Replacement/part exchange: not known
90 day money back guarantee: not known
UK based and manufacture.
Products: Wrist straps, body supports, horse rugs and boots.
Wrist strap: Material polypropylene type webbing with magnet inserted
in between two thick layers. Hook and loop fastening.
Company claim magnets used are a north, 2000 “core” gauss.
Not sure why they use “core” gauss as a rating as 99.9%
of companies use surface gauss. The fact that the surface gauss
of the magnet I tested from a Wrist strap was only 250 gauss might
explain why? NOTE: Most US based companies quote the core gauss
but without saying so which is why you see gauss ratings as high
as 10,000 to 30,000 to gauss!!!!
Trial conducted on horse boots showed improved mobility and stride.
However, as neoprene is used in the manufacture of the boot to
hold the magnet place it was NOT established if the heating effect
of the material or the rubber magnet may have had an effect on
improving blood flow.
Magnet material: Rubber/ceramic base.
Polarity: Bi-Polar
Penetration of effective magnetic field: approx 1 to 2cm.
Weight it can carry: 1 x 1p on the flat side, just!!!!
Price from around £19.
Replacement/part exchange: not known
90 day money back guarantee: no
UK base and manufacture.
Debatable whether Magnopulse or Ecoflow (Bioflow) were the first
to establish magnetic therapy in the UK. Derek Price of Magnopulse
was part of the Ecoflow early years when they were promoting
their fuel system before setting out on his own. Interestingly
it is a picture his dog that is in the first brochure published
by Bioflow.
Products: Wrist strap, body supports and horse rugs and boots.
Also manufacturer of the Ladycare which is used for period pain
and menopausal symptoms.
Wrist strap: Magnet encased in a rectangular plastic case. Rather
bulky. Leather strap with metal watch type buckle.
Magnets are a north 2000 gauss. However they currently do not
publish this fact. Sometimes encourage users to use a stronger
magnet if the effect starts to diminish. Most companies suggest
a rest from the magnet for about 10 days then start again.
Currently concentrating in establishing products for use on the
NHS. This the company has successfully done with one product which
is used for leg ulcers. This was found to be beneficial after users
of the leg wrap for knee pain found it also helped with leg ulcers.
Whilst the trial was very successful the published report did
not rule out the heating effect of the material used i.e. neoprene
with a sheep skin type lining. Trial conclusion was also determined
by a questionnaire filled out by the users rather than a clinical
diagnosis.
Whilst the reports are very encouraging and all credit to Magnopulse
for its efforts in establishing the credibility of magnetic therapy
it is only fair to make clear that the magnet used is not unique
and is the same used by other companies, myself included. It’s
only the size and how it’s held in place that makes a difference.
Magnetic material: Neodymium.
Penetration of effective magnetic field approx 16cm.
Weight it can carry: 3 x 2p pieces.
Price from £30.
Replacement/part exchange: yes
90 day money back guarantee: yes
US base Japanese maufacture.
Like Bioflow, products are marketed through agents working a multi-level
marketing scheme.
Products: Extensive range of body supports, some jewellery, cushions,
pillows, mattresses, quilts and horse rugs and boots. Also market
various water filtration products, creams and lotions and other
non magnet related.
Rely on Far- Infrared technology as well as magnetic therapy on
most of the range and in some case far-Infrared on its own.
Probably the oldest pioneer of magnetic therapy in the UK. Came
in and went 20 years ago then came back under a new marketing plan.
Rely heavily on using magnetic supports for each individual pain
site, they say on one hand magnets should be worn for a short period
of time yet on the other hand will happily suggest you buy another
magnetic therapy product which can be worn or you can lay on day
and night!!!
Unlike most of the companies already mentioned, Nikken do not
rely on a single product to help improve overall blood flow but
rather rely on using a variety of products in various forms to
achieve the effect. Unfortunately this is how agents make their
money and I have witnessed the use of aggressive physiological
methods to get potential customers to buy far more than they actually
need.
Magnetic material: Various, from rubber base to ceramic depending
on application.
Gauss rating are around 200 gauss only. Company relies on the
use of multi-magnets or Bi-polar magnets set in an individual pattern
rather individual high powered ones. As they do not publish the
gauss rating nor deem it necessary to mention the type of material
used and have no standard way of applying the magnet to a particular
use, it is very difficult to draw a direct comparison to a particular
product. The products I have seen and compared with are very weak
and in one case did not even hold a paper clip!
Again, as with Armadillo any therapeutic effect seen have not discounted
the thermal effect of the material used which also include the
same rubber type magnet which can also generate some heat on its
own.
Magnet material: Rubber type or ceramic, mostly Bi-polar
Penetration of effective magnetic field: Approx 2mm to 8cm depending
on product.
Weight it can carry: 1x 2p at best.
Price from £40 to £1000.
Replacement/part exchange: no
90 day money back guarantee: yes
No company in this category has a monopoly on the product, be
it stainless steel/ titanium bracelets, gold or silver plated bangles
or Haematite/ferrite magnetic bracelets and necklaces. The only
difference is the style and the amount of magnets set within the
item.
NO item of jewellery has ever been used as part of a medical clinical
trial.
99.9% are made in China and are of various qualities. Some plating
is good quality and coated on stainless steel but some are coated
on cheaper alloys which wear off very quickly and a far cheaper
to produce but often the same price.
A good quality jewellery item will have a coating over the magnet
to help prevent corrosion. Magnets will and do corrode unless protected
by layer of enamel or resin. Due to exposure of chemicals in creams,
perfumes and acid in the body or where the coating is scratched
or break down the then exposed metal is not protected. Clear nail
varnish can be added if this happens or can be sent back to the
manufacturer for recoating or new magnets. On this note, as far
as I am aware I am the only company in the world that offers this
service, but then I am the only company that offers REAL Gold and
Silver jewellery as an option.
Most companies state magnet strength of
between 1500 to 2500 gauss but can be far lower, as we have seen.
Prices too can vary enormously for example I have seen the same
product for sale in various magazines and catalogues, anything
from £5.99 to £35!!!
You can now buy a bangle or bracelet for £1 in Poundland
or if you are really unlucky, like one gentleman I met who paid £40
for the same product on an internet website!!!!!
I recently bought a magnetic bangle for £3 which is the
same strength as the one currently available in Boots which sells
for £27 or from Magnetic Therapy Ltd which they sell 2 for £25.90.
Magnetic Therapy Ltd claims that to get
the most out of their jewellery, that when not in use it must
be placed into an “e-box.
There is absolutely no reason for this as a good quality magnet
should last a lifetime regardless. The “e-box” is in
fact an ordinary jewellery box most of which are steel based, mine
are, and the time you are not wearing it for bathing etc is not
for long as to make a difference anyway.
More magnets do NOT increase power; they just cover more area
as with a bracelet or magnetic wraps.
It is often claimed that because there 6 or however many magnets
in the bracelet and each magnet is say, 1000 gauss, then that means
the bracelet emits 6000 gauss. NOT TRUE! Each magnet has a magnetic
field in its own space, they DO NOT combine to create a larger,
stronger field, they just cover more area. A bracelet will move
around the wrist so at any point you are likely to have a magnet
in the right place. A bangle however is more or less static on
the wrist depending on fit.
Another claim is that an item of jewellery is best worn on a certain
wrist for a particular problem??? There is no evidence for this.
For example it is claimed that if you wear a magnetic bangle on
a particular wrist with magnets either on the top or bottom of
that wrist it will work for example the bottom half of the body
and likewise the other wrist for the top half. Nobody has yet explained
to me how the effect can travel from my wrist to the bottom half
of my body without going through the top half first! Or what happens
if I wear a magnetic bracelet which have magnets all the way round?????
Money back guarantee Only one company that I know of will replace
a faulty or worn out jewellery product and with no time limit and
that is Magnacur.
Haematite jewellery is in fact Ferrite as it contains more ferrous
oxide (trace iron) which can be magnetised. Pure Haematite contains
some iron and whilst some not all can be picked up by a magnet
it cannot be magnetised. Round magnets have limited penetration
and as mentioned more magnets do not increase power. The bigger
the magnet the deeper the penetration which is why some beaded
jewellery can be more effective than others.
These items are best sold as an accessory to the main product but
still can be very effective as well as attractive.
Prices are coming down quite dramatically and can be bought now
from as little as £3 to £5 whereas a few years ago
they sold (and still are in some cases) for £10/£15.
As the magnets in both Haematite and stainless jewellery are very
small they will only penetrate 2mm to 4mm deep.
As a guide to strength they should be able to at least “grab” the
edge of a 2p piece and support it easily, the better quality Titanium
bracelets can hold two.
UK based UK manufacture and design (except Comfort Pads and Quantum).
Est: 1995
Pulse/Pulsar Wristband: 2000 gauss magnet sewn in for comfort
and less weight. Polypropylene webbing material with adjustable
plastic clip. Washable and replaceable. Extension available for
knee ( Pulse only) and is big enough or can be made longer for
use around the ankle.
Real gold and silver jewellery. All handmade in our own workshop
and made to measure.
Mag-knee-toe *NEW* This is a new strap for knee and general leg
pain. Worn below the knee and above the calf as a patella support.
It has 3 x 2000 gauss, unipolar, north facing magnets to saturate
the knee with a powerful magnetic field.
Magnetic material: Neodymium or as in the Comfort Pad – ceramic.
Penetration of effective magnetic field: 16cm
Weight it can carry 3 x 2p pieces. ( Pulse, Mag-knee-toe and Comfort
Pad)
90 day money back guarantee: Yes but not on all products
Replacement/part exchange: Yes. For example a replacement wristband
is only £8. Replace and re-seal magnets
on jewellery is £15 or free if within a certain reasonable
time.
Price: £25 for standard wristband. £35 for Pulse Boost
with relay magnet. Jewellery prices vary.
“I tried a magnet and it didn’t work”
My comparisons are no way intended to imply that the wearer will not get some form of benefit from wearing any of the items mentioned or to be derogatory to that particular company. My sole intention is to make the reader, wearer or potential purchaser more aware that there can be a difference and that not all products or magnets are the same. It is also my intention to help people understand some of the terms commonly or uncommonly used by some companies which can confuse or mislead a person into buying or trying a product totally unsuitable for its intended purpose.
Ray Padfield-Krala Director Magnetic.
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