| |
What's the difference between science and magic? It's our
understanding of what makes something happen. If magic is hocus-pocus,
science is simply well understood hocus-pocus. Fire? Solar eclipse? Volcanic
eruption? Earthquake? Once we can explain it, it becomes science. But
sometimes we're stuck straddling that science/magic line. Consider magnets.
Remember when you were a kid back in elementary school and you first
discovered the wonder of magnets? What a thrill it was to explore the
possibilities! There's nothing like messing with natural forces to spark a
child's imagination. Thirty five years later, I'm still fascinated by
magnets. Magnetic therapy has been used for thousands of years in Asia and
Europe. Some believe that magnets help restore the flow of blood through the
capillaries, therefore assisting in the flushing of toxins that may
accumulate due to injury or illness. Magnets have been used to relieve the
pain of arthritis, carpal tunnel, migraines, joint injuries, menstrual
cramps, and much more. There has been some research in the last couple of
years indicating that magnetic therapy may offer relief to those suffering
from depression and attention deficit disorder. Yet we're not sure how--or
if--this really happens. It's got to be some kind of placebo effect, right?
We're all looking for simple solutions to help us feel better. Sometimes we
want things to work so much that they actually DO. Does that mean it's all a
bunch of hooey? I've learned a lot about magnets since my husband started
developing and distributing Bodylinx, a line of inexpensive magnetic
bracelets. Tom stated right from the beginning that he wanted to downplay
the jewelry's possible health benefits. He likes the bracelets because
they’re fun—you can play around with the magnetic links and rearrange them.
Though he remains reluctant to promote a healing property he doesn’t really
understand, some of his customers are strong advocates magnetic therapy. We
believe whatever we tell ourselves. If we want to think that a bracelet
helps our arthritis, we are free to believe that. And if it turns out to be
true, did it work because we believed it or because there is some kind of
science/magic at work? As important as it is to question our beliefs
regularly, it's also crucial that we become willing to suspend disbelief.
Fifty years ago, nobody would have believed that we'd have spacecraft
landing on Mars and sending us digital images of the craters there. As a
species, we have broken barrier after barrier by daring to believe the
impossible one small idea at a time. We need to accept that there may be
therapies that work even if we can't prove they do or understand how it
happens. This doesn't mean we have to be gullible or stop questioning. We
simply need to entertain the possibility. Whenever possible, I like a hefty
dose of science to back up my beliefs. There is a magnetic field present on
our planet. Fortunately, we don't often shoot out into space and have to
deal with the physical effects of that. What about those who do? Remember
the early days of space exploration? We had to wait several hours after
splashdown before the astronauts appeared at any press conferences. It turns
out that human bodies must be properly reintroduced to the earth's magnetic
field. In recent years, the scientists at NASA have learned how to
facilitate this physical readjustment. They now have the astronauts change
into special suits embedded with magnets as soon as they land. They slip
into their orange suits and voila--they're ready for the cameras! There is a
great deal we are learning about magnets, and it's not just to help those
who've blasted off into space for a while. Magnetic wraps have been used for
decades to help racehorses heal after injuries. There is plenty of anecdotal
evidence from trainers to support the continued use of magnetic therapy for
horses. Horses don't tend to say much about their beliefs, so it's hard to
point to the placebo effect as a possible explanation. The most compelling
idea about magnetic therapy is that we may need it now more than ever. We
used to walk barefoot in the forests and plains. We had direct contact with
the earth as we slept, hunted, and harvested. We were surrounded by
vegetation and natural rock formations. Not anymore. We've built concrete
sidewalks, roadways, foundations, and buildings. We travel in cars and
trains, essentially encapsulating ourselves. We've created a world of
barriers between the earth's natural forces and our bodies. It's reasonable
to consider that this may be affecting us physically in ways that are
difficult to diagnose. The earth has so much to teach us. Sometimes we know
what works long before we understand why it does so. We've never questioned
the fact that being surrounded by nature helps us feel soothed, refreshed,
and invigorated. Scientific research now shows us more specifically how the
earth helps us feel better. We benefit from the negative ions near the
ocean, our brains respond to the binaural beats present near waterfalls or
during rainstorms, and our bodies react positively to a restored connection
to magnetic forces. I'm not likely to latch onto the latest pharmaceuticals
or tout the benefits of new-fangled remedies. But the old ones? There's no
big company poised to reap huge rewards by promoting them, and consequently,
we're not likely to hear about them on the evening news or be bombarded with
television commercials praising their potent power. I always like supporting
the underdog, and in this case, that underdog is backed up by plenty of
science of the unprofitable kind. We would do well to restore our connection
to the earth and the powerful forces that help us maintain our health
naturally. How wonderful that we can benefit from negative ions, binaural
beats and magnetism without dealing with health insurance or spending a lot
of money at the drugstore. The next time you take a walk in the woods,
stroll along the beach, or stretch out in a meadow, remember the magic of
magnetism. Recapture the wonder you had as a child, and celebrate the fact
that sometimes the simplest solutions are still the ones that fill us with
awe. |
|
