At Nanaimo Acupuncture, I’m always looking for more effective solutions to manage pain and help you move and live better. Sometimes this means looking deeper into acupuncture tools & techniques while other times I’m researching more innovative therapies. It’s especially useful to be able to provide treatment options with fewer needles for certain patients.
I was introduced to Q Magnets by another acupuncturist and athletic therapist and found that it helped with my own shoulder pain. My thinking is that if it helped me, maybe it can help others.
About Q Magnets
We all know that magnets emit a measurable field that is able to penetrate deep into our body, but the effect of this on our bodies is unknown.
Where traditional magnets have a north & south polarity, Q magnets are constructed to have an alternating polarity around the disk with either 4, 6, or 8 poles. The idea is that the interaction between the magnetic fields will complement each other and influence physiological processes including circulation and cellular metabolism.
How Does it Work?
The short (and honest) answer is “I don’t know”. For centuries medical researchers and scientists have experimented with magnets and their effect on the body, but we have a long way to go.
Does it work? I think so. I’ve felt the effects myself and most patients say it feels really nice, so I’m willing to give them a try. And because I’m not selling them or charging extra money for their use I don’t have anything to gain by endorsing them and feel I have less conflict of interest. My current focus is working with patients and a few other acupuncturists to research its efficacy and best application.
Why should you try Q-Magnets?
Targeted application: It makes sense to me. They’re applied directly to specific acupuncture or anatomical points for local effect. We’re not using a large magnetic field on the entire body at once or even on a distal location expecting it to affect the whole body.
Non-invasive therapy: It’s a magnet. There’s nothing poking into you so it doesn’t hurt.
Complementary: Synergy! Other therapies I use (acupuncture, Tuina, cupping, etc) can all be used in conjunction with each other and Q-Magnets are just another tool.
Why should you not try Q Magnets?
This is one of the least invasive therapies I offer and most people won’t feel much more than the weight of the magnet on their skin. However, magnets may not be appropriate for people with pacemakers and they are best kept away from computers, phones and sensitive electronics.
Questions about this?
As with any question you might have, you’re free to ask me about them when you’re in the office, or even send me an email. At the moment, the best resource is the Q-Magnet website. Obviously their job is to sell these products, so keep that in mind when reading their information. But there links to actual research as well as a lot more about the science of their construction and therapeutic use.
