Alternative Medicine, via magnets. Pap Or Genius?

[Theo]

Alex Chiu has recently, over the past few months been brought to my attention, and seriously intrigued me by some of his theories. In particular - his theory on immortality accessible by wearing a pair of magnetic rings.

Of course.. immortality is most likely impossible, but surely, if his theories are correct in the slightest, a healthier well-being should be possible?

What does everyone else think?


Alex Chiu

[Punky]

magnets can be used theraputically, like those bangles that they sell. i aint too sure of exactly what they do to the body, but my god-mother wears one and it seems to help her out with whatever's wrong with her (i aint sure what it is...)
imortality is pushin it a bit too far, but i do think they can help with general health.
peace.

[fondie]

Making incredibly claims of immortality doesn't exactly do wonders for his credibility or that of his magnetic rings

Having read through his website, which is in the over-exaggerated style of a hotmail spam e-mail about penis enlargement pills, his 'ideas' are confused and unsubstantiated. I won't say he is wrong because as he says on the frontpage many scientists have been ridiculed for their ideas and then have been later proved right, but then they didn't speculate wildly, in aid of marketing a product, without evidence or calculation and then displaying their 'findings' on a garish website offering miracles using the aid of psychedelic animated gifs (though they might well have done exactly that if they were still alive today of course).

[floppybootstomp]

I have not a clue, neither do I care

[Allen]

Both my parents wear them, and swear that they help them! Dunno what they do though, something to do with the blood... ?

[Big RICHARD]

They claim that most ailments can be aided by bangles with magnets in. My dad wears a copper bracelet because he suffers from arthritis. He says he doesn't know if it works, but wears it just in case it does and he'll have to live in more pain. Same idea, without the magnets. I'm not sure whether it's true or not, but there is some slight possibility due to blood containing iron and iron being ferrous.

[Theo]

I think it's got something to do with increasing the bloodflow throughout the body, and it only works in a few places (fingers, toes). I've had a lengthy read through some of the testimonials and the webforum, and there is actually quite a lot of positive feedback from using the rings. Eg, improvements to daily health, slightly increased lifespan for the terminally ill, etc.

This is the kind of thing I find seriously interesting and thought-inspiring. Of course - he does seem slightly anal, and possibly big-headed about his theories. But, at least for the immortality rings, the science is there, as is the feedback.

Although he most likely won't be hailed as a genius like Einstein, or medicinal genii (that's a word, K??) such as errr.. Aristocle.. (GCSE history in medicine failing me, now..), but I think that his ideas and theories do deserve at least some recognition. Although the science of magnetic rings may not be his own discovery, he is, in my opinion, doing a good thing in the alternative medicine world.

[0iD]

I recon half of it is to do with the 'Placebo Effect', which in itself can be very beneficial to some. We always seem to underestimate the body's own ability when coupled with self belief. It's always going to be one of those 'works for some, not for others' things.

[fondie]

i whole heartedly agree with 0iD, numerous studies have shown how placebo's can have a positive influence on health, in some cases just as much or more as real medicinal treatments. 'testimonials' to me, hold no weight whatsoever, check out the positive feedback various miracle creams and pills get on ebay.

as for his explanations of the 'science' side of things, well, i can't actually see any, any fool can theorise, such as my theory that the moon is made of cheese, but you've got to back it up with something, let's start with the first paragraph, i dont' happen to believe :-

What I believe is that the small finger or the toes are the transistor of the entire body. Your body acts like a transistor.

why should i? i study electronic engineering, and my body, nor my fingers or toes look like transistors to me, nor do i see the similarity in how they work. if he had at least provided some research to substantiate this claim then fair enough, but as it is i'm just supposed tot ake his word on this? later we have :-

Magnetic flux leaks out and travels up your nerve reaching your brain. The leakage travels in the nerve and into your brain requesting your brain to release healing chemicals to the damaged area.

that's nice Alex, care to tell us how you managed to jump to that conclusion? any chemicals in particular you had in mind?

i've done scientific work worthy of more recognition than that, my theory that the moon is made of cheese for one.

[KBeee]

Of course the moon is made of cheese - Wensleydale cheese. There's scientific proof too (about as scientific as "magnetic rings are good for you" proof anyway)
Wallace and Grommet! It was on TV so it must be true.

[Alex]

There is absolutely no reason at all that it should work. Its a magnet, your body is not, so it should have no effect. Surely. There is no evidence that a magnet will make a difference to the human body. So its all stupid.

But they did compare it to a placebo bracelet (exactly the same, but not magnetic) and more people got better with the magnetic one than the fake one. And, to be honest, if it helps people get better, whether its the placebo effect or not, who cares? It makes them feel better, so its all good. They're about £30 (but will doubtless come down in price at some point) which is not a lot to improve your quality of life.

You do have to wonder though, how they came up with the idea. Even if it does work somehow, someone probably came up with the idea as a short term "craze" type scam, and it just sort of worked maybe...

[Swafe]

i agree with whoever said its the placebo effect, sure it may have a slight effect, the rest is mental health not actually physical

[Alex]

They need to do a proper, big test comparing it to a placebo to see if its any better, but it obviously needs to be done independantly of the company making these things. If you give 100 people a magnetic one, and 100 people one that looks magnetic but isn't, and see how many get better from each group, if theres a diference then it may mean that it does work. Theyve done a small test like that, but it wasnt big enough to really know that the difference found wasnt just by chance. Just cause we dont understand why it might work, doesnt mean it doesnt work, a bit like with acupuncture. I have no idea if it works though.

[G4Z]

well, I think its crap, thats me on record, it does not work no way at all. if there is any positive effect then it is simply the placebo effect (something well documented in medical science) why not save £30 and wear an elastic band, there is about as much evidence to suggest it will work.

its like the all american "detox" treatments, you know the ones that dont actually specify what the toxins are but assure you that you need shot of them.

people who go for this stuff full on need their heads looking at not their toes and fingers.


before the "herbal healing crew" get on my case, id just like to say, if there is any evidence to the contrary I would glady consider looking at it. otherwise its just crap tbh.

[Angus]

I think the magnets work by making the blood have a better bond with oxygen molecules or the like. I had a similar thing for my car to make it more efficient (it was a like it or get your money back offer) I was amazed it actually worked!! Only thing I can think of is that the fuel has a better reaction (with oxygen) and so produces more oomph; guess the same thing could happen with blood :S

Maybe it's just magic

[G4Z]

what you just said there has no scientiffic basis, bond better with the blood? blood cells use heamoglobin (sp?) to absorb oxygen, I cannot see why a magnet would affect that at all, surey the blood cell just absobs oxygen in the lungs until it is saturated and then off it goes round the body, how is magnet on your wrist gonna help blood bind with oxygen?