Here is a new treatment for depression:

http://www.ivillage.com/magnet-thera...ression/155673

Pretty interesting!

Our single magnets are not strong enough I suspect however.
So don't try this yourself, yet.

Just received my magnets I ordered from eBay the other, but they did not have north or south marked on them. Upon reading the instructions it said that you can determine the poles with a compass. The North compass needle will point to the South pole of the magnet.

But I did not have a compass, so I have spent the last few days looking for one. I did find one a a cheap shop, not sold as a compass but a lock the compass was extra.

Now I know what side to place on my skin so I am hoping they will work.

They also tell you to use Micropore tape as it is the only one that can be worn for days without irritating the skin. They also say to sandwich the magnet between two layers of the tape and trim off the excess leaving a 1/8 inch margin around the magnet.

I received the Micropore tape with the magnets I ordered from eBay.

Hope this is of help

Yes, sounds like what I do.

The poles can also be determined by trial and error. The N pole is typically stimulating, and the nerves will react within minutes to it. So putting the N towards the body may give MORE symptoms.

With all the bending, gardening and cutting (pruning) I've been doing lately, I've been a mess too. I've had 3 magnets on some days! When storms approach, I sort of crash physically lately!

Mrs. D, very interesting link you put up.

I have to say it makes a lot of sense. Ect has been in use a long time. When I was in a very deep episode of depression, it was the only thing that broke my "cycle" - I eventually was able to drop all but one of my depression meds. I would not hesitate to use that treatment again, if necessary. It has gotten too much of a bad rap.

How nice it would be to be able to use a drug free treatment for depression - I hope they follow up on this.

Thanks

Now available at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Neodymium-Magn...5024049&sr=8-2

These are the ones I current use, the coating is handy compared to the bare nickel types.

Hello,
I have a collection of the thin banana shape magnets out of hard drives. For the past two days I have put one on my right butt cheek for a period of 3hrs using duck tape and tonite very little pain in my lower back. how does one tell the polarity on these type of magnets, they are powerful.

This was a VERY helpful thread to read! I didn't look at all of the links--only one so far... but it was helpful. I don't have the money even for the cheap magnets (plus shipping) right now, but have bookmarked this thread plus the amazon link for the red/green magnets.

I have a silly question.. are the red/green magnets colored that way to signal that one is N and one is S... or are they just two colors for no reason?

The Red is the South pole and the Green is the North. Red is mostly used to reduce pain. The green may have its uses, but I find it increases sensation rather than reducing it.

Hello,
No pain in the right lower back tonight, just have to work on the magnet placement to calm the neuroma in the right foot. mrsD you need a security guard as we don't want some witch doctor kidnapping ya.

In general, if you have magnets that are not marked....
When you apply an unmarked magnet, if the pain increases, over a short time, 15min or 1/2 hr for me, then that is the North.

The South, reduces pain very quickly. I don't think "damage" happens from the North, it is just not useful for pain relief.

Magnets are very useful. I've been using them for over 10 yrs.
The new very powerful ones don't need to be on your body all day long, I have found. They correct signals, which may stay corrected all by themselves. It may be that pain is a + phenomenon, and the - pole prevents the nerve transmission signal.

As with other strong pain relief, don't over do when you feel better. Some people get over confident and over do and cause further damage. (mostly arthritics etc).

I think magnets work like Lidocaine. My experience with Lidoderm for my previously awful meralgia paresthetica, was similar. Used for 14 days in a row, and the nerve stopped acting up. Now I only get twinges, especially if I over extend that leg, to remind me of those awful days. So I think some pain can be nerves that don't turn off properly. Lidocaine is a sodium channel blocker, and sodium/potassium are the electrolytes that send nerve impulses in the nerve cell. They cross membranes and this is called generating an "action potential".

But, I am pleased for you, Stagger, that you have some relief.
Magnets can be a simple, and even elegant solution to nagging pain situations. Some pain is a signal for your attention, so don't mask "new" pains all the time, since they may need diagnosis, and don't overdo physical things when the pain is less. Moderation is the key!