The ancients in the Vedic times knew the effects of magnets on human organism and therefore used them for many diseases mainly those connected with the blood vessels. The ancients also, knew the effect of magnetism on sleep and therefore advised sleeping in the north and south direction-head towards north and feet towards south. Since then the man has arduously tried to harness and exploit this great natural force for multifarious benefits it bestows. Besides the modern use of magnets in numerous electrical gadgets like loud speakers,. motors, calculators, computers, radios and scooters, the greatest attention the magnet has received is mainly in the medical and paramedical fields, though perchance discovery of their, possible therapeutic uses came through experimentation in the, engineering fields. These experiments have been carried out mainly in the USSR, USA, Japan and to some extent in India The details of some of these experiments will help the reader in appreciating the great truth that lies behind the use of magnets In therapeutics, and would also help him in understanding the basis on which the healing takes place through magnets. The most recent experiments have been possible as a result of sophisticated equipment like electronic microscope and other electrical equipment for judging the electrical and magnetic impulses of the cells of the body and hence provide a more scientific basis for the effects of magnets. Some of these experiments. are described below :
Physical experiments mainly relate to those carried out in the fields of engineering and construction- their analogy has been extended to similar situations in the medical fields. Like all the great inventions in the history of science, Some of the Russian scientists got an idea to magnetise the water flowing in the boiler’s pipes or the radiators to prevent mineral deposits. To their utter surprise they found that not only the deposits of the salt son the walls stopped, but the magnetised water dissolved the settled salts without any necessity of further scrubbing. Experiments were also carried out to ascertain the effect of magnets on the physical and chemical changes in water, with a view to utilise better the useful emanations of magnets on other fluids like blood. In case of water, it was found that its various properties, namely, temperature, density, surface tension (the property which leads to the formation of a spherical drop), viscosity and electrical conductivity (water is a good conductor of electricity and this property of conductivity 'Is further enhanced). The magnets also favourably affect the speed of sedimentation of suspended particles in water.

During my tenure of Humboldt Fellowship in Germany I was assigned to look into the effects of static magnetic field at the molecular level keeping primarily the membrane receptors in view. Before that it had been realized in that laboratory (Nuclear Medicine Research Centre, Kernsforschungsanlage, Juelich, Germany) that

MAGNETIC FIELDS SEEMINGLY ALTER A NUMBER OF PHYSIOLOGICAL INDICATORS IN INTACT ANIMALS INFLUENCE CERTAIN ASPECTS OF CELLULAR METABOLISM. AN EQUIVOCAL IMMUNO-PROTECTIVE OR BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF SMF ON ANIMALS HAVE EITHER GONE UNHEEDED OR RECEIVED LESS ATTENTION. IN ADDITION TO THE CLAIMED HARMFUL EFFECTS OF A STATIC MAGNETIC FIELD, THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME USEFUL LOCALIZED EFFECTS CAN NOT BE RULED OUT. AN APPROACH HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN TOWARDS IDENTIFYING THE MAGNETIC FIELD EFFECTS ON THE MEMBRANE AND RECEPTORS OF THE RETICULO-ENDOTHELIAL CELLS OF BONE MARROW WHICH ARE MAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PHAGOCYTIC ACTIVITY OF NANOCOLLOID PARTICLES HUMAN SERUM ALBUMIN TAGGED WITH TC99M. A SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS CARRIED OUT ON IMMOBILISED MICE EXPOSED TO A STATIC 1.4 T MF FOR 60 MINUTES AT 270 C OR 370C BODY TEMPERATURE SHOWED AN INCREASED PHAGOCYTIC ACTIVITY AT 370 C AND DECREASED ACTIVITY AT 270 C.

1. A temperature-dependent influence of magnetic field has been observed.
2. At 37 C: About 49.65% (0.10.05) by full femur of anaesthetized mice.
3. This indicates possibly a stimulation of phagocytic process mediated through the activation of receptors on the membrane.
4. At 27 C, a relatively 20% lesser uptake by the bone marrow cells (p<0.05) as compared to respective controls has been observed which might be representing a depressed phagocytic activity possibly due to inactivation of the receptors on the membrane.

THE EFFECT OF SMF WAS ALSO INVESTIGATED ON THE MEMBRANE BINDING HORMONE ERYTHROPOIETIN INDUCING ERYTHROPOIESIS IN PLETHORIC MICE. A STUDY CARRIED OUT AT INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE JUELICH RESEARCH CENTRE, GERMANY IN COLLABORATION WITH DR. H.-P. PETERSON UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PROF. L.E. FEINENDEGEN SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT, BODY TEMPERATURE-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCE IN THE ERYTHROPOIETIC ACTIVITIES IN MALE AND FEMALE MICE, AND HENCE POSSIBLY IN THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF ERYTHROPOIETIN RECEPTORS THEREOF.

1. The strong homogeneous magnetic field (of 1.4 Tesla) influenced the action of the erythropoietin depending on temperature of the body, sex of animal as well as possibly the age of the animal.
2. Hypertransfused and immobilized Male and female mice were exposed to a 1.4 Tesla SMF for 40 minutes at 37 C or 27² C body temperature. Significant differences had been noted between normal male and female. Female femora had the significantly higher mean incorporation of radioiron than from male femora.
3. The SMF exposure suppressed the EPO-induced stimulus of erythropoietic differentiation in the male mice whereas no effect was seen in female mice.
4. The action of SMF as a function of weight of the animals showed the possibility of age-dependent influence reflecting the resistance of the erythropoiesis of young animals to the action of strong SMF.

WE HAVE ALSO REPORTED EARLIER, IN 20TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY HELD ON 21 TO 25 OF JULY, 1991 IN PARMA, ITALY, THE IN VITRO STUDY ON THE BINDING OF THE HORMONE ERYTHROPOIETIN TO MURINE BONE MARROW CELLS.

1. It has been demonstrated in that study that SMF can change the specific binding of EPO to its receptor on murine bone marrow cells in a sex-specific manner perhaps by different membrane characteristics.
2. 2. At 370C marrow cells of male mice showed depression of specific binding by 24% (P 0.01) whereas no effect was seen at 270C.
3. Female marrow cells showed depression of specific binding by 23% (P 0.01) at 270C in the same time interval. No significant effect was seen at 370C.

1.It has been stated that SMF may influence cellular metabolism, enzyme activity and growth. Effects with respect to orientation in bilayer lipid membrane have been demonstrated in vitro and were observed as functional changes in membranes, i.e. in diffusion or transport processes or uptake of oxygen radicals by membranes in vitro.In vitro studies on artificial membranes, composed of bilayer have revealed structural and functional changes when a strong stationary magnetic field was applied for at least several minutes. At temperatures well below 300 C, the stationary magnetic field appeared to increase the membrane capacity to be peroxidised. At temperature around 37°C peroxidation seen to be diminished by the magnetic field. According to several studies in anaesthetised mice exposure to homogeneous and stationary magnetic field of 1.4 T for 30 minutes, the incorporation of 125I-UdR into DNA increased to 130% over the controls at 27° C which was paralleled by the changes in the thymidine kinase activity. However at 37° C the magnetic field exposure caused an inhibition of 125I-UdR uptake similar to that of radiation.
2. It is conceivable that biological effects could be mediated through effects on free radical reaction but there is no evidence that such effects have any biological significance.
3. It has been proposed that the secretion of the oxygen radicals, or their production by externals enzymes, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Mechanisms that control the production and release of such radicals by phagocytosis is unclear, however there is some indirect evidence that intracellular Ca++ may act as an intracellular messenger when the cells respond to certain stimuli. Papatheofanis (1990) demonstrated the use of calcium channel antagonists as magnetoprotective agents. He reported a time dependent (90 to 60 minutes) increase in the release of lysozyme and lactate dehydrogenase (degranulation) when exposed to a static (direct current) magnetic field of 0.1 Tesla. However, when the cells were treated with calcium channel antagonists like diltiazem, nifedipine and verapamil before exposure to magnet field, no significant change was noticed. These results suggested that injury induced by magnetic field may be Ca++ channel might be more sensitive to applied magnetic fields than the intracellular surface components. Such a sensitivity may be associated with the effect of the applied magnetic field on the existing cell surface electric field that regulates the channel. Extracellular calcium is required for phagocytosis and acts as activator, thus magnetic fields may regulate receptor-mediated cell function through alterations at the extracellular layer of the cell membrane.
IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE FINDINGS I MADE AN ATTEMPT TO REVIEW THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF MAGNETIC FIELD AS BIOLOGICAL AND RADIATION MODIFIERS.
The experiments on animals have yielded more interesting and more confirmatory results than those on the plants. Experiments were also conducted on the physiological aspects of mice especially the content of sodium and potassium in their urine. It was found in the urine collected after exposing the mice to the magnetic field of 20 kilo-gauss that the sodium increased from 2.31 to 4.29 milligrams per millilitre of urine, and potassium increased from 9.14 to 14.59 milligrams per millilitre of urine. This suggests that the magnet has a sure effect on the adrenal gland and its hormone aldosterone which regulates the balance of sodium and potassium in the body.
Certain interesting facts have been reported on the instinctive judgements and activities of certain birds and aquatic animals.The scientists have been baffled by mass migration of birds to different lands often flying at night at great altitudes or in clouds without any geographical landmarks. However, it has now been established that these migratory birds are guided to their destination due to magnetic differential of' their wing tips as well as the polarity of the magnet. Similarly, oysters are found to open and close their shells with the rise and fall of tides which suggests perfect synchronization with magnetic oscillations and have helped the scientists in propounding the popular theory of biological clocks in human beings and animals.
Some human beings and animals have been reported to, experience strange sensations just before the earthquakes. They also feel queer and creepy feelings in their brains. They have now been associated with the massive magnetic disturbances which occur before earthquakes, suggesting important correlation ship between the magnetism and the nervous system.
An interesting experiment in Russia which attracted world-wide interest and focussed attention on the positive effects of magnets on animals is the use of magnets on cows. The magnetised cows invariably gave more milk than the untreated ones. This suggested that the magnets favourably influenced the secretary apparatus of the cow. as also brought them into a state of comfort. It has been established that At cows generally yield more milk when they are comfortable, contended and happy. Hence the effect of magnets in the above case could have been two-fold.

Effect of magnet has also been seen on the activity of certain bacteria specially those which are harmful and produce disease in human beings. One such organism studied by the scientists is Staphylococcus aureus which produces skin troubles, stomach disorders and in certain cases chest troubles in human beings. These bacteria when incubated (provided proper conditions for growth and development, as to maintain optimum temperature for the growth of bacteria) in the magnetic fields of 15 kilo-gauss showed complete inhibition of their development after 6 hours. Similar experiments have also been carried out on other bacteria like Serratia marcesscens and Eschirichia coli which produce intestinal disorders in human beings and animals, and the magnet resulted in partial or complete inhibition of their growth. In certain cases, the experiments carried out in USA showed that there was a change in the position of the bacteria due to the influence of the magnetic field.

Studies on Exposure to High Magnetic Fields

Efforts have been made to acertain whether animals subject ed to high or intense magnetic fields showed any adverse effects so that, if necessary, caution could be exercised in the. use of magnets. The following two experiments prove that no adverse or ill-effects have been so far established due to the exposure of animals to the high magnetic fields. A large number of mice was exposure to a magnetic field as -high as 1,20,000 gauss for periods ranging from N minutes to one hour. These mice not only survived the higher exposures but showed no ill-effects on their physiology or behaviour, and improved in weight.
Certain moulds of the genus Neuroapora were exposed to the magnetic field of 1,40,000 gauss to judge whether it induced any alteration in their genetic make-up. These moulds, sometimes, due to adverse condition, produce such genetic changes ,(known as mutation) which are continued in the subsequent -generations. The experiment showed no mutation in these lower forms of life and thus proved that there was no adverse ,effect on the plant life as well.
From various experiments the following conclusions can be drawn :
(i) The magnets have inhibitory action on bacteria and moulds as well as have retarding and controlling action on tumours and cancerous cells.
(ii) The magnets have beneficial effects on plant life as they improve their growth and augment the yield.
(iii) The magnets stimulate certain hormones in the animals leading to increase in the milk secretion, as well as the regulation of ions like sodium and potassium.
(iv) The magnetism helps certain birds and animals in their instinctive behaviour like migration and homing. Most of these physical and - biological experiments have now been extended to medical fields as the medical scientists are on the constant look-out for alternative avenues of medical treatment specially in certain diseases like disorders of locomotion, cancer, kidney stone, etc, which have defied any rational, treatment and hence find magnet an invaluable tool in their hands. Some of the medical experiments on human being and will be discussed later.

There have some other important observations.
1. For instance, the peak magnetic field produced by brain specially during sleep is to the magnitude of about 3 x 10" gauss (about 300000 kilo-gauss), while the heart produces the peak magnetic field to the 6 moves through the inter-planetary space filled by a plasma (a gas in which negatively-charged electrons are stripped of the atoms, leaving positively-charged- ions) which moves at the speed of 400 kilometres per second. When the great solar flares occur the speed of plasma is increased by 1100 kilometres per second which causes great- disturbance of the earth's magnetism and in turn disturbs the magnetic potential of all the living beings on the earth. The sudden and rapid fluctuations and pulsations during the geomagnetic disturbances affect the living organism much in the similar manner as the sophisticated electrical equipment is affected by violent electrical fluctuations.

2. The permanent magnets which are generally man-made have static and constant magnetic fields and therefore are capable of bringing about harmony and equilibrium in the magnetic potential of different organs, of the body. Obviously, due to the absence of any violent fluctuations, these do not have any disturbing action on the human organism but act as stabilizers,

3. The scientists earlier used to resort to a tedious chemical method to separate the RBCs. However, they were astonished to find that when they passed the blood ever a fine magnetised wire (called steelwool filter), the RBCs settled down while the plasma and other cells passed over freely. The magnetic strength used in this case is to the degree of 17.5 kilo-gauss. This suggests that the magnetic field profoundly affects the blood and brings about many changes in the body. Also, through the magnetised blood, regulation of the magnetic rhythm and the magnetic value of different cells is also ensured ultimately leading to perfect magnetic harmony of the body.

However, many Laboratory studies of the effects of static magnetic fields show that these fields do not have any consistent effects on tumor growth, cell growth, immune system function, or hormonal balance.
Tumor growth: In general, static magnetic fields of 13-1150 mT appear to have no effect on the growth of either chemically-induced or transplanted tumors. However, there is one report that suggests that a 15 mT static field increases the growth rate of chemically-induced tumors.
Cell growth: In general, static magnetic fields of 45-2000 mT appear to have no effect on the growth of human, animal or yeast cells. However, there are 4 reports of static fields effects on cell growth:
- inhibition of human lymphocyte growth at 4000-6300 mT
- inhibition of tumor cell growth at 7000 mT ,
- stimulation of mammalian cell growth at 140 mT ,
- both stimulation and inhibition of DNA synthesis in fibroblasts at 610 mT .

Immune system effects : In most studies, static magnetic fields of 13-2000 mT appear to have no effect on the immune system of animals, although one study reports that the implantation of small magnets into the brains of rats enhanced their immune response. Two studies of humans have reported that workers in aluminum reduction plants, where exposure to static magnetic fields is common, have minor alterations in the numbers of some types of immune cells. These minor alterations in cell number are of no known clinical significance, and may not even be related to magnetic field exposure. There have been few other studies on the high sensitivity of immunogenic potentiality to non-ionizing fields. The stationary magnetic field exerts a protective effect in rodents against Trypanosoma infection, and both stationary and 50 Hz magnetic fields have and antinflammatory influence in rodents.
Hormonal effects: There are some reports that static magnetic fields of the order of the natural earth field (about 0.05 mT) can affect melatonin production in rats, although other studies with stronger (e.g., 2000 mT fields ) have not seen such effects. It is not clear that this observation has any significance for human health. While it has been suggested that melatonin might have "cancer-preventive" activity, there is no evidence that static magnetic fields affect melatonin levels in humans, or that melatonin has anti-cancer activity in humans.

There are known biological mechanisms through which strong (greater than 2000 mT) static magnetic fields could cause biological effects, but these mechanisms could not account for biological effects of static fields.

There have recently been a number of such reviews of the epidemiological and laboratory literature. None of these reviews have concluded that static magnetic or electrical fields of the intensity encountered in residential and occupational settings are human health hazards.

A 1993 review by the United Kingdom (British) National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) concluded that for static electric fields "there is no biological evidence from which basic restrictions on human exposure to static electric fields can be derived... "

For static magnetic fields the NRPB concluded that: "there is no direct experimental evidence of any acute, adverse effect on human health due to short-term exposure to static magnetic fields up to about 2 T [2000 mT]. There is little experimental information on the effects of chronic exposure. So far, no long term effects have become apparent..."

In 1993, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) concluded in their review of the literature of static magnetic fields that: "no specific target organs for deleterious magnetic field effects can be identified at the present time... Although some effects [of static magnetic fields] have been observed in both humans and animals, there have not been any clearly deleterious effects conclusively demonstrated at magnetic field levels up to 2 T [2000 mT]."
In 1994, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) concluded that: "current scientific knowledge does not suggest any detrimental effect on major developmental, behavioral and physiological parameters in higher organisms for transient exposure to static field densities up to 2 T [2000 mT].
However, by all such foregoing observations the beneficial effects of magnetic field can not be safely ruled out.