Magnetic Therapy
Animal Attraction:
Can magnetic therapy help your four-footed friend?
by Ann Brightman

If you think magnetic therapy is just another New Age fad, then think again. In fact, there’s nothing “new” about it at all. We’re merely rediscovering a form of healing that Eastern cultures have been using for millennia. “Magnetic therapy is more than 5,000 years old,” says Eva Navratil of Serenity 2000, an Ontario-based company specializing in magnetotherapy products for both people and animals. “References to using naturally magnetic lodestones for pain relief can be found in many ancient Chinese and Indian writings.”

But what’s it all about? How can a magnet possibly have healing properties? “It’s easily understood when you realize that life on this planet evolved under the influence of the earth’s magnetic field, and that the earth itself is really a giant magnet,” explains Eva. “We actually get 30 percent of our energy from this magnetic field.” It should therefore come as no surprise to learn that every living being, from humans to horses to dogs and cats, can be profoundly affected by fluctuations in magnetism.

These fluctuations occur all the time, mostly because of the way we live. By spending so much time inside structures built from concrete and steel, we literally cut ourselves off from the earth’s natural magnetism. At the same time, we power our buildings with alternating current electrical systems and lights that interfere with the earth’s direct current. As a result, our energy is drained and we begin to feel rundown, stressed out and more susceptible to illness.

The same holds true for our animal companions. “Animals get deficient in magnetism just like we do, especially those that spend all their time indoors or live in apartments,” says Eva. “When you see a dog dig a hole in the backyard and then roll or lie in it, he’s instinctively seeking magnetism.”

It would seem the most obvious way to rejuvenate our magnetically starved bodies, and those of our animal companions, is to spend as much time as we can outdoors. “If we go outside and walk around, we tend to feel better because we’re recharging ourselves magnetically,” says Eva. But what do we do when we can’t take our animals out? That’s when magnetic therapy, also called magnetotherapy, comes into play.

Nowadays you can get a whole range of magnetotherapy products for animals, specifically horses, dogs and cats. These products range from blankets and beds to collars and leg wraps. All are fitted with special magnets that have an energizing, healing effect on the animal. “When you put a magnetic collar on your dog or cat, you’re making magnetism available for his body to absorb as needed,” says Eva.

Magnetotherapy can also be used to relieve pain and alleviate a range of health disorders, from arthritis and tendonitis to stress and seizures. There are several ways in which it does this. In an area of injury or illness, the cells are positively charged and this is what sends pain messages to the brain. When a negatively charged magnet is applied to or near the area, it reverses the charge in some of the cells, thus reducing the discomfort. As well, scientists have discovered that magnets stimulate the brain to release endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. “On the long term, magnets promote healing simply by increasing circulation,” says Eva. “They do this by relaxing the capillary walls. This allows more fresh, oxygenated blood to flow through the affected area, while toxins are carried away at a faster rate. Hence any injury, whether it’s a sprain or a break, will heal faster under the influence of magnetotherapy.”

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Published in the Winter 2002 issue of Animal Wellness Magazine