# magnetic healing **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [June 28, 2000, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947 "2000-06-28T23:01:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@gump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gump)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/1 "2000-06-28T23:01:31Z")
For about 15 years, I worked on Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines, during part of which time I was a professional volunter subject in high-field magnets. I’ve been subjected to higher magnetic fields for longer times than pretty much anybody you’ve ever met. And I can report…no health effects whatsoever (unless you count that incredible stamina that my wife likes so much…). It’s interesting to note that the folks who sell the magnets charge more for the larger and more powerful ones, and state that if you buy the more expensive one, you need to leave in on your body for less time to achieve the desired effect. Interesting note #2 is that magnets, of course, have a polarity, and many of the “magnet healers” differ as to whether the positive or the negative pole should be close to the body. Would not the healing essence be removed from the body if it’s installed backwards? And if that’s true, what of our friends in the southern hemishpere, especially those close to the pole, who are constantly bombarded with magnetic lines of flux that are GOING THE WRONG WAY? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/2 "2000-06-28T23:34:28Z")
I believe this is the article in question. [Can Magnets Alleviate Pain](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/990618.html)? Welcome to the Straight Dope®, Gump. This might be a good place to re-post this link to what has to be [one of the world’s biggest quacks](http://www.alexchiu.com), too. According to this guy, not only are magnets capable of relieving pain, they can provide eternal life. Comes with a 30-day money back guarantee. ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2000, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/3 "2000-06-29T00:18:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > … they can provide eternal life. Comes with a 30-day money back guarantee. > \*\* 30 days of eternal life guaranteed!! Where to I sign? Sua ---
**Author:** ![ren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@ren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ren)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2000, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/4 "2000-06-29T00:20:13Z")
> [@](#): > > they can provide eternal life. Comes with a 30-day money back guarantee. So, what, if you die you have 30 days to get a refund? oooo when I get that feeling, I want…magnetic healing… ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2000, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/5 "2000-06-29T15:47:17Z")
Whoops! I’m sorry. It’s a 90-day money-back guarantee. > [@](#): > > Yes, I would like to try the Eternal Life Device(s). I understand that the inventor, Alex Chiu, guarantees me that if I am not satisfied with the Eternal Life Device for any reason, I am allowed to get a full refund within 90 days. I also found this posted on Alex Chiu’s site under Breaking News (or something like that). > [@](#): > > Posted by Christian Kim on May 29, 19100 at 13:30:34: > > Hi everyone! > > I’m very excited about [ImmortalityDevice.com](http://ImmortalityDevice.com)’s first ever TV advertisement debut! > > Many of you have been asking why we didn’t go on TV with this amazing invention. To make my answer short: we’ve been working on it! > > Now, you will be able to see TV ad first in the national weather channel and then in the outdoor channel. > > We will continue to expand the TV presence both for our customers as well as our distributors. If you are interested in letting your friends and familiy know about the amazing benefits of the Immortality Rings and Footbraces AND also get paid good money, I suggest you apply for our exclusive distributorship program. > > Granted that not everybody who applies will be accepted, however, if you have strong personal testimonies, you will be given priority. > > With increasing TV and magazine ad presence, more and more people will become curious about the Immortality Rings and Footbraces. When you tell these people about your own personal account, they will want to buy from you. > > Thank you for your continued support. > > Christian Kim > President > [ImmortalityDevice.com](http://ImmortalityDevice.com) Inc. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2000, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/6 "2000-06-29T23:33:11Z")
I believe James Randi debunked this a while back. ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Too](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ce7236/32.png) [@Karen\_Too](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Too)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/7 "2000-06-30T00:01:32Z")
Ah! Since _James Randi_ debunked it, I guess I’ll stop believing in eternal life. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/8 "2000-06-30T17:40:27Z")
James Randi debunked magnetic healing, not eternal life. He can’t debunk it. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/9 "2000-07-01T13:23:35Z")
Oh, I dunno. He looks pretty old… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2000, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/10 "2000-07-02T08:00:59Z")
LOL, good one David. Haven’t heard from Randi lately, is he still traveling? And he’s not THAT old. I do believe he debunked pink unicorns though. For sure. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2000, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/11 "2000-07-02T18:21:40Z")
Well, only _visible_ pink unicorns-- Everyone knows that _they_ don’t exist. The jury’s still out on the topic of invisible pink unicorns, though… You can imagine that there’s a lot less evidence to go by. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2000, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/12 "2000-07-03T23:44:50Z")
Hey, there’s at least as much evidence for the Invisible Pink Unicorn as there is for, say, magnetic healing. (Gotta bring this back to topic somehow.) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2000, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/13 "2000-07-04T15:57:07Z")
> [@](#): > > For about 15 years, I worked on Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines, during part of which time I was a professional volunter subject in high-field magnets. I’ve been subjected to higher magnetic fields for longer times than pretty much anybody you’ve ever met. And I can report…no health effects whatsoever Ah! But can you say that you wouldn’t be dead today from a myriad of diseases and ailments that were **cured or prevented** by your long-term exposure to Magnets? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2000, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/14 "2000-07-05T07:36:14Z")
Ah, but what about magnetic pink unicorns? answer me THAT! ---
**Author:** ![ren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@ren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ren)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2000, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/15 "2000-07-05T17:54:36Z")
Yeah, maybe it’s the magnetism that makes 'em invisible… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2000, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-healing/23947/16 "2000-07-05T23:08:52Z")
[Cecil on magnetism and invisibility](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_293.html)