People are increasingly seeking non-chemical treatments for depression. There are about 20 million people in the US who are treated for depression each year and many of them are seeking alternative treatments for their problems. It may be that there are too many side effects with chemical treatments, sometimes herbal treatments are not effective for the type of depression suffered and some people just like to try different treatments to find out what works fastest and best. Many people are turning to natural medicine for relief of all ailments and some of the more uncommon medical treatments are being brought to light. Magnetic therapy for depression is one of the non-chemical treatments for that is becoming increasingly used in the medical environment. It is still considered a form of Eastern traditional medicine because it was observed as being used by Tibetan monks, but magnetic therapy for depression is finding its way into mainstream medicine and doctors are touting their effectiveness for many illnesses all over the country.
Magnetic Therapy for Depression
There is a history of usage of electromagnetic stimulation to treat various depressive illnesses. Electroshock therapy, electroconvulsive therapy and cranioelectrical therapy involve using electrodes to stimulate the production of serotonin without the side effects of traditional drug therapy. Magnetic therapy for depression is known as Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (RTMS) uses a hand held device to stimulate the area of the brain that is causing the depressive episode. The doctor or therapist focuses the magnetic energy in the same way electric stimulation is used in the various shock therapies. This has been very effective in treating extremely depressed patients and has few side effects. Magnetic therapy for depression is very useful in treating people who have depression that is drug resistant.
How Magnetic Therapy for Depression Works
Small magnets are held close to the head to relieve the symptoms of depression. Electric pulses used in the various shock therapies gets diffused through the bones of the skull which means the pulse is less effective when the area of the brain that need stimulation is deep in the head. Magnetic therapy for depression uses magnetic stimulation which passes directly through the bones unaffected so the full pulse makes it to the desired location.
The theory of its use is based on the idea that every cell in the body has an electromagnetic field. When this field is out of alignment, problems in the body occur. Magnetic therapy can realign the fields to eliminate the symptoms and possibly the disease. No anesthesia is required for treating patients with magnetic therapy for depression and no special preparation is needed.
Effectiveness of Magnetic Depression Therapy
Many people who participated in studies using magnetic therapy for depression reported feeling positive results almost immediately, some for the first time in years. Some researchers believe the magnetic therapy for depression can actually treat the cause of the depressive episode which eliminates the symptoms altogether. According to statistics, 90 percent of people tested in clinical trials report at least some improvement in the depressive symptoms. As many as 30 percent reported significant changes and improvements in the depression and about 10 percent reported still feeling the same. For people who do not benefit from magnetic therapy for depression, electric shock therapy usually provides the desired results.
