The use of magnets to improve health isn't new. For more than 2,000 years, the effects of magnets on biological systems have been investigated and debated. The term “magnet" was probably derived from Magnes, a Turkish shepherd who discovered iron deposits that were attracted to the nails in his sandals. These deposits, now called magnetite (a form of iron), were known to the ancients as lodestones ("leading stones").

During medieval times, lodestones were thought to have strong aphrodisiac powers, and magnetic "cures" for afflictions such as gout, arthritis and baldness flourished. By the middle of the 18th century, durable high-power magnets were available throughout Europe. One young researcher, Franz Anton Mesmer, used magnets to treat patients with various illnesses, which led to a medical review in Paris that denounced his work as medical quackery. By the late 1800s, magnets became popular in America, with the Sears Roebuck mail-order catalog advertising magnetic boot insoles for 18 cents a pair.

Fast forward to 1997. While most consumers today won't stand for the dog-and-pony-show mentality that prevailed in earlier times, they'll still do almost anything to find relief from pain. Magnets are being used to ease discomfort associated with arthritis, fibromyalgia, post-polio syndrome and migraine headaches.