Title: Static magnetotherapy for the treatment of insomnia

Authors: Yao Y. Shieh, Fong Y. Tsai

Addresses: 101 The City Drive South, UCIrvine Medical Center, Orange CA 92868, USA. ' 101 The City Drive South, UCIrvine Medical Center, Orange CA 92868, USA

Abstract: Magnets have been used for centuries to treat a number of physical disorders. The vast majority of research, however, on static magnet therapy for insomnia has been confined to the auricular type of therapy, with publications limited to Chinese journals. Most of these studies have depended on the subjective self-assessment of participants rather than objective scientific measurements. In this study, the authors report the positive preliminary results of insomnia treatment using pillows with embedded magnets, magnetic insoles and TriPhase bracelets. The analysis is based on objective actigraphic and polysomnographic data. A theory of accelerated transition from wakefulness to sleep is proposed to explain the process of insomnia relief through low-strength static magnetic fields. Analysis by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is used to further investigate the theory.

Keywords: insomnia treatment; magnetotherapy; actigraphy; polysomnography; functional magnetic resonance imaging; fMRI; blood oxygenation level dependent; BOLD; magnets; embedded magnets; magnetic insoles; TriPhase bracelets; sleep difficulties; magnetic fields.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEH.2008.022670

International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, 2008 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.339 - 349

Published online: 24 Jan 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article