China:
As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, China discovered that lodestone (a natural mineral mainly containing ferroferric oxide) has magnetic properties and tried to use it to improve human health. For example, "Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Bian Que and Cang Gong" records that there were records of "self-refining five stones" in the early Western Han Dynasty, including lodestone.
The "Shennong Bencao Jing" compiled during the Eastern Han Dynasty clearly recorded the application value of magnetite, pointing out that magnetite is pungent in taste and cold in nature, and is effective for symptoms such as rheumatism, joint pain, and deafness.
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, medical scientist Tao Hongjing further expanded the application scope of magnets in "Famous Doctors' Records", including nourishing the kidneys, strengthening bones and qi, and unblocking joints.
Sun Simiao, a famous medical scientist in the Tang Dynasty, recorded in his "Qian Jin Fang" the method of using honey pills made of magnetite, cinnabar and six-qu to treat eye diseases.
Li Shizhen, a famous pharmacist in the Ming Dynasty, recorded in detail the properties and main diseases of magnets in his Compendium of Materia Medica, further enriching the theoretical basis of magnetic therapy.
The west:
The ancient Greek physician Galen used magnets, demonstrating an early application of magnetic therapy in Western medicine.
The ancient Roman doctor Aetius also recorded the use of magnets in treating pain in the hands and feet, cramps, convulsions, etc.
From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, with the development of electromagnetism, magnetic therapy technology began to gradually modernize. For example, British doctor Perkins made a metal traction device, which was an early magnetic therapy device.
In the mid-20th century, with the advancement of materials science and electronic technology, magnetic therapy equipment was constantly updated, and various magnetic therapy devices such as magnetic chairs, magnetic beds, and magnetic caps appeared.
Modern magnetic therapy has developed into a comprehensive treatment method, covering various forms such as constant magnetic field therapy and pulsed magnetic field therapy.
Magnetic therapy is widely used in many fields such as pain management, nerve regulation, blood circulation improvement, etc. A large number of experimental studies have also shown that magnetic therapy has a good promoting effect on the human body, such as improving blood circulation, relieving pain, reducing swelling and inflammation, etc.
In recent years, with the in-depth research on the mechanism of magnetic therapy and the development and application of new magnetic therapy equipment, the application prospects of magnetic therapy in the field of health care have become broader.
The development history of magnetic therapy has experienced a transformation from simple application in ancient times to modern scientific research. With the continuous advancement of science and technology and the increasing demand for health, magnetic therapy will continue to play an important role as a safe and effective health care method.