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Magnet Therapy: Evidence & Safety

Magnetic bracelets, insoles and mattress pads are popular for pain. This guide explains what research shows, how medical uses of magnetic fields differ, and how to use magnets safely around implanted devices and children.

A child who may have swallowed magnets needs medical care right away. If you suspect magnets have been swallowed, seek medical attention immediately (CPSC). Don’t wait for symptoms: early signs can be vague, which can delay diagnosis while injury gets worse, and children may not admit to swallowing something or be able to describe it (CDC, MMWR). Two or more swallowed magnets can attract each other inside the body, even through the walls of the gut, causing holes, blockage, blood poisoning and death (CPSC, CDC, MMWR). Signs can include belly pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (CPSC).

Pacemaker or ICD and feeling unwell near a magnet? Strong magnets can make some implanted heart devices switch modes or stop working normally; if that happens, a person may feel dizzy or lose consciousness (FDA). Step away from the magnet so the device can return to normal (NHLBI), and call your doctor right away if you feel dizzy, faint, short of breath or have heart palpitations (NHLBI, NHLBI). Call 911 if you feel several strong shocks from an ICD in a short time, or have warning signs of a heart attack or cardiac arrest (NHLBI). See our Fainting guide.

Don’t let a magnet delay care. Don’t use magnets bought without a prescription to put off seeing a health care provider about pain or any other medical problem (NCCIH).

Why this guide exists

Our A–Z list once included “Magnet Tolerance,” an entry tied to magnetic wellness products such as necklaces, bracelets, insoles and mattress pads. Some MBHA members use these products, and some tell us they find them comforting. This guide doesn’t judge anyone for that choice. Its goal is to give you a fair picture of what the research shows, how to keep yourself and your family safe, and how to spend your money wisely.

What is static magnet therapy?

Magnets have been used to treat pain, such as arthritis or headaches, for hundreds of years, and magnetic therapy products are marketed widely — most often for pain, inflammatory conditions and wound healing (NCCIH). There are two very different kinds (NCCIH):

  • Static (permanent) magnets are made of metal or alloys. Their magnetic field is always on and doesn’t change. They are placed on or near the body, often in a wrap such as a wristband, or built into jewelry, mats, pillows and bed pads. This is what most people mean by “magnet therapy,” and it is the focus of this guide.
  • Electromagnets create a changing magnetic field when electricity passes through a coil. Devices such as pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) fall into this group. Some electromagnetic treatments are FDA-approved for specific medical uses (see below).

What the research shows

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, says research on static magnets for pain is extremely limited, and that no conclusive evidence has been found that static magnets work for any form of pain (NCCIH). Here is what some of the key studies found:

  • A 2007 review of trials. Researchers pooled nine placebo-controlled trials and found no significant difference in pain relief between static magnets and placebo. They concluded that the evidence does not support static magnets for pain relief. For osteoarthritis, though, they said the evidence was too thin to rule out a meaningful benefit, and more research was warranted (Pittler et al., CMAJ, 2007).
  • A 2021 review of 7 studies (576 people) with pain from conditions such as diabetic nerve pain, sciatica, fibromyalgia and heel pain had mixed results: four studies showed improvement and three did not. The studies used different magnet strengths and timings, which may explain some of the differences (NCCIH).
  • Magnetic bracelets for hip and knee osteoarthritis. In a trial of 194 people, pain scores fell more with a standard-strength magnetic bracelet than with a dummy bracelet over 12 weeks. The researchers said it was uncertain whether this was a true effect of the magnet or a placebo effect (Harlow et al., BMJ, 2004).
  • Magnetic wrist straps for rheumatoid arthritis. In a trial of 70 people who each wore a magnetic strap, a weaker magnet, a demagnetized strap and a copper bracelet in turn, there were no meaningful differences in pain, inflammation, physical function or disease activity (Richmond et al., PLoS ONE, 2013).
  • Magnetic insoles for heel pain. In a trial of 101 adults with plantar heel pain, people wearing magnetic insoles and people wearing identical non-magnetic insoles both improved, by the same amount, over 8 weeks (Winemiller et al., JAMA, 2003). See our Feet guide for other options.
  • Magnetic mattress pads for fibromyalgia. According to NCCIH, one study found that six months of sleeping on a mattress pad containing static magnets did not significantly improve pain in people with fibromyalgia; overall, the evidence on magnets for fibromyalgia is very limited and weak (NCCIH).

Magnets are also marketed for inflammation and wound healing (NCCIH), but we found little research in people on these uses. NCCIH also notes that there is no conclusive evidence that static magnets help osteoarthritis pain, and little or no recent research on static magnets for many other kinds of pain (NCCIH).

“But I feel better when I wear it”

That experience is real, and it deserves respect. Research on acupuncture, for example, shows that people can feel genuine relief from “nonspecific effects” — effects that come from a person’s belief in a treatment, the care around it, or other factors rather than the treatment’s main mechanism (NCCIH). Pain can also improve for reasons other than the magnet: in the insole trial above, people with non-magnetic insoles improved just as much as people with magnetic ones (Winemiller et al., JAMA, 2003). Feeling better is worth celebrating. The important questions are whether a product is safe for you, whether it is worth its price, and whether it is keeping you from care that could help more.

Medical uses of magnetic fields are different

Doctors do use magnetic fields — but in tested, regulated medical devices that work very differently from a magnet in a bracelet:

  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses an electromagnet that switches on and off very rapidly to stimulate brain cells; its field is about as strong as an MRI scanner’s. Repetitive TMS is FDA-cleared for treatment-resistant depression, OCD, migraines, anxiety with depression and smoking dependence, and is given in a clinic or office (NIMH). See our Depression guide.
  • PEMF therapy has been approved by FDA for specific conditions, including fractures that don’t heal with standard treatment and pain and swelling after surgery in soft tissues near the skin (NCCIH). Research suggests electromagnetic therapy may help some muscle and joint pain, though the data are mixed (NCCIH).
  • MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to make images inside the body (FDA). They are for diagnosis, not treatment.

NCCIH considers these FDA-approved uses conventional medicine, separate from consumer magnet therapy (NCCIH). The evidence for these medical devices doesn’t apply to the static magnets sold in jewelry, insoles or mattress pads.

Is magnet therapy safe?

Static magnets themselves appear to be safe for treating pain, and many studies report minimal or no side effects (NCCIH). The real risks come from three places: implanted medical devices, young children, and putting off medical care. See Safety checklist below for details, and our Heart guide and Diabetes guide if you live with a heart device or an insulin pump.

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Finding and treating the cause of pain with tested treatments; FDA-cleared magnetic treatments such as TMS or PEMF only where they fit the diagnosis; and advice on using magnets safely with implanted devices and before MRI. Varies with the condition and treatment. Cost estimate being researched. Treatment that has been tested for your specific condition. Your doctor can also tell you whether any magnetic product is safe with your devices and medicines.
Chiropractic Spinal manipulation, exercise and other hands-on care for back and neck pain. Static magnets are not part of the evidence base for chiropractic care. Self-pay about $55–$100 for a follow-up visit and about $90–$200 for a first visit. Small improvements for low-back pain in studies. If any practitioner suggests or sells a magnetic product, ask what evidence supports it.
Acupuncture Needle acupuncture for some pain conditions. “Acu-magnet” products — small magnets or magnetic pellets taped to acupuncture points — are a separate, much less studied practice. About $125–$230 for a first visit and $90–$185 for follow-ups; community clinics about $50–$90. Research on magnets placed on acupuncture points is of poor overall quality and doesn’t support treatment recommendations. Ask before magnets are placed near an implanted device.
Herbal medicine No role. Herbal medicine has no connection to magnet therapy. Not applicable. If you also take herbs or supplements for pain, tell your doctor — natural doesn’t always mean safe.
Massage therapy No role in magnet therapy. Massage is a separate option some people use for pain. Not applicable to magnet use. Massage itself has some, mostly short-term, evidence for certain kinds of pain.
MBHA Wellness Coach An MBHA Wellness Coach can help you evaluate product claims, track your symptoms honestly, keep magnets away from implanted devices and children, and stay connected to medical care. Cost estimate being researched. Clearer decisions about what to buy and keep using, a safer home, and a better conversation with your doctor.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

A major review of placebo-controlled trials concluded that static magnets can’t be recommended as an effective treatment for pain (Pittler et al., CMAJ, 2007). Instead, your doctor’s job is to find out what is causing your pain and match you with treatments that have been tested for it.

Proven care for common pain conditions

Low-back pain and osteoarthritis are the most common diagnoses among people with chronic pain; rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia are also common (NCCIH). Each has its own tested treatments. Our guides walk through them:

When magnetic treatment is medicine

  • TMS for depression. Repetitive TMS was first cleared by FDA in 2008 for people whose depression didn’t respond to at least one antidepressant in the current episode. It is now used for moderate to severe depression when medicines haven’t worked or can’t be tolerated, and in 2024 it was cleared as an add-on treatment for teens 15 and older. A typical course is daily sessions, 5 days a week, for 4–6 weeks. It is generally safe and well tolerated; side effects can include scalp discomfort, muscle twitching or tingling, mild headache and dizziness, and the risk of seizures is low (NIMH). Ask your doctor whether it fits your situation.
  • PEMF is FDA-approved for specific uses such as fractures that won’t heal with standard care (NCCIH). It is prescribed for a diagnosis, not bought as a wellness product.

Implanted devices and MRI

Find a medical doctor in our directory

Approach 2 of 6

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care usually centers on hands-on therapy, often spinal manipulation, and may also include exercise and nutrition counseling (NCCIH). Static magnets are not part of the evidence for chiropractic care.

What chiropractic care can offer for pain

Spinal manipulation is one of several drug-free options for low-back pain and may lead to small improvements in pain and function. For acute low-back pain, studies link it to a modest improvement in pain, similar to anti-inflammatory medicines (NCCIH). It can also help some neck pain (NCCIH). See our Back Problems guide.

If magnets are offered for sale

If a practitioner of any kind, a store or a website suggests a magnetic product, it is fair to ask:

  • “What studies show this product helps my condition?” No government agency approves health ads before they appear, but federal law requires sellers who market cures to have scientific evidence (FTC).
  • “Is it safe with my pacemaker, pump or other implant?” Some magnets can interfere with medical devices (NCCIH).
  • “Do you earn money from selling it?” This is a reasonable question to ask about any product a provider sells.

Cost

A self-pay follow-up visit typically costs about $55–$100, and a first visit about $90–$200 (The Pricer).

Find a chiropractor in our directory

Approach 3 of 6

Acupuncture

Some products and practitioners combine magnets with acupuncture ideas: small magnets, magnetic pellets or magnetic “beads” taped to acupuncture points, often on the ear. This is sometimes called acu-magnet therapy or magnetic acupressure.

What the research shows

A literature review gathered 42 studies of magnets applied to acupuncture points, covering 32 different conditions. Most reported a benefit, but the authors found the controlled trials were of poor overall quality — too poor to make any evidence-based treatment recommendations. The only side effects reported were worse hot flashes and skin irritation from the adhesive (Colbert et al., Acupuncture in Medicine, 2008). Our PubMed search found no newer review of this practice, only individual studies.

Needle acupuncture is a different matter. Research suggests it may help some pain conditions, including back or neck pain and knee osteoarthritis pain (NCCIH).

Safety

  • If you have a pacemaker, ICD, insulin pump, cochlear implant or other implant, tell your acupuncturist before any magnets are placed on your body, and check with your doctor (NCCIH, FDA).
  • Small taped-on magnets can fall off. Check that none are left on the floor, bed or clothing where a young child could find them (CPSC).

Cost

About $125–$230 for a first private visit and $90–$185 for follow-ups; community clinics about $50–$90 (The Pricer).

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

Approach 4 of 6

Herbal medicine

Herbal medicine has no role in magnet therapy, and we don’t compare herbs here.

If you also use herbs or supplements for pain, tell your doctor. Natural doesn’t always mean safe, and some supplements can cause side effects or interact with medicines (NCCIH, NCCIH).

Approach 5 of 6

Massage therapy

Massage therapy has no role in magnet therapy. We mention it only because some people consider it as another way to manage pain: research suggests massage may give short-term relief for some neck, shoulder and knee pain, and may help some fibromyalgia symptoms if continued for at least five weeks (NCCIH). See our Fibromyalgia guide.

If a massage practice offers magnetic mats, pillows or other products, the same questions apply as for any magnetic product (see Chiropractic above).

Find a massage therapist in our directory

Approach 6 of 6

MBHA Wellness Coach

An MBHA Wellness Coach won’t tell you to throw away a product that brings you comfort. A coach can help you make clear, safe decisions about it.

Evaluating product claims

Together you can look at a product’s marketing for common red flags (FTC):

  • one product said to cure many different diseases;
  • patient or doctor testimonials that can’t be checked;
  • “results in 30 days or your money back” promises;
  • pressure to “act now”; and
  • scientific-sounding terms or mentions of famous prizes.

The FTC specifically names magnets and copper bracelets among arthritis gimmicks, and advises asking your doctor before buying a health product (FTC).

Tracking symptoms honestly

A simple log of pain, sleep and activity — kept before and while using a product — can show whether it seems to be worth its cost. Remember that pain can improve for reasons other than the product: in the insole trial, non-magnetic insoles worked just as well (Winemiller et al., JAMA, 2003). Bring the log to your doctor, and tell them about any new, worse or lasting pain rather than relying on a magnet (NCCIH).

A safer home

Another approach

Safety checklist for magnet users

Pacemakers, ICDs and other heart devices

  • Many implanted devices have a “magnet mode” that doctors use on purpose, for example during an MRI. A strong enough magnet nearby can switch the device into this mode unintentionally: a defibrillator may be unable to detect a dangerously fast heartbeat, or a pacemaker may change how it paces. The device returns to normal when the magnet is moved away (FDA).
  • FDA advises keeping consumer electronics with strong magnets at least six inches (15 cm) from implanted devices, especially defibrillators, and not carrying them in a pocket over the device (FDA). NHLBI gives similar advice for devices with strong magnetic fields: keep them at least six inches away or use them only briefly (NHLBI). Ask your heart doctor whether this applies to magnetic necklaces, bracelets, pads or pillows you use.
  • You may not be able to tell when something disrupts your pacemaker (NHLBI). If you have a home monitoring system, use it to check your device (FDA).

Insulin pumps, cochlear implants and other implants

  • Some magnets may interfere with medical devices such as pacemakers and insulin pumps (NCCIH). Ask your diabetes team before using magnetic products near your pump. See our Diabetes guide.
  • Cochlear implants contain an internal magnet, and people with them may hear strange sounds when near magnetic fields (FDA). Check with your implant center before wearing magnetic products near your head.
  • In a 2024 recall of sleep-apnea masks with magnets, posted by FDA, the maker warned that a magnet close to certain active or metal implants could affect how the implant works or its position, possibly causing serious injury or death. Its list included pacemakers, ICDs, neurostimulators, aneurysm clips, metal stents, insulin and infusion pumps, shunts, cochlear implants and metal fragments in the body — and the warning covered household members and bed partners as well as the user (FDA-posted recall notice). That is worth remembering with magnetic mattress pads and pillows that a partner shares.
  • Guides to Pacemakers, Pumps & Ventilators and Metal in Body are coming soon.

Young children and teens

  • Keep magnets and magnetic devices out of children’s reach — small magnets that are swallowed or inhaled can be deadly (NCCIH). Look for loose magnet pieces and check toys and play areas regularly (CPSC).
  • The danger includes jewelry. In 2024, CPSC warned consumers to stop using a brand of magnetic bracelets because their magnets were small and strong enough to violate the federal magnet safety rule. CPSC estimates about 2,400 magnet swallowing cases were treated in hospital emergency departments from 2017 through 2021 (CPSC, 2024).
  • Never use magnets to imitate tongue or lip piercings (CDC, MMWR). On an X-ray, several magnets stuck together can look like a single object (CPSC), so tell the medical team that magnets may be involved.

Pregnancy, MRI and other health conditions

Another approach

Spending wisely on magnetic products

Claims about magnetic products are not checked by any government agency before ads appear. Federal law does require sellers who market cures to have scientific evidence (FTC).

  • Regulators have acted on magnet claims. In 1999 the Federal Trade Commission charged two sellers of magnetic therapy devices with making unsupported claims — including that the products could treat cancer, high blood pressure, liver disease and arthritis — and proposed orders barring such claims (FTC, 1999). In 2020, FDA and the FTC jointly warned a seller whose magnet therapy kits were promoted against COVID-19; FDA said that because the kits were promoted to prevent or treat COVID-19 they counted as medical devices, and they were being sold without FDA approval, clearance or authorization (FDA warning letter, 2020).
  • Be wary of one product for many problems, miracle wording, unverifiable testimonials and money-back promises, and ask your doctor before you buy (FTC).
  • Report problems. Report suspected scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you have a bad reaction to a health product, call your doctor right away and then report it to FDA’s MedWatch at 1-800-FDA-1088 (FTC). Report an injury from a consumer product to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov (CPSC, 2024).

If you already own a magnetic product and enjoy it, you don’t need to feel foolish. Use it safely, keep it away from devices and children, and put your next health dollars toward care with stronger evidence.

Member stories

Living with Magnet Therapy: Evidence & Safety? Share your experience

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This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

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