British Medical Authority Reviews Magnets and the Relief of Arthritis
British Medical Journal Report:- Bioflow Magnetic Products
This is a copy of the press release used by Ecoflow when the research was published in December 2004: Below is an article taken from the British Medical Journal.
Whilst this relates to human trials and observations, it is interesting that animals cannot register a placebo effect and show the same (if not better) results than in human trials.
"Cornish company, Ecoflow Plc, was celebrating today after the first ever independent clinical trial using the company’s ‘Bioflow’ magnets which use Central Reverse Polarity™ magnetic wrist bands confirmed that its unique magnetic properties do have a beneficial effect on pain.
The trial, funded by the Arthritis Research Campaign, was carried out on patients with arthritis of the hip and knee by a group of Mid Devon doctors. They decided to run the trial after hearing patient reports of pain relief from wearing the Bioflow magnets. The scientifically peer reviewed trial set out to establish whether or not there is indeed benefit beyond the placebo effect from using the special magnets for pain relief. It also sought to address problems and shortfalls that had been encountered during earlier inconclusive research into the use of magnotherapy.
Dr Tim Harlow who led the Mid Devon trial said: “Our results did show benefit to patients with arthritis of the hip and knee.”
He went on to stress: “It seems that not all magnets are the same in this context and we can only comment on the particular bracelets we studied. Of course nothing will work for everyone with arthritis but this result is encouraging for sufferers and these magnets do seem worth trying. The benefits seem to be additional to the effects of pain killers.” But he cautioned: “People should not suddenly stop their existing treatments without discussing it with their doctor.”
A full report of the findings has today been published in the British Medical Journal.
Since Saltash based Ecoflow first launched its Bioflow magnet in 1995, the weight of anecdotal evidence supporting use of the magnets for pain has been steadily mounting. The company has amassed files full of letters from people extolling the benefits of Bioflow in a range of symptoms and conditions.
Products containing the special magnets are also available for animals and these seem to work so successfully that many sceptics have had to retract the ‘placebo’ argument often levelled at the therapy. The arthritis trial findings will further strengthen belief in the usefulness of the Bioflow magnets.
Ecoflow chairman Paul Markland said: “The news today is of course wonderful for arthritis suffers but it confirms what we at Ecoflow have known for years - our unique Bioflow magnets really do work!” He added: “We are so confident that we sell them with a 90 day money back guarantee. That guarantee however is only available through our own network of registered independent distributors.” He emphasised: “We do not want to run the risk of inferior products being sold to people in pain on the back of this research. Anyone can contact our head office in Saltash for details of a registered distributor near them. They will then be certain that they are buying the genuine article carrying all the Ecoflow guarantees.”
The Bioflow is different from ordinary magnets because besides being very strong it incorporates Central Reverse Polarity™ a system unique to Ecoflow products. This was specifically designed to mimic the beneficial effects of professional electromagnetic units often used in hospitals.
British Medical Journal 2004 |
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