You know an alternative form of therapy has gone mainstream when it's covered by health insurance. Increasing numbers of health insurance providers are covering the relatively minor costs of magnetic healing therapies because of clinical studies over the last several years that prove the efficacy of magnets in promoting faster, safer recovery from a variety of illnesses and injuries.

From simple, localized bruising to broken bones and chronic inflammation, magnets made from the rare earth mineral neodymium can improve conditions without triggering troublesome or dangerous side effects. Sports medicine specialists are particularly drawn to the advantages of medical healing for treating sports injuries because it promotes faster healing with stronger results at the point of injury; both important when a player is vital to the success of a team.

It's also become popular for treating patients who may not respond well to pharmaceutical intervention, including the elderly, who may already be taking various medications that can cause drug interaction complications, and those with drug sensitivities.

Magnetic healing is increasingly popular in part because it encourages our bodies to become active in a sort of self-healing process that actually boosts our own immune system's function. Some of the ways magnets work with our own bodies to help us heal are amazing.

Magnets help our bodies regulate calcium flow. Depending on the alignment of the magnets placed over bones and joints, the polarity of the magnets can either help bones heal faster by encouraging calcium flow to the area, which will strengthen bone, or improve arthritic joints by reducing calcium build-up. In fact, in controlled research settings, fractured hand and wrist bones healed on average 35% faster with magnetic therapy than without.

They help increase energy flow through acupuncture meridians. The flow of energy, or chi, through the body affects your immune system, ability to fight infection and handle pain if it is out of balance. Magnetic healing therapy can properly balance the flow of energy through the balance when used on the proper acupuncture points of the body.

The pineal gland, located in the brain, secretes the hormone melatonin, which aids the way the body processes light and is related to sexual development and mood. The pineal gland is magnetically sensitive and can be stimulated by magnetic therapy.

Magnets can alter the acidity and alkalinity of the body. When the pH balance of the body's cells are out of balance, illness can result. The balance of acids and alkali in our cells is essential to hydration, nutrition and health.

Among the other healthy results of magnetic healing therapy is improved blood circulation, reduced stress levels, overall energy enhancement and faster wound healing. More mainstream doctors are turning to magnetic healing each year as an adjunct to traditional medications and therapies in order to enhance their effectiveness. An example of this is combining physical therapy with magnetic healing to heal joint injuries more quickly and reduce the stress of the therapy itself. Some doctors and holistic therapy practitioners are also using magnets to treat tension and migraine headaches so you can rely less on pain medications.