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Static Magnetic Field vs. Pulsed Magnetic Field

Created by: hms
Date: 12/11/2018
Views: 163

Let me tell you, what is a Magnetic Field?

Everyone knows just how fun magnets can be. As a child, who among us didn’t love to see if we could make our silverware stick together? And how about those little magnetic rocks that we could arrange to form just about any shape because they stuck together? Well, magnetism is not just an endless source of fun or good for scientific experiments; it’s also one of basic physical laws upon which the universe is based.

The attraction known as magnetism occurs when a magnetic field is present, which is a field of force produced by a magnetic object or particle. It can also be produced by a changing electric field and is detected by the force it exerts on other magnetic materials. Hence why the area of study dealing with magnets is known as electromagnetism.


Magnetic fields can be defined in a number of ways, depending on the context. The magnetic field is the area around a magnet in which there is magnetic force.

They can be generated within the vicinity of a magnet, by an electric current, or a changing electrical field. They are dipolar in nature, which means that they have both a north and south magnetic pole. The Standard International (SI) unit used to measure magnetic fields is the Tesla, while smaller magnetic fields are measured in terms of Gauss (1 Tesla = 10,000 Guass).

What types of magnetic fields are there?

Magnetic fields can either be static or time-varying/pulsed. A static magnetic field is one in which no change in the flux density or intensity can be found over the time interval of use or measurement. In time-varying magnetic fields, flux density or intensity changes at one or more frequencies, usually greater than one cycle per second (Hertz).


A way that can be explained if you have ever held two magnets in your hands, lets say you have 2 domino magnets with same polarity facing each other, and tried to force them together, you will feel a resistance between them, then you have experienced a magnetic field.  A magnetic field that you can’t see but of its resistance you know the force is there, an invisible force.  That type of magnetic field is “static” and comes from a permanent magnet. The magnet itself pulls on other magnetic materials, such as iron or nickel, and attracts or repels other magnets. Static magnetic fields also exist around electromagnets fed by direct current, one common example being the giant magnet used to move cars around in a junkyard.

In our therapeutic setting, static magnets are  the permanent magnets of Dr. Sierra Magnets, such as the N-1, N-2, domino, hand cylinder and those often used in orthopedic supports, shoe insoles, bracelets, necklaces, etc. to subtly influence the tissues that come in direct contact with the magnet and its static magnetic field. 

The Earth’s magnetic field is important in considering magnetic therapy with static magnets. Since the overall background field of the planet averages 0.5 gauss and completely penetrates our body and atmosphere, any static magnet with field strength below this will not be expected to be active. The magnetic field strength of a static magnet decreases with distance from its surface, and once the field drops to or below the ambient background field strength of Earth, it will be no more effective in the tissues than the background field from that point and farther out.  Health Magnetic Store & More always verifies the magnets we use and recommend with the Magnetometer, verifying that same distance between the magnet and to where it is applied in the body and that its polarity North and South as well. 

Small static magnets, like the Accu-points, are commonly used to stimulate the acupuncture Meridian system and for local superficial tissue actions. Acupuncture point magnets can vary in intensity from 800 Gauss to more than 3,000 Gauss. Regardless of intensity, it would not make sense to use static magnets over very deep acupuncture points. They should only be used exactly over body area that is in pain, and probably you will need to apply 4 of them to really feel a result.  However you can use the domino magnet, which is small, 1”x2” and ½” wide and cover more surface area and further magnetic field penetration.

There exists a lot of information in books and online with static magnets, that focuses on the differential effects of north or south polarity.  It is also said that there is virtually no good published scientific evidence supporting these claims—even less that has been peer-reviewed.

With over 50 years in use with more than ten thousand patients and years of research since 1930’s, we, Health Magnetic Store & More, Drs. Ralph & Irma Sierra, Dr. Jorge C Jarrot, and Drs. Jarrot Sierra, extremely belief that North vs. South polarity is of enormous importance in guiding clinical practice.

Commercially available multipolar magnets are misleading costumers and from their no success in benefits the negative publicity arises.

Time-varying or pulsed electromagnets

A time-varying electromagnetic field is not produced by a permanent magnet, but by moving or alternating current (AC) electricity. Electromagnetic fields, like static magnetic fields, influence the tissues they come into contact with. But electromagnetic fields are significantly more dynamic than static magnetic fields, and are able to reach more deeply into the body than static magnetic fields. Unlike static magnetic fields, electromagnetic fields induce electric charge in tissues, creating a cascade of physiologic effects on a sub-cellular level.

The nature of time-varied or pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs), means that they have a frequency in addition to an intensity. The frequency and associated wavelength of a PEMF means that it will completely penetrate the volume of the body, going way beyond any local application even at extremely low intensities.

The biochemistry that makes muscles work better and relax better— that is, Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent myosin phosphorylation system –has been extensively studied with both static and pulsed/time-varying magnetic fields.  A comparison of typical results shows that a 450 Gauss static field (measured at the tissue, and not the reported field strength of the magnet itself) and a 0.2 Gauss (20 microTesla) pulsed field both accelerate phosphorylation (a process which helps turn “on” and “off” many enzymes and other cellular processes) by nearly twofold. This process stimulates the production of ATP in all cells, not just muscle cells. Similar behavior has been obtained for nerve cell growth, which increased about twofold with both static and pulsed signals.

To read more about PEMF, click on our articles:

  1. Discover PEMF at the Jarrot Sierra Chiropractic Clinic

  2. What is PEMF? Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy in Puerto Rico

  3. Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy

Also to read about BOTH Magnetic Fields effect on the body: Link to Magnetic Therapy Research Articles to read and learn more about why the need to Use it:

by: Dr. Irma Sierra