Frequently Asked Questions About BIOflex Magnetic Products Q. How do BIOflex Magnets work? A. BIOflex magnets feature a series of concentric circular poles. The circles are of variable width and alternate between the N and S poles. According to the Hall Effect, a magnet can optimally manifest its effects on the current carrying conductors of the body (e.g. blood vessels and nerves) when the currents cross the poles at right angles. Studies at major universities have verified that the BIOflex magnetic design of concentric circles of alternating polarity not only causes an increase in blood flow but it can also relieve pain. The magnets act like an electric heating pad to bring more blood to an area, increasing the nutrients and building blocks the damaged tissues need to rebuild themselves. It also accelerates the clearance of toxic waste products of the injury. Like electric stimulation which can block pain signals, BIOflex products manifest the principle of Faraday's Law that describes how a DC electric field is created as blood vessels pass through properly oriented magnetic fields. Q. What makes BIOflex Magnets different from others? A. It has already been demonstrated at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology that the BIOflex design is the most efficient magnetic design for causing an increase of flow in a blood similar solution. Mathematically, this design is the most efficient with respect to all the possible angles created by the myriad blood vessels and their courses through the body. More blood vessels and nerves will cross the BIOflex pattern in the proper orientation than with any other conventional magnetic design. Therefore, the first advantage BIOflex has over other magnetic patterns is its ability to affect more blood vessels and nerves within a unit area than any other magnetic design. The second advantage BIOflex represents is its ability to "reach" into the tissues of the body at a greater depth than other magnetic designs. The feature of alternating poles of variable width ensures that the magnetic field will "reach" further away from the surface of the magnet than will the magnetic field of a magnet whose poles are closer together. In the case of the other magnetic patterns, the poles are immediately adjacent to one another with no gap between them. Even though the surface measurement of the magnetic flux density is greater on the other magnet, even a small distance away from the magnet will cause a sudden and dramatic decrease in this measurement. Q. Do any other magnet companies manufacture magnets with the Concentric Circle Desig A. By law, no other companies can manufacture or sell magnets with concentric circle design. BIOflex is the registered trademark of the magnetic device that is so unique it has been protected by international patents. Three of the strongest patents, European, U.S. and Japanese, have been granted to protect this design. Q. Have there been any studies done on BIOflex Magnets and their effectiveness and safety? A. There have been several studies done using BIOflex magnets, the most recent being at Baylor College of Medicine. The results of this study were extraordinary and the study was published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in November. Q. What is Gauss?
A. The "power" of a magnet is usually represented by the term Gauss, which is the measure of the level of induction of a magnet. Ten thousand Gauss is equal to one Tesla, a newer term for the same thing. Q. Why are BIOflex Magnets lower in Gauss than some magnetic products on th market today? A. BIOflex magnets have the ability to "reach" into the tissues of the body at a greater depth than other magnetic designs. The feature of alternating poles of variable width ensures that the magnetic field will "reach" further away from the surface of the magnet than will the magnetic field of a magnet whose poles are closer together. BIOflex magnets are designed to provide the proper gauss deep within the tissues. Q. What do the terms UNIPOLAR and BIPOLAR mean? A. Unipolar is a misleading term when applied to magnets. By definition, every magnet must have two poles. Companies using this terminology are referring to a magnetic design more properly called axially magnetized. That is, one pole on one surface of the magnet with its opposite pole on the opposite surface. BIOflex magnets have repeating concentric circles of alternating north south polarity. Q. Can I use the magnets around my computer and other electronic equip? A. The magnets can be used around the computer and other electronic office equipment with care. Do not place magnets directly on computer. Do not let magnets come in contact with credit cards or other cards that utilize a magnetic strip for scanning, video tapes, or computer diskettes, etc. Q. Can I wear the magnets while I bathe and swim? A. Water will have no effect on the magnet, however, it is recommended that you remove the magnet prior to prolonged aquatic activity, to avoid losing it. Swimming or bathing while wearing a brace or support is not recommended. Q. What polarity are BIOflex Magnets? A. BIOflex Magnets feature a series of concentric circles of alternate magnetic poles that represent the most efficient pattern conceivable. This pattern ensures that every blood vessel, except for those perpendicular to the skin, will cross a series of North-South poles. Q. What are BIOflex Magnets made of? A. BIOflex magnets are made of the combination of ferrite powders mixed throughout a polyethylene matrix. Q. Do the magnets ever lose their strength? A. BIOflex magnets are designed for multiple applications and experience no loss of
magnetic power over time. Q. I have cancer. Will the magnets make my condition worse? A. A 1987 study commissioned by the World Health Organization confirmed that in over forty years of research, the magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets have never been implicated in any mutagenic process. However, we do recommend that you consult your physician prior to using the magnets with this Q. I am pregnant. Will the magnets affect my baby? A. The induction of an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is usually about two to three Tesla, about twenty to thirty thousand Gauss. Use of MRI during pregnancy is considered safe for the developing fetus. This demonstrates the level of confidence with which one can use BIOflex products which range from 300 to 800 Gauss. However, we do advise against using the magnets during the first trimester of pregnancy. Q. I have a pacemaker. Can I use the magnets? A. Since the magnetic fields can interfere with the switching mechanism in a pacemaker, use of any magnetic products near this device is not recommended. Q. My husband/wife/partner has a pacemaker. If I use the magnets, will it affect him/her? A. As long as the magnets do not come in direct contact with the area that the pacemaker is in, it is safe to use the magnets with caution. However, use of mattress overlays and/or car seats is not recommended. Q. I use a nicotine/estrogen patch. Can I use the magnets? A. Since the use of magnetic products will increase the flow of blood in the area that they are placed, it is not recommended that you place the magnet on or near a transdermal drug delivery device (patch). However, magnets can be worn as long as they are not located near the patch. Q. I have a metal implant from surgery. Can I use the magnets? A. Although it is safe to use the magnets with this condition, magnets will react differently with different alloys. If you experience any discomfort from using the magnets, it is recommended that you discontinue use. Q. Are magnets safe for children? A. Permanent magnets are safe according to all respected scientific standards. The World Health Organization and the FDA consider them non-hazardous risks and they are generally recognized as safe. Q. Should I wear the magnets while I'm playing sports? A. As long as you are comfortable, it is perfectly safe to wear your magnets while playing your favorite sport.
Q. Is it safe to travel with magnets? A. It is safe to travel with a reasonable quantity of magnets. Magnets will not set off alarms or detectors, or interfere with on-board navigation systems. Q. How do I use the individual magnets? A. The individual magnets (Maxi, Mini, Card and Flex Pad) Pad) can be used in a wide variety of ways on different parts of the body. Q. How do I apply the individual magnets to my body? A. The Maxi, Mini and Card can be applied to the body using any adhesive tape found at your local pharmacy. Alternately, a small "dot" of male Velcro can be affixed to the gold side of the magnet and the magnet placed in an elastic bandage or other wrap and wrapped around the area. We also sell specially made, hypoallergenic, double-faced adhesives made specifically for the Maxi, the Mini and the card. To use the specially made adhesives, follow these simple instructions: 1. Peel the paper backing from one side of the adhesive. Since it is scored, the paper backing will come off in sections. 2. >Once the paper backing is removed from the adhesive, apply the sticky side of the adhesive to the underside (black) of the magnet. 3. Before removing remaining paper backing, bend, flex or mold the pad to fit the shape of the body where it will be applied. 4. Once you have decided where on your body you would like to place the magnet, peel the remaining paper backing from the adhesive, which is now affixed to the magnet. 5. Try to avoid touching the adhesive with your fingers, as the oils from your skin will affect the adhesive's ability to stick. 6. Firmly place the magnet on the affected area. The adhesives will allow the magnet to stay firmly in place for many hours, even days. For hygiene purposes, it is recommended that you change the adhesives periodically. Once the magnet is removed from your body, and the adhesive has made contact with oils from the skin, the magnet will not stay firmly in place again. In this case, we recommend that you apply a fresh adhesive to avoid losing your magnet. Q. How long should I wear the magnets? A. We recommend that you wear the magnets as long or as little as you like, according to the level of your discomfort. Q. How long before I should expect fesults from my magnets? A. Everyone is different. And their levels of discomfort are different too. If you are experiencing discomfort in a small, more localized area, and you apply a Mini, the discomfort might diminish in as little as 20 minutes. If you are using a Knee Support to treat an injury, you might not experience results for a day or so. If you do not experience any results by the third week, please contact us. We are here to help!
Q. What if the magnets don't work for me? A. Contact us and we can talk to you about how you are using the magnets and for what area of the body. We can help to recommend a product that may work better for your specific condition. If you are not satisfied after that, we stand behind our products with a 60-day, money-back guarantee on most of our products. Plus a 10% restocking fee. Q. How do I care for my magnets? A. Your individual magnets and insoles can be cleaned with a mild soap and water and placed out of direct sunlight to dry. Supports can also be cleaned by hand washing, using a mild detergent, then laying flat to dry. DO NOT MACHINE WASH OR MACHINE DRY! Although it is safe to hand wash the Mattress Overlay and Universal Therapy Pad with a mild detergent, these products are relatively large and thick and will take quite some time to dry completely. Therefore, it is recommended that you use a mild, foaming, furniture/upholstery cleaner that can be brushed off once it is dry. Care for the facemask using a mild soap and cold water. Dry off and store in the box it came to you in. Do not use rubbing or denatured alcohol to clean the Face Mask. Before using, be sure that your face is clean and free of any creams, oils, etc. Do not freeze or place in the microwave. Q. Will my insurance cover BIOflex Medical Magnets? A. Many do if ordered by a physician. Check with your own company for their policy. Many Worker's Compensation carriers cover Bioflex Medical Magnets when ordered by a physician. Q. The gold foil is coming off my individual magnet. Will it still be effective? A. The gold foil on your individual magnet is for decorative purposes only and has been reported by some to peel off after prolonged and intensive use. This will have no effect on your magnet. Q. How long has magnet therapy been around? A. Magnet Therapy has been around for hundreds of years. However, it has never been effective treatment because of the pattern traditional magnets utilize. Our patented concentric circle design finally allows a medical magnet to work as effective treatment. We have numerous medical studies posted on our website which substantiates the effectiveness of our patented magnets. Q. Why are BIOflex Magnets superior to other magnets? A. BIOflex magnets have a patented concentric circle design with alternate north and south poles. The blood flow crosses the concentric circle magnets at 90 degrees from all directions thus allowing the ions in the magnets to attract and repel the ions in the blood, dilating the blood vessels thus increasing the blood circulation. Q. How do I know which model is right for my condition? A. A good place to start is at our Point were it hurts page. If you still are not sure you should always check with your healthcare provider.
Q. Under what conditions should magnets NOT be used? A. pregnancy with metal implants such as a pacemaker insulin pumps open wounds drug patches with watches or credit cards Q. Is it true the higher the Gauss rating the more effective the magnet? A. Absolutely NOT. Because of BIOflex 's concentric circle pattern, Gauss rating is not of importance. Q. How long do I wear the magnet? A. You wear a BIOflex concentric circle magnet for one week after the pain has disappeared. Q. How soon will I feel the pain relief? A. That depends on the medical problem you have, how long you have had it and how intense the pain is. Some people feel immediate pain relief, some people within a few days and for some it takes several weeks. Q. How do I wash my magnets and supports? A. Always wash them in warm water using mild soap and then rinse thoroughly. Air dry at room temperature, do not tumble dry. Washing frequently removes body salts and minerals that might cause irritation. Q. Are BIOflex Magnets bionorth pole or biosouth pole? A. Bioflex Concentric Circle medical magnets have alternating north/south poles. This unique patented design has been scientifically test-proven to be the most effective design for pain relief. Because blood flows in many different directions, it will always cross the alternating north/south poles of the concentric circle design. Thus, the blood vessels dilate increasing circulation. Pain and swelling are reduced. Q. Do any other magnet companies manufacture magnets with the concentric circle design? A. By law, no other companies can manufacture or sell magnets with concentric circle design. BIOflex is the registered trademark of the magnetic device that is so unique it has been protected by international patents. Three of the strongest patents, European, U.S. and Japanese, have been granted to protect this design.
Q. If I cut my magnet in half, will it still be effective? A. If you tape the two halves together the magnet will be fine, but we do not recommend cutting the magnets in half. Q. Are magnets safe for animals? A. Yes. Many people use magnets in treating certain conditions in their domestic pets. BIOflex has developed a pet pad.