Dr. Zimmerman reports that the curing potential of magnets is possible because the body's nervous system is governed, in part, by varying patterns of ionic currents and electromagnetic fields. There are numerous forms of magnetic field therapy, including static magnetic fields produced by natural or artificial magnets, and pulsating magnetic fields generated by electrical devices. The magnetic fields produced by magnets or electromagnetic generating devices are able to penetrate the human body and can affect the functioning of the nervous system, organs, and cells. According to William H. Philpott, M.D., of Choctaw, Oklahoma, an author and biomagnetic researcher, magnetic fields can stimulate metabolism and increase the amount of oxygen available to cells. When used properly magnetic field therapy has no known harmful side effects.

  All magnets have two poles: positive and negative. However, as there are conflicting methods of naming the poles of a magnet, a magnetometer should be used as a standard method of determination (if one is using a compass to locate the poles, the arrowhead of the needle marked "N" or "North" will point to the magnet's negative pole). Dr. Philpott and other researchers state that the negative pole generally has a calming effect and helps to normalize metabolic functioning. In contrast, the positive pole has a stress effect, and with prolonged exposure interferes with metabolic functioning, produces acidity, reduces cellular oxygen supply, and encourages the replication of latent microorganisms.

  The strength of a magnet is measured in units of gauss (a unit of measuring the intensity of magnetic flux), or Tesla (1 tesla=10,000 gauss), and every magnetic device has a manufacturer's gauss rating. However, the actual strength of the magnet at the skin surface is often much less than this number. For example, a 4,000 gauss magnet transmits about 1,200 gauss to the patient. Magnets placed in pillows or bed pads will render even lower amounts of field strength at the skin surface, because a magnet's strength quickly decreases with the distance from the subject.

  Magnetic therapy can be applied in many ways, and devices range from small, simple magnets to large machines capable of generating high magnitudes of field strength (used for treating fractures and pseudoarthrosis, a joint affliction caused by nerve breakdown). Magnetic blankets and beds have also been manufactured for the purposes of promoting sleep and reducing stress. Specially designed ceramic, plastiform, and neodymium (a rare earth chemical element) magnets can be placed either individually or in clusters above the various organs of the body, on lymph nodes, or on various points of the head. In Japan, small tai-ki magnets have been designed to stimulate acupuncture points, but no clinical studies have yet explored this procedure.