History of Biomagnetism

Ancient Roots of Biomagnetism

Biomagnetism has roots that go back thousands of years. Ancient cultures—including the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, and Hindus—used natural magnetic stones, called lodestones, to support healing. These stones were placed on the body to ease discomfort, balance energy, and restore harmony.

Even then, people noticed that magnets helped the body feel more aligned and relaxed. Today’s biomagnetism builds on these ancient practices with a more modern, structured understanding of how magnetic fields can support wellness.

Albert Roy Davis & Walter C. Rawls: Pioneers of Single-Magnet Therapy in the 1970’s

In the 1970s, two American scientists—Albert Roy Davis and Walter C. Rawls, Jr.—became well known for their groundbreaking studies on how single magnetic poles affect living organisms. Their work is considered one of the earliest modern attempts to understand magnetism not just as a physical force, but as a biological influence.

Discovering That Magnetic Poles Have Different Effects

While most earlier researchers focused on magnets as a general force, Davis and Rawls were the first to insist that the north and south poles produce different biological responses producing a distinct energetic effect.

According to their experiments:

• The North pole (negative polarity) seemed to have a calming, healing and restorative effect on tissues, reducing inflammation and supporting cellular repair.

• The South pole (positive polarity) appeared to be more stimulating, increasing circulation and activity in the area.

The Discovery of Biomagnetism

When American astronauts began returning from early space missions, doctors noticed something unusual. Without the Earth’s magnetic field the astronauts came back with a variety of imbalances & their immune systems were lowered.
One of the most noticeable changes was a slight leg-length discrepancy, meaning one leg tested 1-2cm shorter than the other when their bodies were evaluated on Earth.

Their nervous system and muscular alignment had shifted from being outside the planet’s magnetic environment. The body had subtly “unbalanced” itself.

Dr. Richard Broeringmeyer’s Insight

Dr. Richard Broeringmeyer, a NASA physician and researcher, studied these changes closely. Through his observations, he realized that the human body responds directly to magnetic fields, and that imbalances in those fields could be detected through physical signs—like the shortening of a leg during muscle testing.

He began experimenting with placing an electromagnetic device on the sternum of the astronauts, and noticed that the leg-length discrepancy would often correct itself immediately, the leg length evened out and in a short period of time the astronauts immunity increased quickly. This meant the body was responding to magnetic input.

Dr. Broeringmeyer observed that the magnet’s north pole tended to attract H⁺ ions (acidic), while the south pole attracted OH⁻ negative charges. From that, he determined that applying magnets could potentially correct pH imbalances and thereby influence health.

Dr. Broeringmeyer developed one of the earliest structured methods of magnetic testing, showing that magnets could influence the body’s energetic and muscular systems. His work laid the early foundation for what would later become biomagnetic therapy.

Dr. Isaac Goiz Durán and the Birth of Biomagnetic Pair Therapy

In 1988, Mexican physician Dr. Isaac Goiz Durán took this research even further. Building on Broeringmeyer’s early observations, he discovered that placing pairs of magnets on specific points of the body helped neutralize unhealthy pH imbalances—conditions that he believed allowed pathogens and dysfunction to thrive. Bacteria and parasites survive in an alkaline environment while viruses and fungal infections survive in an acidic environment.

He mapped out what he called Biomagnetic Pairs, two points in the body that connect energetically. When a pair is identified and balanced with magnets, it supports the body’s natural ability to return to harmony/homeostasis.

Goiz took these basic ideas and refined them into the biomagnetic pair model: he identified specific anatomical “pairs” that resonate (i.e., two points in the body that are energetically or pathogenically connected), thereby systematically mapping these “biomagnetic pairs” for therapy.

Once a pair is identified, there is a therapeutic action. The magnets of opposite polarity are placed simultaneously on the two anatomical points of the biomagnetic pair. The goal is to neutralize the excess charges (H⁺ or OH⁻), thereby restoring a more balanced ionic pH state, which is thought to make the environment less favorable for pathogens.

This method, which we now simply call Biomagnetism, spread across the world as a gentle, non-invasive therapy focused on restoring balance and supporting wellness by neutralizing the body’s pH which allows the body to heal on a cellular level.