ABSTRACT
Strong, static magnetic fields have the ability to force into alignment, to a degree, precessing hydrogen protons (which are spinning like tops) in the water molecules within our body. By briefly adding an alternating frequency (AC) magnetic field at a frequency that matches the natural precession frequency of these protons in the body’s water molecules (the Larmor precession frequency)—and by orienting that AC field perpendicular to the static field—it is possible to couple the AC field to these precessing protons and knock them out of alignment with the static field and into the plane of the AC field. This is akin to pushing a child on a swing. If you stand back and push the child when she is at the apex of her arc, it is easy to transfer energy to her and keep her swinging. However, if you stand directly below the crossbar to which the swing is attached and try to stop the rearward motion and reverse the child’s direction, much more energy is required—in fact, she may knock you over. This basically describes the principle of “resonance”—a natural frequency at which something vibrates or oscillates.
