Abstract: A device and a method for suppressing nerve cell action potentials is provided. An octapolar magnetic device is disposed near a mammalian sensory neuron so that the magnetic field generated by one quadrapolar face of the device is symmetrically disposed about the neuron. The magnetic device is comprised of four magnetic bodies, each having two opposite magnetic poles. Two positive and two negative magnetic poles are disposed substantially in a single plane and to define the four vertices of a quadrilateral shape, the two positive poles defining two diagonal vertices, and the two negative poles defining the opposite two diagonal vertices of the quadrilateral shape. A housing is provided to hold the magnetic bodies in a fixed relative position and thus maintain the quadrilateral orientation of the poles.