It seems copper and magnetic bracelets are just another fad

Scientists have been studying whether or not copper and magnetic bracelets, widely worn by those who swear by them as a cure for arthritis pain and such ills, actually do anything to help. Their findings, sadly, aren't very encouraging for 'true believers'.

Copper and magnetic bracelets worn by thousands to alleviate arthritis are useless, researchers claim.

. . .

Manufacturers suggest the condition can be alleviated by re-balancing the body's magnetic field or topping up depleted copper levels though the skin.

Many prefer to use the bracelets rather than drugs because there are no side effects.

But researchers from the universities of York, Hull, Durham, along with the NHS, found there was no difference in symptoms whether patients wore magnetic straps or de-magnetised ones.

They asked 45 arthritis sufferers aged 50 and over to wear four wrist straps in turn over a 16-week period.

They tested out a commercially available magnetic wrist strap, a weak magnetic wrist strap, a de-magnetised wrist strap and a copper bracelet.

Their pain levels were rated on an internationally recognised score index and their use of medication noted, says a report published in the latest issue of the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine.

No difference was found in terms of their effect on pain between the four devices, with similar results found for joint stiffness and need for medication.

Stewart Richmond, of York University, who led the trial, said: 'It appears that any perceived benefit obtained from wearing a magnetic or copper bracelet can be attributed to psychological placebo effects.

'People tend to buy them when they are in a lot of pain, then when the pain eases off over time they attribute this to the device. However, our findings suggest that such devices have no real advantage over placebo wrist straps that are not magnetic and do not contain copper.'

There's more at the link.

Makes sense to me, and the research seems scientifically sound and convincing: but the article points out that the 'medical bracelet industry' worldwide is worth about four billion US dollars every year. With that much money at stake, stand by for a barrage of advertising from the manufacturers, aimed at discrediting this study. Who cares whether the bracelets work or not, if only they can go on making that sort of money off them?

Peter