My mom, who is a very
together, 83 year old.
She has had arthritic pain in her legs--tried many meds but to no avail. Then one of her friends told her of this bracelet which she purchased off of tv for over $100. She's worn it now for a couple of weeks and claims that she can now sleep and take her walks without pain.
Question--is there really
anything to these things
or is it psychosomatic
thats why she feels better? I've read a little about it--how there is an exchange of positive and negative ions going on---
but I got to tell you that the whole thing sounds like a sham to me.
I know---be glad that your mom is out of pain--
but will it last? Is she just in denial cuz of the money that she spent on it---she's quite thrifty,
Anyone know anything about these things?

I've been wearing a magnetic bracelet for two and a half years now. I tried it because I had a pain in my right wrist that just wouldn't go away. I take Celebrex for a foot problem and it didn't do anything for the dull pain in my wrist. Within a couple weeks after wearing the magnetic bracelet the pain disappeared and has not returned. Mental or physical - I don't really care, the pain is gone. If you'll notice, a lot of pro golfers wear either a magnetic or copper bracelet and it isn't just a fashion statement. Then again, if your Mom thinks it works (and the $ is already spent) - great!

Kellygirl, I've heard of many people that have truely been helped with ionic bracelets. Trust what your Mom is telling you. It doesn't seem to work for everyone, but the ones that it does get great relief. I don't think this is a scam at all.

There is no scientific evidence that these things have any effect (other than lightening the wallet of the person with the ailment!)

Don’t ever discount the power of the Placebo Effect to ease such types of pain. Sugar pills are cheaper and they taste better!

Sandy, thanks for your
response. I really do believe my mom---that she's not having the pain that she previously
experienced---I just wanted to know if there
is any scientific or medical reason why it would give such great
relief other than what John suggests --- that it is a placebo.

John, you've made reference to magnetic
type bracelets---do you
feel that the ionic ones
fall into the same catagory? Can anyone explain how these things work if in fact they do work?

I don't know exaclty what an 'ionic' bracelet is. I'm a chemist, so i'm well aware of what an ion is, but what is an ionic bracelts supposed to do?

As far as magnetism, i don't know of any study showing that bracelet magnets help with healing, and i'm pretty confident that they don't do anything, but magnets can have a real effect on the body. studies (which i wish i had a reference for, but haven't been able to find) have shown that applying magnetic feilds in certain ways can influence signalling between nerves. This is essentially an electrical signal (excelpt that the charge carriers are ions instead of electrons), so it's not at all suprising that a magnet would effect it. (for those of you who don't know much about it, magnetism exerts a force on any moving charge, and electricity is just movement of charge)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by methos5000:
I don't know exaclty what an 'ionic' bracelet is. I'm a chemist, so i'm well aware of what an ion is, but what is an ionic bracelts supposed to do?

As far as magnetism, i don't know of any study showing that bracelet magnets help with healing, and i'm pretty confident that they don't do anything, but magnets can have a real effect on the body. studies (which i wish i had a reference for, but haven't been able to find) have shown that applying magnetic feilds in certain ways can influence signalling between nerves.
---------------------
Thanks for responding.
The ionic bracelet is
suppose to work---from
what I,a lay person, have read----with an exchange of positive and
negative ions between the gap in the bracelet and thus somehow put an ease to different types of body pain. I was hoping that a chemist, like yourself, could tell me if this sounds like hogwash or if it really has a snippet of truth to it or if it gives my mom relief because it's psychosomatic. Thanks.

well, to me it does sound like hogwash. that doesn't mean there's no chance it's true, of course, just that i think it's pretty far-fetched. however, if the placebo effect is working for her, and she has to pay less on medication, it may just be worth it.

I've tried the magnetic bracelet, and the copper bracelet also, for a painful arm and hand, but neither helped. Maybe my condition was too severe, because mine was later diagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. It's being advertised on tv, with a money-back guarantee, so I guess it does help some people. It's sure worth a try.