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Recall:

•  Mainstream medicine declares a treatment to be effective only after rigorous studies with statistical analysis of results have been performed. 

•  If the study and analysis supports the hypothesis that copper bracelets are effective, the medical community would adopt the treatment into their discipline. 

  • Numerous studies were attempted by various physicians, chemists and scientists from around the world in the mid-1970's to examine the use of copper bracelets for the relief of inflammatory conditions (arthritis, tennis elbow, shoulder pain from golf).  

  • In order for the medical community to accept that copper bracelets provide some benefit, the studies had to show 4 things: 

1. The subjective therapeutic response (i.e.: did it work) of the people in the study to the copper bracelet had to be greater than the placebo effect (statistics) .

2. The weight of the bracelet had to decrease while it was worn (ie: copper was dissolving from the bracelet).

3. Copper is able to be absorbed through the skin.

4. Each copper bracelet used in the study had to be of the same metallic composition or make-up.
    

• The 1976 Australian study,  An Investigation of the Therapeutic Value of the "Copper Bracelet"- Dermal Assimilation of Copper in Arthritic/Rheumatoid Conditions  (W.R. Walker and Daphne M. Keats, Agents and Actions, vol. 6/4 (1976), studied exactly this this.   What did they find?  

• After the data were analyzed, the researchers concluded:

  • Copper in the bracelets did dissolve, (i.e.: some copper weight was lost via dissolved by water, sweat etc), 

  • The bracelets did have the same amount of copper.    

  • Copper dissolved from the bracelet can penetrate and be absorbed by the skin. 

  • They were unable to statistically show the subjective results to be significant (how the people studied wearing the bracelets felt) therefore can not conclude that the copper bracelet "works".

    • Some people felt worse when wearing the copper bracelet.

    • Others felt no different when wearing the bracelet.

    • A few felt better after wearing the bracelet.  

So what does this mean to your Doctor?

• Since there has been no study to prove that the copper absorbed from the copper bracelet is beneficial, they will not suggest it as a primary form of treatment.  

• Doctors may also feel that it could could not hurt for some to use, but again, there is no medical proof that it does no harm either.  

• Although a doctor may not suggest the use of the bracelet, they are usually open to the idea of the patient trying it.

•  Instead of a copper bracelet, your doctor may suggest that you adjust your dietary intake of copper by:

  •  Increasing the amount of liver, shellfish, mushrooms and nuts (all are high in copper),

  •  Taking a supplemental vitamin. 

    • From the biochemistry page recall that the two main sites of copper absorption, scientifically proven, is the stomach and the intestine.

Those companies that manufacture copper bracelets and sell them at a significant profit may continue to claim that their products may help golf swings, arthritis and general well-being, but the scientific proof required by the medical community to support  such claims simply does not yet exist.