Placebo Effect? Arthritis Copper Bracelets

Continued From << Arthritis Copper Bracelets

The Problem with Absorption

Another problem with copper bracelets is that whatever amount of copper the skin absorbs through the wrist is nearly insignificant - too insignificant, in fact, to promote any healing or positive changes to the body.  Some rheumatology experts even say that what most people will get from copper bracelets is just a strange green patina around their wrists and nothing more.  Whatever benefit copper can give to the body is better absorbed when the nutrient is taken in pill form or as part of a sensible diet.

Facing the Placebo Effect

But what about the testimonials claiming positive effects copper bracelets have produced to alleviate symptoms of arthritis?  Some experts say it's probably due to the placebo effect that copper bracelets and other gadgets cause.  The placebo effect is a psychological phenomenon that happens when a patient experiences a sense of relief or benefit after knowing that treatment has been used. 

Sidebar: The next article is about choosing an arthritis bracelet.

This is what happens when a patient feels better after taking a pill to treat his headache when in fact the pill was actually just made of sugar, not pain-relieving substances.  Experts believe that whatever positive effects a copper bracelet has on an arthritis patient is mainly due to the patient's willingness to believe that relief has been produced, not on an actual healing or reduction in pain and inflammation.

The Bottomline

It is still difficult to say for certain whether or not copper bracelets can help treat arthritis.  The few studies that are available today offer conflicting conclusions and no clear evidence may be used as a basis for scientific proof.  If you decide to use arthritis copper bracelets, do so without false hopes or high expectations.  Except for the green tarnishing you will receive around your wrist, copper bracelets have not been known to produce any adverse effects.