Copper Bracelet for RA

It's one of those things you find when you're cleaning out a drawer – a magnetized bracelet or a copper one. Maybe it was a gift or you bought it off a late night TV commercial. Millions have believed in the healing powers of copper and magnets - from ancient civilizations such as the Sumerians and Egyptians to legitimate modern uses such as copper IUDs for birth control.

But many of the claims for their healing are not confirmed and a recent study found no evidence that copper or magnets help rheumatoid arthritis patients. Seventy patients aged thirty-three to seventy-nine were randomly divided into four groups. Each received either a standard magnetic wrist strap, a weak magnetic wrist strap, a demagnetized one or a copper bracelet. No one knew what bracelet they had on.

All the straps were worn for five weeks then the scientists measured the extent of joint pain and swelling, inflammation, physical function and the medications each patient took. They found no statistically significant differences between the four devices in any of the measures. An earlier study had the same finding.

When they placed strong magnets on the knees of sixty-four people with knee pain for a week, there was no effect on inflammation, pain, or functioning. Even though these products have no measurable benefit, the studies also don't show that they're harmful. So, if you think the copper bracelet your mom gave you soothes your wrist, go for it. But if you were about to buy one, we'd say save your money.