Volume 21, Number 6, 2001 295

H.F. Hintz, PhDMy interest in copper bracelets was recently stimulated by a

radio news report that a zoo keeper put a copper chain on a rhino to help with a lameness problem. He tried the chain because he had heard about horsemen who claimed to effectively treat lameness in horses with copper chains. Another stimulus was a newspaper report1 that many golfers “are finding the beneficial properties in copper help the aches and pains that often accompany the sport.” It was also reported “golf shops across the country report that athletes’ interest in copper jewelry has increased dramatically in the past few years.” Howard2 reported that some golfers wear copper discs under a wristwatch or inside a golfing glove. Rodeo cowboys were also said to be fans of copper bracelets.

I found many internet sites selling copper bracelets for humans, but I did not find any selling copper chains for horses. The healing powers of copper bracelets for relieving aches and pains from arthritis is heavily promoted. For example, one advertisement stated “For hundreds of years, people have worn copper bracelets and other copper jewelry, such as copper anklets, copper rings and other copper items to help relieve joint pain caused from tendonitis and arthritis. This wives’ tale has persisted throughout the centuries. Copper works for me, and thousands of people who wear copper bracelets today. Try it for yourself and experience the healing power of copper.” The Concise Oxford Dictionary3 defines old wives’ tale as a “foolish or unscientific tradition or belief.”

Advertisements may include a disclaimer “the statements and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease but rather are dietary supplements intended solely for nutritional support. Individual results may vary.” But they also include statements as to the health benefits of bracelets. One advertisement stated that the bracelets “believed to help rheumatoid arthritis and other joint and muscle inflammation. Lifetime guarantee.” I am not certain what was guaranteed.

There is no doubt that copper bracelets are widely used. Camara and Danao-Camara 4 reported that the wearing of copper bracelets was one of the most popular alternative therapies used by patients suffering inflammatory arthropathies. Southwood et al.5 reported that copper bracelets were the most commonly used unconventional remedy for patients with juvenile arthritis. Kestin et al. 6 reported that the most common unproven remedy used by patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Australia was the use of a copper bracelet.

Price et al. 7 conducted a telephone survey of 300 randomly selected people. They reported that 64% of the male respondents and 79% of the female respondents believed in the “myth of copper bracelets.” But users may express doubt. In a study of 134 patients diagnosed with arthritis only 13% used copper bracelets.7

It has been proposed that the bracelets are beneficial because copper is released from the bracelets and absorbed. Copper release has been demonstrated in several studies. Walker and Keats8 weighed 77 copper bracelets before and after use by subjects. The

average weight loss of bracelets weighing 14 g after two months was 13 mg/month. Two subjects wore bracelets weighing 34 g and the bracelets lost 80 to 90 mg in 50 days.

How much of the released copper is absorbed and, if so, is it effective? Walker and colleagues9 demonstrated that there could be transdermal absorption of copper from a copper salicylate preparation. Panush10 wrote that “copper in bracelets is absorbed through the dermis, and patients with arthritis who wore copper bracelets experienced more subjective improvement than wearers of look-alike placebo aluminum bracelets.” He concluded that “although these observations are of interest, copper salts have not achieved a role in rheumatic disease therapy.” Howard2 concluded, “No one has ever proved that copper bracelets — worn by countless generations around the world — actually work. Or, if they do, how and why they can help beat disease” and furthermore “medical experts are still not urging their patients to start wearing bracelets or even take supplementary copper doses to boost an average intake which is below the recommended rate.” The Arthritis Foundation considers the use of copper bracelets to be an unproven therapy and that there is not enough evidence to support using supplements or bracelets to relieve symptoms of arthritis.

There has also been a suggestion that under some conditions bracelets can be harmful. Downey11 reported that several patients with different fatiguing diseases had deficient enzyme activity in the hemo pathway. He stated that the initial common link was an abnormal response to a copper necklace or bracelet and “further investigation was warranted.”

I found no information in reference to the effect of copper chains on lameness in horses. But if a beneficial effect is related to absorbed copper, I doubt that the chains would be effective. Copper is commonly added to commercial horse feeds at a significant concentration.

REFERENCES

1. Anonymous: Copper helps keep athletes on right track - Forsyth County News p.7C, May 18, 2001.

2. Howard Z: Are copper bangles good for you? Just eat better. The New York Times. Http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010619/sc/minerals_medicine_copper_dc_1.html. June 19, 2001.

3. Concise Oxford Dictionary 9th. D. Thompson editor. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

4. Camara K, Danao-Camara T. Awareness of use and perception of efficacy of alternative therapies by patients with inflammatory arthropathies. Hawaii Med J. 1999; Dec:58(12):329-332.

5. Southwood TR, Malleson PN, Roberts-Thomson PJ, et al: Unconventional remedies used for patients with juvenile arthritis. Pediatrics 1990; 85(2):150-154.

6. Kestin M, Miller L, Littlejohn G, et al: The use of unproven remedies for rheumatoid arthritis in Australia. Aust Med J 1985; 143:516-518.

7. Price JH, Hillman KS, Toral ME, et al: The public’s perceptions and misperceptions of arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1983; 26:1023-1028.

8. Walker WR, Keats DM: An investigation of the therapeutic value of the ‘copper bracelet’-dermal assimilation of copper in arthritic/rheumatoid conditions. Agents Action 1976; 6:454-459.

9. Walker WR, Beveridge SJ, Whitehouse MW: Anti-inflammatory activity of a dermally applied copper salicylate preparation (Alcusal®). Agents Actions 1980; 10:38-46.

10. Panush RS: Diets, other complementary and alternative therapies, and the rheumatic diseases. In: Arthritis and allied conditions Vol I. W.J. Koopman ed. 2001; Lippincott, Williams and Wilkens, Philadelphia.

11. Downey DC: Fatigue syndromes: new thoughts and reinterpretation of previous data. Med Hypotheses 1992; 39:185-190.

COPPER BRACELETS