What is an ion bracelet?

            The ion bracelet is a balance bracelet that contains mineral ionizers. The Tourmaline Bracelet, for example, is a processed combination of silicone rubber, titanium, tourmaline (a silicate mineral http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourmaline), and ceramic. (http://www.intheholegolf.com/page/ITHG/PROD/TWB/TNL)  The Tourmaline Bracelet closely resembles the Rayma bracelet. The only difference between the two is that the Rayma bracelet simply contains “special metals” which contain alternate types of mineral alloys (http://www.rnsupply.com/BalanceBracelet.html). However, despite their differences in composition, these bracelets, along with almost all other ion bracelets, work on the exact same principles. These bracelets (along with necklaces, rice cookers, washing machines…) are primarily a product of Japan and are one of the numerous products associated with using “minus-ions.” (http://www.japaninc.net/article.php?articleID=961)

What does an ion bracelet do?

The purpose of the ion bracelet is to reduce pain and restore bodily energy. Golfers, for example, may use a bracelet to help relieve stresses in their wrists, which enables improvement of their golf swing. (http://www.sims-sport.co.uk/raymaconcept.html) Other specific effects the bracelet is said to have include: restoration of important balance of ions, warming of feet and hands, greater focus and concentration, and improved recovery of athletic fatigue. (http://www.titanrules.com/pages/2/index.htm)

How is the ion bracelet supposed to work?

            The bracelet uses yin-yang therapy and what is known as the “autoinduction principle.” According to bracelet advertisers, the yin-yang ideal works by giving off specific alternating electrical currents (like your wrist). The currents are composed through different interactions between positive and negative ions. (http://www.opamerica.com/product_info.php/products_id/803)

            Positive and negative ions are found everywhere—from the air, to the ground, and in our bodies. In salts, such as common table salt, sodium chloride (NaCl), the molecules are connected with ionic bonds. Once the bond is broken, (may it be through water, wind, or some other outside force) the salt forms a cation and anion. Cations are positively charged and anions are negatively charged ions. These different types of ions circulate all throughout our bodies and serve as everything from the constituents of our pH level, to chemical signals for proteins. (Tocci & Viehland, 1996)

            According to advertisers, through the autoinduction principle, the bracelet absorbs the static electricity given off by the body in order to seek balance between these ions. Pain is caused by an imbalance when organs or tissues lose some of their energy. As energy is given off, it may fall within the bracelet’s range of frequency; then bracelet will give off an opposite form of energy. This process returns the organ’s or tissue’s energy to its original state, thus negating the pain. (http://www.opamerica.com/product_info.php/products_id/803)

            Unfortunately, the only research on the “autoinduction principle” was based on a principle published in 1965 by Marshall Urist a UCLA orthopedic surgeon. His principle revolved around morphogenetic proteins involved in bone-grafting, not mineral anion therapy. This information was found at http://cms.nursingcenter.com/dev/prodev/ce_article.asp?tid=543563#45, a well documented site but purely related to orthopedic surgery. In researching various other medical, biology, and chemistry journals, there no existence of the “autoinduction principle” could be found. Therefore if the “autoinduction principle” concerning ion bracelets truly exists, it is apparently not at all acknowledged in the scientific community.

            As for evidence behind the specific mechanics on minus-ion therapy: there is none. None of the bracelets are FDA approved, and many of the sites with disclaimers explicitly state that the bracelets have no medical claim. The most similar reported studies examined negative ion particles in air, but even those studies have no substantial claim. In order to gain FDA approval, the product must be clinically tested and proven effective. (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/21cfrv1_04.html).  Most of the minus-ion technology that has been created is based in Japan, and is usually grouped with holistic remedies. The primary reason the product sells so effectively is the mass media craze concerning their apparent “health benefits.” Once the word “minus-ion” has been stamped onto a product, it sells extremely well and thus marketers exploit this label. Thus the products are continuously sold and bought with no backing of evidence or scholarly approval. (http://www.japaninc.net/article.php?articleID=961)

How do I know if it’s really supposed to work?

          Advertisers claim the bracelet can be worn 24 hours a day, but that it will only retain its bioelectric charge for 18-36 months depending on one’s “pH balance”. Unfortunately, however, because everyone’s exact pH balance is not uniform; the effects are unique to the user. (http://www.opamerica.com/product_info.php/products_id/803) Therefore, theoretically, this gives the marketers a scapegoat explanation if someone realizes that the bracelet may have no effect on them at all: It is not the bracelet’s fault. Your pH balance is just off.

            Customers are also informed that for most people, there may be no noticeable effects for more than 4 weeks. (http://www.balancebracelet.com/usageguide.html) Unfortunately, most of the online return policies expire long before that time. (http://www.opamerica.com/returns.php, http://www.healthbracelets.net/returns.htm, http://www.rnsupply.com/ReturnPolicy.html) Therefore, in order to test for a bracelet’s “true effect” the customer must be wary that they may be stuck with a non-working bracelet if they want to wait the full recommended 4 weeks. And by the time 4 weeks pass, if the pain is only minor there is the possible explanation that the body recovered itself due to its own natural immune system, and not the bracelet.

            Additionally, the bracelet should not be worn with any other metallic jewelry or items, or else the bracelet may lose its effect. (http://www.balancebracelet.com/usageguide.html) Unfortunately, none of these restrictions or loss of effects are given explanation for their reasoning. The short answers given are that they simply are not good. And as seen in the examples above, the usual case is the person’s fault, not the bracelets. Characteristics of the user’s bodily chemistry or pain frequencies hinder the bracelets’ effectiveness.

When it comes to breaking up, hindsight is 20/20. But wouldn't it be nice if you could tell that you and your partner were headed for a falling out before it happened?

Fortunately, you can predict a break up. And with just a little bit of tweaking, you can get back on track and rescue your relationship before it hits the rocks.

Red Flag #1: Tuning Out
One of the most common reasons relationships fail is because one or both partners is tuning out. It might sound minor, but in actuality, few things are more hurtful than being ignored by your loved one, whether that is accompanied by emotional neglect or physical distance.

The Cure: Take Down the Wall
Tuning back in is easy. All you have to do is agree to listen to your partner's feedback and dedicate time and emotion to the relationship again. Start taking down the emotional wall, brick by brick. Look at your partner in the eye when he or she speaks (even if it is not what you want to hear), make physical contact daily (even if it is just holding hands), and re-commit to the relationship.

Red Flag #2: Fighting Fire with Fire
Couples who fight fire with fire can expect a relationship that is constantly up in flames. Name-calling, sarcasm, criticism, and violence (from throwing things, slamming doors, to actual physical abuse) result in emotional wounds that are hard to heal and relationships that are hard to rescue.

The Cure: Pour Water on the Flames
The next time you feel anger guiding you to say, or do, things you might regret, take time to cool off. If that's not possible, try framing your complaints as requests. For instance instead of, "Why did you forget our date?," you could say, "I feel sad that you forgot our date. How can we make sure this doesn't happen again?" If your partner is the one who is fanning the flames, don't engage in the vicious cycle of insults and tantrums. You can't fight fire with fire if the other person won't engage in the flame-throwing.

Red Flag #3: Refusing to Own Up
No one is perfect, so why is it that some of us refuse to take responsibility in our most important relationships? Passing the buck and playing the victim are surefire ways to put a relationship in jeopardy.

The Cure: Take Responsibility for Your Actions
The next time you forget an anniversary, or say something hurtful to your spouse, don't try to pass the buck and refuse to take responsibility. Instead, admit where you went wrong and try harder next time. Sounds simple... but it can save your relationship.

By making simple changes to the way you and your partner communicate, you can keep your relationship intact. All couples fight and argue, but it is how you fight and argue that determines whether your love can weather the storm.

A: Studies show that people who sleep between 6.5 hours and 7.5 hours a night, as they report, live the longest. And people who sleep 8 hours or more, or less than 6.5 hours, they don't live quite as long. There is just as much risk associated with sleeping too long as with sleeping too short. The big surprise is that long sleep seems to start at 8 hours. Sleeping 8.5 hours might really be a little worse than sleeping five.

Morbidity, [or sickness,] is also "U-shaped," in the sense that both very short sleep and very long sleep are associated with many illnesses - with depression, with obesity, and therefore with heart disease and so forth. But the [ideal amount of sleep] for different health measures isn't all in the same place. Most of the "low points" are at seven or eight hours, but there are some at six and some even at nine. I think diabetes is lowest in seven-hour sleepers, [for example]. But these measures aren't as clear as the mortality data.

I think we can speculate [about why people who sleep 6.5 to 7.5 hours live longer], but we have to admit that we don't really understand the reasons. We don't really know yet what is cause and what is effect. So we don't know if a short sleeper can live longer by extending their sleep, and we don't know if a long sleeper can live longer by setting the alarm clock a bit earlier. We're hoping to organize tests of those questions.