Six things you should know about Power Balance/Pro Balance bracelets
Note this article was written for an online news site in South Africa (hence the South African references).
Many of your favourite sport heroes wear them. Some cost as much as $65/R500. They are sold in sport shops around the country and were found under many-a Christmas tree this December. They are made of quality silicon embedded with a hologram. The promises made by the products include the following:
“...optimizing the body’s natural energy flow...”
“...eliminate and nullify the effects of man made (sic) frequencies (60 cps) in the body...”
“...prevent disease...”
“...improve the immune function...”
“...balance out the two hemispheres of the brain, again as measured by EEG tests...”
Some products are claimed to contain negative ions (for the layman, this is simply atoms/molecules with more electrons than protons, that’s all) which they claim to miraculously improve the body’s health too (giving specifics like the unscientific “boosting the immune system”). This claim is not only misleading, but is a medical claim that in many countries would be illegal. The ASA in South Africa however excludes complementary medicine from their guidelines around the marketing of health products so it’s less likely that we’re going to see court action against these companies any time soon.
Anyway, here are some points to consider before buying one yourself. If you disagree or you feel that not enough details are given, then feel free to do some of your own research.
1. The balance/strength/flexibility tests are really old mind tricks that have been used to sell all sorts of snake-oil over the years (colour therapy, pyramid power, crystal power to name some). These are old applied kinesiology techniques which can fool both the customer and sometimes the salesperson too. Whereas it appears as though ones flexibility and balance is affected, when the tests are blinded (i.e. neither customer or salesman know whether the customer is holding a holographic bracelet) then the tests are no better than random. The reason for this is due to the ideomotor effect. See the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynbx5JfEwcA.
2. Bio-energy fields and Qi energy which are frequently referenced by these products have been searched for on multiple occasions and even with today’s high sophisticated equipment, such energy has never been detected. Yes, the body radiates energy, but this is over a wide range of frequencies (ever seen a thermal image of yourself?).
3. The “power” of holograms and Mylar technology is implausible scientifically. The “theory” that a resonating (temporal) frequency can be “stored” in a Mylar hologram is unfounded. For those familiar with holograms there are spatial frequency programmed in the hologram which controls the light and dark parts of the hologram and have nothing to with resonant frequencies. All they do is change the amplitude and phase of the wave (not the frequency). The Mylar itself simply strengthens the hologram.
4. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission have forced Power Balance to retract their unsubstantiated medical claims. The Commission found that the claims made by Power Balance did not follow actual scientific evidence. http://www.powerbalance.com/australia/CA?___SID=U .
5. The Power Balance chosen frequency is apparently 7.83Hz. Where did this come from? Apparently it’s one of the Schumann resonance frequencies that relates to the frequency of the Earth’s magnetic core. Even if humans have an “ideal frequency”, there is no extensive evidence to suggest that 7.83Hz is it.
6. Ionization jewellery has been marketed for a while. Scientifically it makes very little sense as the body has ions in solution throughout the body and there is no such thing as ionized solid objects. Not only that, but the Federal Trade Commission in the USA sued Q-Ray, a seller of ionized bracelet for fraudulent advertising and medical claims. Medical claims that are no more audacious than those made by holographic bracelets selling in this country. The FTC won and the judge labelled the claims of Q-Ray as fraudulent. When tested ionized jewellery performs no better than placebo.
Whether you choose to believe all this or not, is not important. What is important is that you are aware that there is significant objection to the efficacy of such accessories amongst the scientific community. Yes, science doesn’t have all the answers, but to retort and claim that a couple of slick marketers (who can take $2/R10 bracelets made in China and bump up the price to R500) know better, then shouldn’t you look a little more into this?
So if it’s a fashion accessory you’re looking for or a superstitious quirk you wish to indulge, perhaps these holographic ionized bracelets is for you. But at $65/R500 a pop, I reckon the only balance you’ll be adjusting significantly is your bank balance.
Resources (all websites):
Skeptologists Blog
Science Based Medicine
James Randi Educational Foundation
Skeptic's Dictionary
Power Balance website
4T Pro Balance website
29 comments:
Well said!
Thanks RobC
Credibility is everything and since I know you, I will go with your results. No need for me to research further.
Thanks Thabs.
Following on from my comment about marketing complimentary medicine in SA, I am told that Pro Balance's claims in South Africa have been complained about to the Advertising Standards Authority.
The article is great.
Powerbalance is a poor quality product BUT your need to be skeptical seems to be clouding any form of clear thinking.
My advice to you is to stop trying to disprove things which you clearly have no knowledge about.
I am an experienced hematologist and we can easily and clearly see the effect of negative ions and other external influences on blood cells, hydrogen molecules etc.
Thanks Anonymous.
If you read carefully, you'll notice that I don't "rubbish" the medical benefits or potential benefits or claimed benefits of ionization. I'm fully aware that much work is and has been done recently in this field. However, if you yourself read up on the claims of some of these companies which claim, e.g., "our product contains 1200 ions!" and that these ions will perpetually have a positive effect the body, even a basic grasp of high-school chemistry will realise that this is not possible.
The approach of being skeptical here, is to inform the credulous and naive out there who have paid as much as 30x the cost price for these rubber bracelets. It's a scam and the world needs to know about it.
My advice to you, Anonymous, is to investigate these scams a little more before flippantly criticizing my post.
Maydont - Sorry, but your grasp of high school science is not very good.
Negative ions always will have a constant positive effect on the human body. From whatever source they come.
I ask that you please consider things and scientific developments far more carefully before you comment or write articles that could mislead others who trust your judgement. It's not IONIZATION that we are discussing but rather the effect of negative ions on the human body.
Also Maydont - While I dont like powerbalance, I take far greater exception to the false and unscientific statements made in that idiotic piece of journalism that you either wrote or quoted. Bio- Energy fields are detected and used as a diagnostic tool by leading hospitals and universities including FDA employees. Get yourself up to date on medical technology.
Anonymous. Are you trolling? I'm not going to get into an ad-hominem slanging match. Do I really have to spell it out? Ionization is the process of separating molecules or atoms into charged particles (ions). The negative ion (anion) will have more electrons than protons.
It is claimed that these bracelets (not Power Balance, incidentally), are comprised of a powder that was somehow extracted from a liquid that had undergone ionization. They claim that this powder contains 1200 negative ions that perpetually interact with the human body in a "positive" way. Are you then claiming, Anonymous, that this claim is perfectly plausible? Incidentally, before anyone accuses me of the logical fallacy "argument from personal incredulity", let me just state that no substantial double blinded placebo controlled trial has been conducted to determine the efficacy of the benefits of these bracelets.
When you refer to bio-energy, let's be clear as there is ambiguity in the definition. Whereas biochemists will refer to e.g. electrical impulses in the body as bio-energy, the term is better known in terms of alternative medicine practiciouners referring to life-force, qi, vitalism etc. This is to what the sellers of the bands (they even refer to Eastern philosophy) refer and (it doesn't require that much imagination to realise that) this is to what I am referring too.
Maydont - You really are a complete Idiot. You have no understanding of science at all. Your arguments are appallingly stupid.
You're entitled to your opinion, Anonymous. But I'd reallly like this blog to be open to constructive discourse. I think it's digressed. In fact if your understanding of ion therapy or any other point/post on this blog might shed further light or even contradict what has been written, feel free to write a paragraph.
I'm quite open to constructive criticism, but unconstructive criticism, strawmen, ad-hominem attacks, poisoning the well really adds nothing to this topic.
Maydont - If you want to set yourself up as a scientific commentator and take it upon yourself to "Educate the Credulous and Naive" then you must publish your credentials - That is:
1)At which university and department are you Professor or Associate Professor?
2)Please refer us to your clinical studies,papers,results and reviews.
3)If none of the above - What qualifies you to extract information from scientific journals and publish your opinion of such?
An argument-from-authority is logically fallacious. You don't need to be a zoologist to identify an elephant.
You seem to have shot yourself in the foot dear Maydont - LOL
You seem to have shot yourself in the foot dear Maydont - LOL...
You two should really get a room! ;-) ... besides... I agree with Maydont - and annonymous ... if you fall for these ridiculous bracelets - you should not be allowed to comment .. let alone breed.
The only really stupid or ridiculous thing is to ridicule things of which you have absolutely no understanding.
That is the definition of a "Real Fool"..
The approach of being skeptical here, is to inform the credulous and naive out there who have paid as much as 30x the cost price for these rubber bracelets. It's a scam and the world needs to know about it.
They claim that this powder contains 1200 negative ions that perpetually interact with the human body in a "positive" way. Are you then claiming, Anonymous, that this claim is perfectly plausible? Incidentally, before anyone accuses me of the logical fallacy "argument from personal incredulity"
I'm fully aware that much work is and has been done recently in this field. However, if you yourself read up on the claims of some of these companies which claim, e.g., "our product contains 1200 ions!" and that these ions will perpetually have a positive effect the body, even a basic grasp of high-school chemistry.
Anonymous is just trolling.
. I'm fully aware that much work is and has been done recently in this field. However, if you yourself read up on the claims of some of these companies which claim, e.g., "our product contains 1200 ions!" and that these ions will perpetually have a positive effect the body, even a basic grasp of high-school chemistry will realise that this is not possible.
"In the land of the blind they would not believe that there was any such thing as sight"
Maydont you are an Idiot and you are trying to educate idiots.
You give credence and respect to anyone who claims authority - you poor fool..
P.S. Also you snoring, insurance, fraudulent stockbroking etc etc. domains are really crap.
Stop trying to "educate" others.
Educate yourself first then you can get a real job.
This claim is not only misleading, but is a medical claim that in many countries would be illegal. The ASA in South Africa however excludes complementary medicine from their guidelines around the marketing of health products so it’s less likely that we’re going to see court action against these companies any time soon.
I don't watch many movies, but I watch the good ones over and over and over. Just like books, if it is worth seeing/reading twice, it worth reviewing at least 10 times.
Dear Mr. Maydont,
To promote skepticism/critical thinking I wrote some questions for the Christian believer. Mefiante from South African Skeptics made a good translation. She is now working at the last part. The most sophisticated questions. Are you able to put the link to these questions at your blog.
Thank you very much,
Piet - Rotterdam - Netherlands.
The original questions
http://www.freethinker.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=8382
The translation
http://www.freethinker.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=10033
The first one who did this, was Jonathan. This is a good example.
http://www.limbicnutrition.com/blog/tough-questions-for-believers/
Ps. I found your adress at blogroll
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Susan
Hair Loss Cure
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