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Cooper and Arthritis Pain
Various forms of copper have been used for medicinal purposes
throughout the history of mankind. The ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Persian,
Hindu and Aztec writings record various consistent medicinal uses of copper. 1
Today, as more information becomes available, alternative health care and home
remedies are gaining popularity. Health publications include copper bracelets as
a home remedy to possibly ease the pain from arthritis in some people who seem
to get an insufficient amount of copper from their food.
Helmar Dollwet, Ph.D., of the University of Akron, has
studied this copper connection and thinks the dissolved copper from a copper
bracelet entering the body through the skin may be the only way for them to get
the copper they need.2
Another study found patients wearing copper bracelets
absorbed an average of 13 milligrams of copper during a month. “This could bring
many people into the recommended daily intake for copper (1.5 to 3 milligrams).
Copper absorbed through the skin gets into circulation very efficiently – more
so than most dietary copper.” Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) is one of the body’s
own copper dependent enzymes that reduces pain and inflammation. The body may
use copper to make more of its own SOD.3
1 Dollwet & Sorenson, “Historic Uses of Copper Compounds in Medicine” TRACE
ELEMENTS IN MEDICINE, Vol.2, No.2-1985 (pp.80-87)
2 Tkac, Debra, Ed. “The Case for Copper” THE DOCTORS BOOK OF HOME REMEDIES,
(p.22) Copyright 1990, Rodale Press, Inc.
3 Passwater, Richard A., Ph.D., “Copper and SOD” THE NEW SUPERNUTRITION, (p.256)
Copyright 1991, Pocket Books, Simon & Schuster, Inc.
THE CASE FOR COPPER
Sometimes longevity confers respect along with age. Artifacts
that were rarely noticed in their day take on a new meaning and values as they
persist throughout time. Such is the case with the copper bracelet, which for
decades has been worn for arthritis relief and remains popular today.
Studies have shown that some people with arthritis seem to have difficulty
metabolizing copper from the food they eat, leading to increased pain. That
observation led Helmar Dollwet, Ph.D., of the University of Akron to theorize
that arthritis sufferers may need to get their copper from another source. "The
dissolved copper from [a copper] bracelet bypasses the oral route by entering
the body through the the skin," he wrote in his book, The Copper Bracelet and
Arthritis. Dr. Dollwet thought this might be the only way arthritics ever
receive the copper their bodies need-copper that studies have shown can indeed
relieve pain.
Physicians remain somewhat skeptical about bracelets but don't entirely dismiss
them, either. "I see people wearing copper bracelets, and they're wearing them
because it helps them," says Elson Haas, M.D. "I think copper may have a role.
It's possible that a copper deficiency does increase joint inflammation, and it
doesn't seem that supplementing copper in the diet has the same effect as
wearing it."
Does that make Dr. Haas a believer? "I don't necessarily supply copper bracelets
to people, but I don't discourage them from wearing one either."
From The Doctors Book of Home Remedies, Copyright 1990 Rodale Press Inc.; p.22
THE COSTS OF COPPER DEFICIENCY
Although most people do not know the importance of copper
intake in a daily diet, copper is one of the most essential nutrients needed in
a body. Copper is of vital importance for many different reasons. Among these
are its central roles in protecting us from cardiovascular disease,
osteoporosis, free radicals, and cancer. Copper is also vital for keeping our
skin, blood vessels and connective tissue supple and elastic. These
well-documented findings came as a surprise to many whom had been misled to
believe that copper should be avoided because it is toxic and can generate free
radicals.
Not only is copper relatively non-toxic, but a deficiency of copper raises
free-radical activity in our bodies by lowering the activity of many of our
endogenous antioxidant peptides like superoxide dismutase, ceuloplasmin, and
gluthathione peroxi dase. Other than the fact that the majority of us do not
consume even half of the recommended 2-3 milligrams of copper daily, research
showing a negative effect of both zinc and ascorbic acid supplements on copper
status was alarming for supplement users. While severe, chronic copper
deficiency results in anemia, leukopenia, and skeletal demineralization,
subclinical copper deficiency in adult animals is hard to detect.
From: Vitamin Research Products, Inc.
For more information, please visit www.vrp.com/Library.
HISTORIC USES OF COPPER COMPOUNDS IN MEDICINE
Copper has been used in medicine for thousands of years. The
first Egyptian record of its use can be found in the Smith Papyrus, an ancient
medical text written between 2600 and 2200 B.C. which records the use of copper
to treat infected chest wounds and to sterilize drinking water. For wounds:
"Thou shalt make for [the patient] applications for drying up the wound, powder
of green pigment, other ingredients, and grease. Triturate and bind upon the
wound" [Breasted 1930]. It is unfortunate that the names given to the other
ingredients could not be translated since they may have facilitated the
beneficial effects of copper.
Dollwet & Sorenson, "Historic Uses of Copper Compounds in Medicine", Trace
Elements in Medicine, Vol. 2, No.2-1985 (pp.80-87)
COPPER & SOD
Trace amounts of organic-bound copper have helped some
individuals [suffering from arthritis]. A popular source of such organic copper
is superoxide dismutase (SOD). SOD is one of the body’s natural free-radical
scavengers that reduce pain and inflammation. There is debate as to whether or
not SOD itself is absorbed in sufficient quantity to be effective as the
inflammation-lowering enzyme SOD – it is when injected – but in any event, the
copper may be used to make more of your own SOD.
Doctor Ed Harris of Texas A & M University has shown that low tissue stores of
copper cause pain and joint stiffness similar to that of arthritis.
In the 1970s, there was a fad of wearing copper bracelets to stop arthritic
pain. Although many people experienced reduced pain, they were shamed out of
wearing them because this was so unscientific and only folklore. The pain
disappearance was explained as being due to the “come and go” nature of the
disease.
In one study of patients wearing copper bracelets, it was found that people
absorbed an average of 13 milligrams of copper during a month. This could bring
many people into the recommended daily intake range for copper (1.5 to 3.0
milligrams). Copper absorbed through the skin gets into the circulation very
efficiently – more so than dietary copper. Incidentally, the people absorbing
the copper noticed significant improvement in their arthritic conditions as well
as a reduction of pain.
Dr. Ray Walker of the University of Newcastle in New South Wales found that
thirty-one of forty arthritis patients felt better wearing copper bracelets.
Seventeen patients said there was less pain while they wore the bracelets, and
fourteen others said they were unwilling to carry on for two months without the
bracelets.
Dr. Walker was a skeptic and wanted to disprove the suggested link. He had
authentic-looking “imitation copper” bracelets made out of aluminum. One group
wore copper bracelets and the other group wore lookalike bracelets. Although
patients in both groups improved, many more in the copper bracelet group
improved.
Another skeptic, a columnist for a scientific journal, investigated the issue
after a scientist reader reported beneficial effects of a copper bracelet on his
wife. She had been wearing it but discontinued because it tarnished and turned
her skin green. The scientist thought the fatty acids in the skin might be
dissolving the oxide on the surface of the bracelet, producing fat-soluble
copper “soaps” that could be absorbed through the skin.
The columnist tried the bracelet himself and his arthritic pains were
alleviated. The skin under his bracelet became green. He licked the stain and
noted the metallic taste of copper salts. Water alone would not remove the
stain. He had to use soap to get it off. He decided the copper was indeed
migrating into his body through his skin.
Isn't it time that someone does a large clinical study, rather than just
supposing that it can't work?
Passwater, Richard A., Phd., "Copper & SOD, THE NEW SUPERNUTRITION, (p.256)
Copyright 1991, Pocket Books, Simon & Schuster, Inc.
IMPORTANT
Copper wristbands and magnetic products are considered to be unproven remedies.
Magnetic products should not be worn next to a watch. Do not use magnet products
during pregnancy, or if you have an electrical implant such as a pacemaker.
Consult with your doctor if you have any questions and continue with regular
medical care.
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