To think this person selling magnetic health bracelet was a charlatan

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I was at a county fair yesterday. One of the stands was selling magnetic bracelets at £35 each (from what I overheard). The blurb was something like 20,000 negative ions to counteract all the positive ions life shoves at us, improves circulation etc.

Then a demonstration. She made people stand on one leg with arm outstretched - they toppled over when she pressed down on their arm. When she put the magnet on and repeated it they balanced no problem. Then they stretched their arm behind them, she put the magnet on and magically they could stretch further.

She then confirmed the bracelets help arthritis, fibromyalgia, sleep etc.

Everyone was astounded and in the 20 minutes I was there (waiting to meet someone) many people bought one (or more) bracelets.

I’m a sceptic and just don’t believe GPs wouldn’t be handing these out if they were that amazing. On the other hand there she was demonstrating the effect over and over again.

If it works why is there a massive cover up and we aren’t all walking round with these. If it is a scam how is she allowed to make these claims?

Quack! Although I did go to a witch doctor many many years ago who did this to me for allergies. They were accurate though (😳) in the end - I cut out the things they told me were bad and my hideous acne cleared up.

Still a crock though!

Placebo effect.
There will also be a disclaimer somewhere in the small print.

Thanks LordProf. But how did she get those ‘results’ and is it legal? It’s one thing doing magic tricks in the street but to sell ‘medical devices’?

Is it possible the people used for demonstrations were in on it?

Greentea - yes that is a good point.

Faded - also good point. The disclaimer would be interesting reading!

I do think that magnetic bracelets do help with arthritis. We had a retired guide dog who acted like a young dog with the collar on, and got very stiff when it was taken off. Dogs wouldn't know that it was any different to a normal collar, so wouldn't have felt a placebo effect.

I wonder if the balance test is a bit like this thing we used to do when we were kids, where someone would sit on a chair and then a few of us would try and lift the chair using one finger each. We couldn't do it, but we'd then sort of hold our arms straight out and act as if we were trying to push down against something so putting a lot of strength/energy into our hands without actually moving. When we then tried picking the chair/person up again with one finger we could do it.

No woo/bracelets involved by the way (although I never knew why it worked).

Well it’s because the 2nd time they knew what was coming and counteracted her pushing. My gym instructor once did a similar thing where you say ‘I am strong’ 3x over and you can stop someone trying to push your arms together (or something like that, can’t quite remember what the actual action was). I can’t believe people buy this stuff. YANBU.

Ahhhhh Littkekitty

Thank you!