Besides being useful as a metal, copper also kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. The “Edwin Smith Papyrus,” one of the oldest books ever discovered, records the use of copper to sterilize chest wounds and drinking water. This book was written sometime between 2600 B.C. and 2200 B.C.
Copper is one of the oldest metals to be used by humans and over the years has been used for a wide range of applications. We have been creating things from copper for thousands of years, simply because it is easy to find. Copper is the third most common metal after iron and steel, and although it has a lot of useful industrial applications, copper also has several lesser-known health benefits.
There’s also the issue of skin irritation in some copper magnetic bracelet users, but this was believed to be because they aren’t using 100% pure copper magnetic bracelets. Some copper bracelets with magnet out there in the market aren’t made of pure copper. Instead, they contain toxic metals such as lead which can cause problems such as headaches, digestive issues, and of course, skin irritation. A piece of friendly advice: buy only 100% pure and original copper magnetic bracelets.
Copper-deficiency has been linked to certain cardiovascular diseases. Various research studies have been conducted, and many of them have proven that people with chronically low amounts of copper in their bodies are more likely to have high blood pressure, and are suspected of having increased risks in suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
One reason to be skeptical of folk remedies for arthritis is that there are more than 100 different forms of arthritis. There are many different causes of arthritis, too. For example, osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear on the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease and doesn’t have a known cause. Gout, a very painful type of arthritis, is caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in joints. All of these types of arthritis have different causes and different treatments. Folk remedies may not take all of the different types into consideration.
According to studies published over the years, magnetic wrist straps and copper bracelets don’t work on arthritis pain or stiffness. Placebo-controlled trials have been done in both osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A few small studies showed that magnets may offer some pain benefit in osteoarthritis, but these results have not been replicated or expanded to larger trials.
Due to its antimicrobial properties, copper has also gained popularity in the medical field. In 2013, a team of researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina conducted research and ran a test, where they infused frequently touched surfaces like bed rails and call buttons, with copper in an attempt to decelerate the spread of hospital-acquired infections. Their experiment has proved to be quite successful as it significantly reduced the number of patients who contracted potential life-threatening infections.
