There are two types of medical jewellery, those that claim to improve your health and those that alert others to your existing condition. Useful and beautiful is a match made in heaven for shopaholics everywhere searching for a justification for spending.
Silver, gold, copper and other metal jewellery have all been claimed to improve your health. Did you know silver can improve the elasticity of your blood vessels, heal skin and bones and focus your thoughts and energy? Wondrous! Gold jewellery creates an energy circuit around your body mimicking the planet’s magnetic field and restores your psychic balance. Amazing! Alas, unproven and just a little bit wacky.
For people with a chronic illness or potentially fatal allergy, medical jewellery could literally be a life saver. While you may not want to emblazon ‘DIABETIC’ on your forehead, you do want something stylish but also simple and spottable in the heat of the moment if you are involved in an emergency.
If you are going to wear jewellery you want it to be attractive and fashionable, so what is out there and does it work?
Magnetic jewellery often claims to improve blood flow and enhance energy levels and often includes beads made from hematite. The amount of magnetism is so low as to be negligible and marketing of the health benefits is restricted in many countries given it is so far unsubstantiated. Can’t hurt though, I hear you say. You do have to wonder when the warnings say do not use if pregnant, have a pacemaker, are under 7 or if you work with high voltage machinery. But these are pretty.
Magnetic jewellery won’t help you find your car keys
Want to balance your energy, be a better athlete and manage pain and arthritis? Don’t buy one of these ionised bracelets then. The Mayo Clinic carried out a major study that showed no effect greater than the placebo effect on pain relief and a manufacturer in the US was forced to pay back thousands of dollars to duped users.
Pretty but useless.
Copper bracelets are worn by arthritis sufferers, but alas it has no scientific back up. People with the condition actually already have enough copper anyway, according to research. I wore one for a while and just ended up with a green wrist.
NHS says no.
Bio energetic jewellery makes some bold claims – to improve blood circulation, metabolism and the detoxification process as well as maintain a slim and slender body. It is not clear if you need to start with a slim and slender body, but I’m guessing so. Proponents try to bamboozle you with quantum physics and if that doesn’t work will talk about qi, the Chinese word for the vital life energy flowing through everything. It should make your blood boil if you are a sceptic.
Then there is medical jewellery to ensure you get the right help in an emergency. Many people need to carry some kind of identification of an illness or allergy. Mixing modern technology with the old fashioned locket, Emily Rothschild has created this useful piece. Keep your medical information on the USB flash drive.
Make sure you have your USB handy as well so this can be read.
For the sporty types, you may want something that matches your lifestyle. Clearly branded with eye-catching symbols, this snazzy band has a USB flash drive inside as well.
Comes in a range of colours for men and women
The Rothschild range also offers a very arty series of bracelets and necklaces with the words of your condition – such as bee sting, blood type, insulin and so on. However, I would not want to rely on the eagle eye of a good Samaritan or ambulance officer in an emergency.
Gorgeous bracelets with customised engraving from Lauren’s Hope
Dog tags are easy for medical staff to find.
While there is little scientific proof of the healing claims made by some in the medical jewellery line, if you believe it works for you, then it may just do that. And whatever your condition or allergy, you can find a funky way to wear it proudly.
Shame there isn’t a bracelet that brings on quick weight loss, now that would be a sought after item.
Midge can generally be found blogging about how to lose weight fast via a range of differing methods, from Vegan diets and healthy walking routines.
