Hologram Therapy (Power Band) Research

Welcome to The Show’s page on hologram therapy research. I've seen various hologram products for sale for as much as $30-60, and have been interested in them, due to my research in the wellness and fitness fields. However, I found the cost prohibitive when considering a purchase. Recently, I spotted hologram bracelets for sale at a local flea market for $8. I figured I could afford to gamble eight bucks on a product I was skeptical about; if nothing else, I could research and report that the product didn’t work.

I began wearing the bracelet the next day, and felt an immediate result. It had small but definite effects, which I will explain in more detail, further down, on this page. I was blown away by the results and began scouring the internet for research and documentation on these products. There is very little scientific data or documentation on hologram products.  Most companies that sell these “power band” type products have little or no scientific information or studies to offer customers. Some companies have even been sued by governing bodies such as the FDA over false advertising.

The social divide on hologram products is huge. Some athletes and people, most notably, professional surfers, swear by the efficacy of hologram therapy; on the other side, many claim that it is junk science, and at best a placebo. To do some real research and get some reasonable discussion about the capabilities of hologram products we have to eliminate the two biggest fallacies on both sides of the argument:

1) On the believers' side of the argument, we have to dispose of the “balance/muscle testing” that salesmen use to push this product. Balance testing is the wrong kind of “proof” to use for this type of product. It is little more than a carnival trick.

2) Among the skeptics and naysayers of hologram therapy, I've found repeated mentions in their various arguments that the human biofield is a myth , and has no scientific documentation. This is absolutely untrue.

You'll find broader information below on both of these points. Our goal is to report the best factual information available, so that people can make up their own minds about the efficacy of these products and make informed choices. Check in with us regularly as we post factual information collected from myself and others wearing and testing the hologram products, as well as relevant scientific data provided by the companies that produce these products, scientists studying the human biofield, and related information from various websites.

The primary proof that hologram product companies and their salesmen use to demonstrate the efficacy of their products is a simple balance test. The Demonstrator has the potential customer stand on one leg and hold out their arms and tries to shove them over. After the first attempt, the demonstrator offers the product to the customer, whether it be a snake oil tincture, or in this case a hologram bracelet, and asks them to stand for the test again. The potential customer is able to better withstand being pushed over during the second trial, supposedly demonstrating that they have increased balance and strength.

The problem with this type of testing is that it doesn't work consistently. A person who is tested in this manner can withstand the second trial more readily almost every time regardless of whatever product they are given. Simply having tried the test once, the body is better prepared to perform the same exercise on a second trial. In double blind studies, people who were not given a power band, or any object at all, were able to achieve the same results as those who were given a genuine product.

Despite the bogus nature of balance testing, I personally have felt a result from hologram bands, and I now believe in the product. Throughout this page, we will look only at verifiable scientific data and testimonials of people who have used hologram therapy products.

If you are interested in more information about balance and muscle testing, try the links beside this article.

Some brands of hologram bracelet claim that the active element which causes the health and fitness improvements is the actual hologram sticker imbedded in the bracelet. Power Balance is one brand of product which makes this claim. Power Balance even sells the holograms in sticker sheets, independent of the silicone bracelet. The sticker sheet is a 10 pack which retails for $99. At that price, I'm still not convinced of its value.

Among brands that claim the hologram is the active part of the bracelet, some claim the Mylar itself has various health effects on the body. There is some science to back this up, however I find the idea that such a tiny piece of Mylar, sealed inside a bracelet could produce a measurable effect (if any). Other claims suggest that the hologram is embedded with a particular frequency when it is created. I will try to untangle this scientific snare further down on this page; while there is some validity to the idea of a frequency imbedded in a hologram, it may not be valid to any health claims. We'll look into this some more later.

Other brands of similar wristband claim that the active element which promotes health and fitness benefits is the silicone bracelet itself, and that the hologram is purely a decoration, to cash in on the popularity of Power Balance and other hologram products. These companies claim that the silicone itself is mixed with compounds which release negative ions in a large amount. Negative ions are beneficial to health in many ways, and counter the effects of positive ions which spoil health in a variety of ways, and at worst, promote the growth of cancer causing free radicals in the body. Examples of this type of product are Energy Balance, Fusion Power Bandz and Powercore.

In my research I've run across a blog that makes an interesting point, which I will have to further research. The writer of the blog is an aggressive skeptic, who lumps hologram bracelet technology in with Bigfoot and astrology. His facts are somewhat misinformed; he makes an incorrect point, stating that the human biofield (often referred to as chi, ki, or qi) has not been documented by science, which it has. Despite his ornery attitude and fanciful notions of being a "skeptologist", he makes an interesting point regarding the properties of holograms.

"For those familiar with holograms there are spatial frequency [sic] programmed in the hologram which controls the light and dark parts of the hologram and have nothing to [sic] 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."

My interest focuses on the claim that the hologram is imbedded with frequencies which bend and change the amplitude and phase of light waves to created the 3-D visual effect. I'd never before heard about any of the physics that make a hologram work. The rest of this person's observation is jumbled and incorrect in many ways. Using words like, "implausible" and "unfounded" doesn't mean you have a logically correct point.

If a hologram bends light by "frequencies" that are imbedded in a plastic material, then it has similar properties concerning light refraction to quartz and other natural crystals. What other properties might a hologram have in common with a crystal? That is interesting. An article I wrote for eHow.com, covers some of the basic properties of crystals and stones relevant to the manipulation of electrical and natural energy fields. The intro paragraph fromthe articlecovers the elementary explanation of the use of crystals:

"Crystals and gemstones have the ability to store and change various forms of energy due to their highly organized internal structure. The molecules of crystal or stone form a latticework that surrounds millions of tiny, empty spaces. These spaces within the solid matter of a crystal or stone can be compressed or expanded by vibrations. This forms the basis for the electrical and physical use of crystals to manipulate energy."

It may be that the hologram does have an effect on human bio-energy. It may be that the hologram has no interaction at all, and is of zero value; that doesn't make the possibility any more or less plausible. It is certainly possible that the hologram, or even the Mylar plastic may interact with the body and whatever field it may have. Whether or not it is true, we will have to research and see, using trials on every-day use.

Here, you will find a very interesting scientific study summarized by William H. Philpott, M.D. for The Arthritis Trust of America.

The effects of positive and negative ions on the body is well documented by scientific medicine. The question is, "do any of these power bracelets actually give off negative ions?" Some companies claim that the silicone bracelet of their product is impregnated with minerals that release negative ions. Other brands claim that the hologram itself attunes your body's energy field to accept more negative ions and reject positive ions. Other companies claim that the tiny piece of Mylar that contains the hologram acts as a shield against positive ions and other forces which alter your energy field negatively. Some of these claims smell highly suspicious; yet to some degree there is a scientific basis to build these claims upon.

I find that some brands of these bands work better than others. Could it be that some products do contain anionic elements in the hologram or silicone? I'd love to get a hold of an ion detector so I could test this phenomenon for myself.

Check out this awesome, easy to understand website dedicated to studying the effectiveness of hologram, anionic, and magnetic power bracelets.

The downloadable PDFs available at this site document the measured effects of various products during scientific trials. Have a look for yourself.

Now that we have eliminated the stupid idea that "balance testing" actually demonstrates anything about a power bracelet's effectiveness, were left to ask, "does the product actually do anything?" The anecdotal testimonials I have gathered from real people, demonstrate very different results than the claims made by the product companies. The question remains, are the effects experienced by these people a result of placebo? Check out what people are saying.

John, 36 yrs. old: I wear two bracelets on my left wrist. That's how I'm most comfortable. Initially, I wore one on each hand; I'd read in an interview with a pro surfer who swears by the technology, that wearing them that way makes a difference. He actually recommended one on each wrist and a necklace; I found that to be overkill. I didn't notice that the third hologram around the neck consistently made an improvement. I suffer greatly from allergies, and it's been a particularly bad season this year; I'd have been sick with a sinus infection at least once in the spring. I honestly attribute the relief to the power bracelet; it is the only thing I've done differently. It is not a cure, by any means; I still sneeze and feel symptoms of allergy attack. However, the severity is greatly reduced.

I've also noticed the bracelets really help with the symptoms of hangover. When I've over-indulged or haven't slept enough they make the situation bearable. Any time I'm dehydrated, lacking sleep, having a bad stomach day, or hung over I feel my symptoms cut by a third to as much as half, when I wear at least one bracelet. The symptoms are reduced almost instantly. If I take it off I notice the throbbing in my head or body becomes worse (goes back to its original level) within a minute or two. The bracelet isn't a cure for basic ailments, but I'd say the relief from inflammation I feel wearing it is as good as taking 400Mg of ibuprofen.

Karen, 31 yrs. old: I wear a Power Balance bracelet on each wrist. After experimenting with different combinations, this is what I like the best, right now. I find the bracelet helps a great deal with my allergies, with mood elevation and with mental clarity. The "mommy-brain" I've been experiencing since the birth of my toddler (my first child) is also reduced. I wear my bracelets when I sleep some nights, and other times I don't. After I had worn on bracelet for a few days, I felt really poorly when I took it off. Now that I have worn the bracelets for some time, I can take them off for a while and not feel as ill. I think that multiple bracelets, and where you wear them does have a cumulative or varying effect, and it should be studied more.

Irene, 50 yrs. old: I am a daycare provider who works with children, newborn to five years old. A parent of one of my kids let me try their power bracelet, when I was talking about my bad allergies. It wasn't a Power Balance brand bracelet, but a copy with a yin-yang hologram instead of a brand logo. Immediately, when I put it on I felt the pain in my bad wrist (a common ache I deal with daily) go away. It didn't do anything for my allergies, that I noticed, but I was amazed at how that ache in my wrist was instantly lessened. The parents gifted me with a Power Balance brand name bracelet, which I appreciated, but it doesn't seem to have the same strong effect as the nameless copycat brand. I don't wear the brand name bracelet that often, mostly when I go to the gym.

Tim, 35, yrs old: I am overweight by quite a bit, and a pack a day smoker. When I was approached about this experiment I was eager to see if the power bands would do anything for me. It does help my mood, some. And offers me a little bit of energy, but I'm not turning cartwheels or anything. Today was an exceptionally bad allergy day where I live, so much so that the weather service issued a warning. It was a "code orange", which is two steps away from the top, "code purple". I woke up today feeling sinus pain and short of breath in the chest. One bracelet helped the symptoms, but not enough. By the time I felt reasonable enough to function I had on four bracelets. That took away about 75% of the symptoms, but I felt silly. Who could afford that many bracelets out side of this study anyway? I took a claratin (loratadine) and took off three of the bracelets. I still feel like crap, but at least I don't look like a girl with four rubber bracelets on. Maybe if you have a medical problem where you can't take allergy pills, consider the expense of buying a bunch of these bracelets. Otherwise,take your meds.

Saje, is a "Health & Beauty" community page on Facebook. There isn't much info on who or what they are about other than the tag line in their "about" box which says, "Connecting people to the healing power of plants." The page's profile pic says, "Imagine Feeling Great Every Day."

There is a very clear and well explained topic on their discussion board about the health benefits of negative ions, here. Give it a read, it's a clear and well done summary.

Phil's Story: I wear two bracelets regularly. Today was a super bad allergy day where we live, a "code orange" day. I felt sick in my sinuses and short of breath in my lungs. After sleeping till noon, having two cans of Monster energy drink, a can of Pibb Xtra, and a loratadine (Claratin generic) I wasn't feeling any better. I started putting on all the power bands we had in the house for this study, including the ones my wife was using, one at a time. By the time I had on three bracelets and a necklace, I felt somewhat better. I felt a slight decrease in my sinus pain and tight chest as I put on each one. Around 6pm I felt horrible, so I grabbed two more bands and lay down for a nap holding the extra two in my hand. My wife woke me around 8pm and I felt worse. As I handed her back two of the bracelets I felt a little better immediately. Is it possible that too many hologram products can have a negative effect? The professional surfer in this article claims he uses as many as five or even more while competing, so I don't know what to make of all this.

Jason's Story: A couple of months ago it was that seasonal time where I live where it just stays rainy and gray for a few weeks. After a week of rainy days the dampness, the darkness during the day, the mold and allergens all started to really drag on me. I decided to augment my bracelet with a second one on my other hand, and a necklace. I'd read in an article that three hologram products (particularly if worn in a triangle formation) was optimal. After three more rainy days I felt more burning in my sinuses than before, so I decided to take off the necklace, which seemed to help a little. I reasoned that if these bands really are giving off negative ions, and rain gives off negative ions, maybe that is too much negative ions. I have an ionic breeze air purifier and you're not supposed to use it in a closed space, because it gives off ozone. Maybe a similar principal was in play with the holograms and rainy weather. I have no idea, I'm not a scientist. It is just an observation. I just stick to one or two hologram products at a time, now.

-- The human biofield

-- Positive and negative ion research

-- Testimonials

-- Skepticism and legal actions

-- Comparing products

-- and more!