Copper Bracelet for Arthritis Pain: Fact or Fiction?

Posted by AweSamo February 17, 2026
Copper Bracelet for Arthritis Pain: Fact or Fiction?

Key Takeaways

  • Wearing a copper bracelet is not an effective treatment for arthritis symptoms.
  • Copper bracelets may have a placebo effect but are not harmful to wear.

Copper bracelets have been touted as a treatment for arthritis symptoms. You can easily pick one up at a drugstore or other shops where homeopathic medicines are sold. But does this alternative treatment actually have legs? The limited research on this concept suggests that wearing copper bracelets isn’t an effective treatment for arthritis.

While there are plenty of other unproven remedies for people with arthritis, many therapies are backed by thorough research. 

IAN HOOTON/SPL / Getty Images


How Copper Is Thought to Relieve Arthritis

Copper has been used in medical therapies for centuries. Ancient Egyptians reportedly used it for sterilization, and by the late 1800s, doctors started using copper for arthritis treatment.

Proponents of copper treatments believe it might aid in tissue repair. However, like many folk remedies, the exact way it could work in the body is unclear.

Although copper is a heavy metal, it’s an essential mineral found in trace amounts in the body. It is crucial for forming red blood cells, aiding iron absorption, and supporting nerve, blood vessel, bone, and immune health.

Because copper supports the immune system, some believe it could treat arthritis. This belief stems from the notion that arthritis involves an overactive immune response.

Dietary Sources of Copper

Our bodies do not produce copper naturally, so we must obtain it from our diet. Sources include:

  • Shellfish
  • Beans 
  • Nuts
  • Whole grains
  • Potatoes
  • Dark leafy greens
  • Organ meats 
  • Cocoa
  • Dried fruits 
  • Yeast

What the Research Shows

Although copper is vital for various bodily functions, there is limited research on copper specifically for arthritis treatment. Even fewer studies explore the effectiveness of wearing copper bracelets for arthritis relief.

A 2013 study examined the effects of several wearable devices, including copper bracelets, on rheumatoid arthritis. The study involved 65 participants who wore either a magnetic wrist strap or a copper bracelet and reported their outcomes. The findings showed no significant effect on arthritis symptoms.

Participants did not improve their physical function or reduce their medication use with any of the devices. Researchers concluded that copper bracelets do not significantly affect rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, except for a possible placebo effect.

The placebo effect occurs when someone experiences positive changes from a treatment that are due to their belief in the treatment, not the treatment itself. 

Some older studies also investigated topical copper gels, but no evidence supports their benefits.

Useless But It Won’t Hurt You

While a copper bracelet is unlikely to offer benefits beyond a placebo effect, wearing one is not harmful. However, exercise caution with magnetic arthritis treatments. If you have a pacemaker or another implantable device, wearing a magnetic bracelet can be dangerous.

Other Alternative Treatments

Living with arthritis can be difficult. The pain and inflammation may come and go. However, when symptoms happen, they can be debilitating and leave people unable to perform daily activities. 

Some research-backed treatments for arthritis that are included in clinical practice guidelines are:

  • Hot and cold therapy
  • Over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
  • Corticosteroids 
  • Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis 
  • Surgical treatments, like joint replacement

Note that these therapies won’t cure arthritis or prevent further loss of cartilage. They may help manage symptoms like pain and stiffness. 

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that some evidence has been found for these therapies:

  • Acupuncture
  • Massage therapy 
  • Tai chi
  • Qi gong
  • Glucosamine and chondroitin: While research has produced varying results, chondroitin sulfate is conditionally recommended for hand osteoarthritis in 2019 clinical practice guidelines.

People have anecdotally found the following therapies helpful for arthritis. However, more research is needed to confirm the potential benefits of these therapies:

Many of the above-listed treatments are considered natural therapies. However, they may still produce side effects. People who want to try supplements to treat arthritis should consult a doctor to avoid interactions. 

Lifestyle Measures

If you have arthritis, you can adopt some lifestyle changes to help ease symptoms. Some of these include:

  • Physical exercise, including aerobic and resistance training
  • Adopting a healthy diet 
  • Quitting smoking
  • Improving sleep hygiene

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do copper bracelets work for arthritis?

    Wearing a copper bracelet for arthritis is harmless, but it won’t reduce inflammation or symptoms. There is no scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness. 

  • Who should not wear magnetic bracelets?

    People with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), pacemaker, or insulin pump should avoid magnetic bracelets. They might interfere with your device’s functioning. 

  • Do Copper Hands compression gloves help with arthritis?

    Copper Hands gloves have many positive reviews for supposed arthritis relief. However, no clinical evidence supports these claims of symptom relief. 


Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Copper Development Association. Medical uses of copper in antiquity.

  2. MedlinePlus. Copper in diet.

  3. Richmond SJ, Gunadasa S, Bland M, Macpherson H. Copper bracelets and magnetic wrist straps for rheumatoid arthritis–analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects: a randomised double-blind placebo controlled crossover trial. PLoS One. 2013;8(9):e71529. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0071529 

  4. Harvard Medical School. The power of the placebo effect.

  5. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Osteoarthritis: In depth.

  6. Cleveland Clinic. Arthritis of the wrist and hand: Management and treatment.

  7. Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020;72(2):220-233. doi:10.1002/acr.24131

  8. Chehade L, Jaafar ZA, El Masri D, et al. Lifestyle modification in rheumatoid arthritis: Dietary and physical activity recommendations based on evidence. Curr Rheumatol Rev. 2019;15(3):209-214. doi:10.2174/1573397115666190121135940

Steph Coelho

By Steph Coelho

Steph Coelho is a health and wellness writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience working on content related to health, wellness, mental health, chronic illness, fitness, sexual wellness, and health-related tech.She’s written extensively about chronic conditions, telehealth, aging, CBD, and mental health. Her work has appeared in Insider, Healthline, WebMD, Greatist, Medical News Today, and more.

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