MG writes: “I was listening to your program today on Sacred Heart Radio in Cincinnati OH. I heard you discussing new age. My 12 yo son wants a necklace called a phiten. Many of the sports players wear them. Are they new age or just a fad?”
Major league athletes are notoriously superstitious so it doesn’t surprise me that they’re wearing phiten necklaces. They also wear those phony PowerBalance bands which they hope will improve their performance along with tapping their helmets a certain number of times before a pitch or eating chicken before a big game (Wade Boggs of the Boston Red Sox). Unfortunately, kids emulate these sports heroes and naturally want to imitate them, which means they’re going to pick up their bad habits along with the good.
In short, the phiten necklace is junk, but you wouldn’t know that by reading the website. It’s full of techno-garble such as this meaningless sentence: “Phiten’s exclusive processes amplify the energy management system increasing the efficiency of each and every single cell.”
The buzz-word in that statement for me is “energy” which automatically tells me it’s based on the New Age concept of a universal life force energy that only exists in the minds of people who are trying to sell us this stuff. While there are veritable energies that are natural to the body, such as radiation and mechanical vibrations, these energies don’t “flow” through the body so there’s nothing to stabilize, balance, or make more efficient.
Phiten products supposedly contain metals that are broken down into microscopic particles and dispersed in water. The most common is titanium. Materials, such as fabrics, are then soaked in this water and used to create the products. These include “titanium impregnated” necklaces, bracelets, underwear, t-shirts, gels, creams and plasters. The idea originates in Japan and is marketed in the U.S. through www.phitenusa.com. (Apparently, the entire Japanese Olympic volleyball team wears these products.) Necklaces such as the one MG’s son is wearing retail for about $40.
There is one big problem with this so-called technology. Titanium is a hard metal that is not water soluble so no matter what the company says, there’s no titanium in their products.
This could explain why the website offers no scientific proof for any of their claims – because there isn’t any. The consumer is offered only the usual collection of testimonials from people who swear they felt better after putting on a phiten necklace.
Someone from Japan wrote into the James Randi forum to say that everyone from his office was excited about the necklace after participating in a demonstration at a local store. A brick was put in a bag and set on a chair. The person was asked to extend their arm, lift the bag from the chair, then put it back down. Next, a phiten necklace was draped across their arm and they were instructed to pick up the brick bag again. This time it was supposedly much easier to lift, which convinced his coworkers that there was something to the necklace.
What they didn’t know is that this is an old “Applied Kinesiology” trick that goes something like this:
When we’re first asked to pick up an object of unknown weight, the brain makes a quick estimation of how much strength the body might need to lift it. People tend to underestimate the effort required. However, when asked to lift the same object a second time, it seems much easier because now the brain knows how much effort is required.
David Kozlowski, writing for the Daily Record in Rochester, New York summed up the phiten necklace fad quite nicely:
“You don’t honestly believe that Boggs batted .366 in 1988 because of his pre-game chicken. You shouldn’t be quick to accept that the necklace worn by a pitcher helped him win 15 games either.”
MG, your son has been scammed. However, look at it on the bright side. This is a golden opportunity to introduce him to the wide world of quackery (and gullible pro-athletes) that has existed since the beginning of time and give him a few pointers on how to make sure his hard-earned money is put to better use than lining the pockets of charlatans.
Send your New Age questions to newage@womenofgrace.com
