To present three tests of a device (BioElectric Shield; BioElectric Company, Lavina, Mont) supposed to have widespread therapeutic and protective powers. The effectiveness as a bioelectric shield was studied.
The shields are attractive silver and gold pendants that hang around the neck on a fine silk cord.
In the first experiment, 12 subjects who work with computers wore shields (6 real, 6 sham) for several weeks. In two further studies (in each N=40) hand strength was measured at baseline, with mobile phone, and with mobile phone and bioelectric or sham shield.
Experiments 2 and 3
| Frequency | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | twice for 30 s |
| Modulation type | unspecified |
|---|
| Exposure source | |
|---|---|
| Setup | A mobile phone was held next to the subject's ear in order to listen to the ringing tone. |
| Additional info | After stage 1 (baseline), subjects were wearing no shield in stage 2 and either genuine or sham shields (double-blind) in stage 3. |
No parameters are specified for this exposure.
In the first experiment both types of shield increased calmness, but the real shields did not have any greater effect.
In the two further studies the shields did not differ in their effects. Both studies revealed a significant correlation between the change in strength with and without the shield and subjects' scores on a questionnaire concerning their belief in and use of alternative therapies. The shields appear to produce a measurable placebo effect but are otherwise ineffective.
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