Phiten Jewelry: Superstition or Necessity?

Josh Beckett Phiten Spokesperson from phitenusa.com

     What began as a simple fad for the young jocks of America has become a brand promoted by major cartels such as MLB, NBA and NHL. The well-known company Phiten, was originally founded in Japan but spread to the United States rapidly. Yoshihiro Hirata, founder and president, was initially an unconventional medical practitioner. The basic philosophy the merchandise is built around is body care and health support for athletes or those suffering average daily discomfort.  The official website states, “The core of Phiten technology is in our Aqua Metals – metals that are broken down into microscopic particles dispersed in water.” This technology, known as AQUA-TITANIUM, is based off of the scientific composition of the metal itself. Titanium has been used in the medical field forever, serving as a lightweight, rust-free and allergy-free metal. Using this unique product allows Phiten to be the only company predominately featuring a line of clothing, jewelry, lotions, etc. that can promote greater health through retail.

     As you flip through the sports TV channels and stop at any baseball game you can spot at least one player, usually the pitcher, wearing this simple yet technologically profound necklace. If professional baseball players that make millions every year wear these unique rope-like bracelets, can we assume that they really work? Joe Furuhata, the spokesperson for the Phiten company states, “All of the messages in your body travel through electricity, so if you’re tired or just pitched nine innings, the electricity isn’t flowing as smoothly as it can. Our products smooth out those signals.” According to this theory, the microscopic magnets in the necklaces would have to work extremely hard to create radiation strong enough to actually affect the chemistry of our body. From a scientific perspective, the bracelets essentially don’t make sense. Although there is research to support the companies claims, debatable healing products are launched almost everyday and most of them don’t make it onto ESPN. If loosening muscles and improving health were as simple as wearing a necklace or bracelet, I think the world of physical therapy would face some major layoffs.

     If the chemistry does not add up to what the players claim, then what is it that makes these pieces of jewelry so useful? The answer is physiology. There are just a few major aspects involved in creating successful professional sports teams. These characteristics include physical training, continuous practice, repetitive playing, and of course overall, individual superstitions. Most sports fans have heard of the hockey playoff beards, the quirky batting rituals for MLB players, and as disgusting as it may seem, the popular no laundry during a winning streak. Just as we wonder how a Phiten necklace can improve playing, we wonder how these little antics do the same. Athletes who believe that something is working in their favor will be wearing a coat of confidence when they step up to the big game day. "Yeah, I use it all the time. I used to have really bad neck problems throughout the season and since I started wearing Phiten, I say this every year in this interview, it really does actually help my neck." says Josh Beckett, former Red Sox pitcher, in an interview with Phiten. Believing in yourself is such a huge part of success that it is actually vital for seeking out the necessary motivation to compete. The positive effects of subconsciously convincing oneself that the rope necklace the athlete is wearing is improving their body chemistry, will effectively improve the way they preform. Whether or not Phiten jewelry actually has the power to smooth biological compositions, those who wear it have already fallen into the trap by convincing themselves that it is 100% needed for a successful sports performance.