I'd like to tell you about my experiences with LifeWave patches. After initial skepticism I can report that I am quite frankly amazed and excited by them.
For those who don't know, a company called LifeWave Inc has been promoting a range of skin patches, much like nicotine patches, which they claim have various specific effects on the body. For instance, there are patches for increasing
energy, treating pain, and improving sleep quality. The difference between these patches and transdermal patches such as those that give a dose of nicotine, is that the LifeWave patches are "non-transdermal", meaning that nothing enters the body.
So how do they work you might be wondering? Well you certainly wouldn't be the first to wonder. According to the product details for the Rest Quiet sleep patch on the LifeWave web site:
"Nothing enters the body. Rest Quiet is a new organic nanotechnology patch that helps you to relax without drugs. Research indicates that Rest Quiet helps the body's own natural meridians balance when the patch is applied to specific acupuncture points. This helps achieve a quiet, restful sleep and a great, energized day to follow."
So the patches work on the principals of acupuncture using nanoparticles to stimulate specific energy meridians? Not exactly clear is it? As far as I am aware nobody really knows exactly how acupuncture works (or doesn't) so how can a company manufacture a product such as a patch that works on the same system as acupuncture?
This perceived lack of clarity from the company about how LifeWave patches actually work has led to many being extremely skeptical about the claims made for them. Add to this the fact that LifeWave products are distributed using a multi-level marketing (MLM) system rather than through regular stores and what you have is a lot of very vocal detractors.
A quick web search on 'LifeWave' will reveal thousands of pages, half of which are sites promoting the patches, and the other half are "hoax" or "scam" sites warning people what a con they are. One of the most outspoken sites is World Wide Scam Network (WWSN).
At the other end of the spectrum there are a number of professional sportsmen and athletes who use the patches and heap glowing praise on them for the performance boosts they prroduce.
Like I said, I was initially very skeptical of the claims made by LifeWave. I like products I try to have an understandable scientific basis for their reported action. That being said, having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 16 years has taught be to be more open minded and not dismiss things without first having put them to the test. With this in mind I decided to purchase sample packs of the Rest Quiet and Energy Enhancer patches.
To say I was surprised by the results is an understatement. Not only did the patches do what they were intended to do, but they did it better than anything else I'd tried. For example, I have had problems sleeping for many years and have tried most of the remedies out there, both pharmaceutical and natural. Although many of these have certainly helped me get off to sleep, none have actually improved the quality of my sleep, I have always woken still feeling tired. Not so with the Rest Quiet LifeWave patch, after applying the patch to my temple I got off to sleep quickly and didn't wake until the morning. I awoke feeling the most rested I had felt for around 10 years! I have since bought full packs of the Rest Quiet patches and the effect is always the same.
The same goes for the Energy Enhancer patches. After applying the patches I feel a surge of energy which lasts the entire time I wear them and for some time after.
The patches are a bit expensive but I would certainly recommend you get the trial packs and see for yourself. LifeWave patches really could make a big difference to your life.
To read reviews of LifeWave patches or write a review yourself visit our LifeWave reviews section.
Update February 2010: You will need to go through someone already registered with LifeWave to purchase patches so please help support The Environmental Illness Resource and sign up through our page - www.lifewave.com/ei-resource
Thank you to all those who have left comments about their experiences with LifeWave patches. It seems many people are seeing benefits.
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Joel - Thanks for your comment. I appreciate the value of placebo-controlled trials and would be very interested in hearing results of such trials using Lifewave patches so please feel free to email me any such data. I would suggest, however, that it would be important to incorporate qualitative data into trials on Lifewave patches. The simple test you propose leaves no room for potential cumulative effects produced when the patches are worn over longer periods of time. It is unlikely everyone will have an immediate reaction to the patches either way.
I am willing to entertain the possibility my own experiences with the patches were purely placebo response but I have good reason to think otherwise. First of all I had no belief that the patches would be a miracle cure, in fact I genuinely believed they would have no effect at all. I was simply curious so gave them a trial. Second, the responses to each type of patch are different. Third, I have tried the patches again a number of times after long breaks and the initial response is the same and just as intense every time. Finally, I actually have a negative response overall to the Energy Enhancer patches - after a few days I become overstimulated - exactly as I do with other interventions with "energy enhancing" or stimulant properties. My response fits with the patch's proposed mechanism of action i.e. increasing beta-oxidation of fatty acids by increasing concentrations of carnitine (required for endogenous synthesis of the fatty acid mitochondrial membrane transporter).
I would be willing to undergo your test myself to satisfy my own curiosity but I am currently embarking on an intensive lab testing and treatment protocol that is costing me a fortune so I do not want to cloud the results by using the patches at this time. As I said, I am very interested in seeing results from quality trials using Lifewave patches and am always willing to revise my opinion if I see good reason to do so. I therefore support your efforts. You may think you know that by declining your invitation I am "probably part of the Lifewave scam" or living in a fantasy world but this is purely speculation and assumption on your part. If you were fully aware of my personal circumstances and the amount of time and effort I have put into building this site for the benefit of others with very limited financial reward, you may have a different perspective.
It was not my intention to get into a debate on this issue as I simply do not have the time with this entire site to run by myself. I am more of an editor and administrator these days. As I have said, Lifewave is not even close to being my priority so I will not be contributing to this discussion any further. I do believe in free speech so you are all of course welcome to comment further as you wish. All the best!