From collars, bracelets, rings, patches, mattresses, pillows, cushions, footrests, belts, hand and foot sheaths, and wristbands, to socks, insoles, underwear and exercise clothing.... You can find them all, these so-called "aqua titanium" health products.

Since Taiwan Silver Valley president Robert Chiu introduced Phiten aqua titanium products from Japan into Taiwan three years ago, eight sales outlets have been opened in Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. They have not only established brand recognition but have created a market.

"With a good product, the news naturally spreads," says Chou.

Energy products made with aqua titanium include everything from bandannas, clothes and towels to wrist wraps and necklaces.

The secret of the necklaces

There seems to be nothing special about aqua titanium products, which look similar to a nylon rope or band of stainless steel. You may not even be able to tell where the titanium is. So what sort of stuff is it? Does it possess special powers?

Chou explains that the body's cells carry electrical charge, with the outer layer of the cellular membrane tending to be positively charged, while the inner layer tends to be negatively charged. This generates what is known as bioelectrical current, which is responsible for transmitting neural signals. The bioelectrical currents within the body may be disrupted by magnetic fields in the surrounding environment.

If the flow of the human body's bioelectrical energy is affected by electromagnetic waves, or stress from work, finances, or interpersonal relationships--or if it is disrupted by a decline in activity stemming from physical discomfort--problems may arise in signal transmission. Such a situation will produce non-pathological maladaptive symptoms such as muscular pain, stiffness, tension, poor blood circulation, fatigue and so forth, says Chou.

After more than ten years of research, "aqua titanium" energy products were successfully developed in Japan in 1995. It was claimed that these products could rectify disrupted bioelectric flows in the body, produce beneficial magnetic fields, and facilitate better health.

"The key is technology, and not materials," says Chou. He states that Phiten technology has already been patented in various countries. This technology can change the electrical charge of matter, and thereby influence the space where the matter is present.

As for why titanium is used, it was chosen because in its pure form it possesses advantages such as being light, hard, stable, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic.

Phiten technology is complex; broadly, however, it consists of using nanotechnology to pulverize macromolecular titanium into nanoparticles (less than 10-9 meters), and then "locking" them into various products.

Energy products made with aqua titanium include everything from bandannas, clothes and towels to wrist wraps and necklaces.

Really amazing

Recently, Kenneth Yen, vice chairman of Yulon Motor, has become a proponent of the benefits of aqua titanium products. At one public event, when a reporter asked him about the effectiveness of the titanium bracelet he was wearing, Yen answered, "Don't you feel that I am answering reporters' questions more quickly now?" Yen's endorsement of titanium products has been an enormous boon for their popularity, encouraging quite a few office workers to follow his example.

Many athletes also use titanium products. Chou Chi-bin, a player on the Chinatrust Whales of the Chinese Professional Baseball League notes that titanium necklaces are popular among both local and foreign pro baseball players. Most players wear one, with some complaining that one is not enough and braiding three of them together to increase the effect.

While some athletes feel that their physical endurance is much improved and soreness reduced when wearing a titanium necklace, Chou Chi-bin admits that he senses no obvious change when wearing one. Conversely it is a "lodestone" given to him by a friend that has reduced fatigue and improved the suppleness of his cervical vertebrae. However, because the lodestone is somewhat heavy, he rarely wears it during games. Because of its heft, it is less often seen than titanium neck chains, which resemble ordinary ornamental jewelry.

Not a cure-all

After three years of promotion in Taiwan, Taiwan Silver Valley already boasts more than 40,000 members.

Does it really work? Do they really hold special powers? Just as one must drink the water to know if it is hot or cold, so it is with titanium products. Whatever the case may be, though they are sold using claims of being scientifically proven, aqua titanium products do not provide any therapeutic effects.

"Aqua titanium products are for staying healthy," stresses Taiwan Silver's Chou. Their only effect is in maintaining health, he remarks. They cannot be used to treat disease. If someone is truly ill, they must see a doctor.

With all this in mind, do you believe aqua titanium to truly be anything remarkable?