Benefits of Wearing Copper The use of copper for medicinal purposes is found throughout recorded history. The world's oldest medical texts, the Eber Papyrus, states, "Treat inflammation with pulverized copper". Today, thousands of years later, pharmacies around the world offer copper bracelets as a safe first aid for joint pains. "Copper, when in contact with the skin, forms chelates with human sweat (sometimes seen as green deposits) and is thus absorbed through skin." "Copper chelates are more effective and less toxic than drugs being used to treat arthritis." Green wrist occurances vary depending on the body chemistry of the wearer and, if desired, are easily washed off. Many expect an occassional green mark to show that the copper "is working". Copper combines with sweat, and forms compounds called chelates which are assimilated by the body. Green deposits occur when chelates are formed faster then they are absorbed. This phenomenon increases with stress and it can be intrepreted as an early warning to slow down.