Patches to Give Energy?

[PrinceofLowLight]

A family friend has been raving about these things:

http://lifewave.com/procare

It seems a little fishy, but they seemed to be working for him. He came in on a red-eye from California and was lucid well into the evening with basically no sleep.

Can anyone who knows a thing or two about the subject comment?

[The Spartan]

This particular description sets off my warning bells:

Increase your energy and stamina

Convenient Non-Transdermal patch; nothing enters the body

Constructed from water, Oxygen and amino acids sealed inside a plastic shell

Designed for men and women; athletic and non-athletic use


This is the new approach to performance. The LifeWave™ nanotechnology patch system allows organic materials to interact with the human body to improve energy, performance and stamina without ingesting anything.

It is believed that the patches communicate the information needed to initiate the transport of fats to the cells for ATP production (the basic unit of energy in every cell). Clinical studies have shown an increase in energy and strength endurance within minutes of use.

Emphasis mine. Nothing enters the body? Then how does it raise your energy levels? Oh! They "believe" that it communicates with your cells and tells them to make energy. Also note that they have the usual disclaimer about how none of their claims have been evaluated by the FDA. They have a link to the studies that have been done but even in the one I skimmed they used phrases like, "the manufacturer believes that..." which makes me even more suspicious.

I'm gonna go get my cell phone so I can call bullshit.

[J]

Placebo. Just like the lucky jersey or special socks.

[wilfulton]

For a quick burst of energy, nothing beats having the shit scared out of you. Pure adrenaline can snap you out of it no matter how tired you are.

Mrph, seems like all these miracle pills to "increase my bank account" goddammit, I mean, "increase your energy" are getting people to shell out the dollars. See? Fishing isn't just something you do in the lake, with the right kind of bait you can catch any sucker.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

A family friend has been raving about these things:

http://lifewave.com/procare

It seems a little fishy, but they seemed to be working for him. He came in on a red-eye from California and was lucid well into the evening with basically no sleep.

Can anyone who knows a thing or two about the subject comment?

Umm, this is flim-flam and snake-oil. It uses the same "organic" and "natural" buzzwords for those ignoramuses scared of "big pharmeceuticals" and mixes together a nonsensical mish-mash of scientific buzzwords for the easily awed and depressingly undereducated.

The only way this really works is via the placebo effect. Don't let yourself be sold by his starry-eyed testimonial.

And, for that matter, it's not at all unusual for people to appear to be lucid and alert after such conditions as you described. However, subject him to a battery of tests, and his actual ability to perform will be significantly degraded, just like anyone else who is sleep-deprived.