Phiten is a company that makes necklaces worn for the supposed purpose of soothing one's body. The name Phiten comes from the Greek letter "Phi" Φ, and the exponent 10.

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What makes up a Phiten necklace, the science behind it.

The term "Phiten" comes from the Greek letter Phi, which symbolizes a perfect balance in the natural world. Thus Phiten products aim to achieve a perfectly balanced flow of energy throughout the body. Phiten necklaces are made out of Titanium. Titanium was first discovered in 1791 by the Reverend William Gregor, an English pastor. The pure form of titanium was first produced by Matthew A. Hunter, an American metallurgist, in 1910.

Titanium is the ninth most abundant element in the earth's crust and is primarily found in the minerals rutile (TiO2), ilmenite (FeTiO3) and sphene (CaTiSiO5), and Titanium makes up about 0.57% of the earth's crust. The word "Titanium" comes from the Greek word "Titan," the mythological "first sons of the Earth."

Titanium is a strong, light metal. It is as strong as steel and twice as strong as aluminum, but is 45% lighter than steel and only 60% heavier than aluminum. Titanium is not easily corroded by sea water and is used in propeller shafts, rigging and other parts of boats that are exposed to sea water. Titanium and titanium alloys are used in airplanes, missiles and rockets where strength, low weight and resistance to high temperatures are important. Since titanium does not react within the human body,(like the Phiten company says it does), it is used to create artificial hips, pins for setting bones and for other biological implants. Unfortunately, the high cost of titanium has limited its widespread use. Phiten claims that the titanium metal used in their product soaks into the body giving it balance, and an even flow of energy. The science behind Titanium metal disproves this statement. Because of the high cost of this metal, it also drives up the price of the necklaces and bracelets. People end up paying high prices for false advertising.

Atomic Number: 22

Atomic Weight: 47.867

Melting Point: 1941 K (1668°C or 3034°F)

Boiling Point: 3560 K (3287°C or 5949°F)

Density: 4.5 grams per cubic centimeter

Phase at Room Temperature: Solid

Element Classification: Metal

Period Number: 4 Group Number: 4 Group Name: none

Product claims

Through what the company calls the "Phild process", titanium is supposedly turned into "aqua-titanium". The company claims to be able to integrate small amounts of this metal directly into fabric. The medical and performance-enhancing claims relating to Phiten's products are considered pseudoscience

Pseudoscience

Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...

 and Phiten is unable to provide any published studies finding a medical benefit from wearing its metal-infused necklaces and bracelets. Similar products, especially those worn and endorsed by sports figures, have been prevalent in recent years. Most notably the Q Ray Bracelet which was subject to an FTC lawsuit in 2003. Although its claimed therapeutic value was disproved and a $11.8 million judgment was found these items are still legal for sale as jewelry only. Claims of the "medical and therapeutic" value of these ionic devices are now provided only by "satisfied customers" through testimonials to avoid a claim of deceptive advertising. Fatigue is not caused by an imbalance of ions in the body, and the technology behind the company's products is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Company history

The company was founded in 1983 by Yoshihiro Hirata and Ayako Doue in Japan, with the international headquarters in Kyoto. After an illness curtailed his training as a chef, Hirata claims to have studied physical therapy and rehabilitation methods on his own. At the age of 29 he started a physical therapy center and later developed the titanium-infused tape. The infused tape worked great for awhile, but Yoshihiro wanted something that could be warn more easily throughout the day. word Phiten comes from the Greek letter Phi which is used to symbolize balance.

The Pros and Cons of Phiten

The cons of the Phi-ten Necklace Wearing a Phi-ten Necklace has been declared to improve game performance, but has only been considered a “Placebo Effect”. The necklace does not stimulate your body nor does it contain your energy. Scientists have run tests on the necklace and have found no evidence that it stimulates your body’s electricity system. They have now been advertised towards younger audiences by Professional Athletes, which create a need for the product in order to perform like they do. And has been a growing phenomenon for some time now.

Sponsorship, usage and role among athletes worldwide

Athletes and people all over the world are now using Phiten. Whether it truly has a scientific purpose, or if it is just a stylish cultural phenomenon, Phiten has taken hold the world of sports.

Since Phiten's founding in 1983, the company has expanded to have six sister companies in China, France, Germany, Korea, the United Kingdom and Europe, and the United States. Phiten has distributors in over 20 countries including Canada, Mexico, France, and Russia.[1]
In 2007, Phiten acquired a license for the MLB Authentic Collection. It became the first Japanese company to do so, and only nine other corporations have such a license.

Major League Baseball Player Randy Johnson was one of the first American athletes to begin wearing a Phiten necklace following a trip to Japan years ago, and the necklaces gained widespread prominence when Boston Red Sox players wore them during their 2004 World Series championship run. Now Phiten necklaces can now be seen worn by a variety of people and athletes of all sports.

Some of the major athletes in Japan that wear Phiten necklaces are Shingo Katayama (professional golfer), Naoko Takahashi, Tomoaki Kanemoto and Yu Darvish (professional baseball player). In the USA, the company sponsors Major League Baseball (MLB) players Josh Beckett, Tim Lincecum, Joba Chamberlain, Jon Lester, Randy Johnson, Clay Buchholz, Justin Verlander, Justin Morneau, Brandon Webb, C.J. Wilson, Dustin Pedroia and countless other players. Phiten also sponsors golfer Sergio Garcia, marathon runner Paula Radcliffe, basketball player Carmelo Anthony, German ice hockey player Otto Keresztes, and softball player Jennie Finch Phiten can also been seen worn by National Football League (NFL) players as well such as Matt Hasselbeck of the Seattle Seahawks and Damon Huard of the Kansas City Chiefs.

What are the Predominant users of Phiten saying about it?

"Now, I'm kind of hooked," said Hasselbeck, who questioned whether it would work but now constantly wears a Phiten necklace with the team's colors.
Hasselbeck is only one among the ever growing number of professional athletes who wear Phiten's titanium-laced products.