My japanese friend uses one of these:
According to the claims brushing the germanium plates along the skin reduces “puffy face” and helps skin in other ways. Anyone who can speak Japanese have any idea what they are actually claiming? Could there be any harmful or toxic effects from using one of these?
Well, germanium has a low toxicity for mammals, so poisoning is unlikely. But it does have a toxicity against bacteria (and a chemical behavior similar to carbon ), which makes it useful as a chemotherapeutic agent.
But whether rubbing it against your skin actually helps, I’m doubtful.
$150ish for a ‘magic wand’ that you rub on your skin? Yike!
(I mentally divide yen prices by 100 to get rough ballpark prices in Canadian dollars (or US or Australian dollars–the three currencies are roughly at par these days)).
Google translate made hilarious Engrish.
“In developing the theme was the battle of the cost. Developed to be pleasing to you.”
“Ordinary metals conduct electricity and is a rare metal with properties intermediate between those with no electricity to pass. When the germanium in contact with human body has been collaboration with Waseda University in Leda or what effect the adjoining area.”
I looks like any other kind of scam, like wearing magnets to cure anything from staving off motion sickness to cancer, and Head-On.
Looks like they contain - Aluminum, ABS plastic and pure germanium.
None of them seem harmful, but neither do they seem useful.
I remember seeing these ads recently.
Here’s a review with some pictures of the manual.
There is too much to translate, but in short, she seems to like it.
Most of the reviews I found were positive. People saying their eyes are not puffy, and necks are stiffer, and they could feel the change form the first use and so on. (I guess most cosmetics reviews read the same)
http://www.cosme.net/product/product_id/10001714/reviews
Personally, it seems overpriced and kinda faddy to me.
I don’t approve of germaniums. They’re cheerful and all, but they don’t have a very pleasant scent and the stems are too short to cut for bouquets.
I expect you’re confusing it with its isotope; Pelargomium.
Thanks so much :D:D:D best laugh today
This is hardly germane to the discussion.
So Basically they are not even trying to make a pseudo scientific explanation ? Apparently germanium spa baths are popular in japan as well…
I found this on an amazon page for organic germanium :
Germanium is one of over 100 elements on earth and has the atomic symbol Ge and element number 32. It is a semi-metal with both metal and non-metal properties. In recent years, the chemical composition of organic germanium, which has medical benefits for humans, has been confirmed. Unlike pharmaceutical products, organic germanium (Ge-132) treats various human illnesses by enhancing the body’s natural healing powers. Our organic germanium is used to produce medicines in Japan for its high purity.
That’s about the flimsiest attempt I’ve ever seen?
“Organic germanium”? Grown without artificial fertilizer, I guess.
Someone up a ways spoke disparagingly of wearing magnets. I’ll have you know that my Japanese SO swears by wearing little magnets on his shoulders (about the size of three heads of pins each*) to make his arms feel better. And also that they make his watch run fast. So there!
*I didn’t use “pinheads” as a measure to prevent the obvious jokes
Roddy
Plus, if you don’t feed them, they’ll invade the yard next door. 
No, they’re being sneaky. By “organic germanium” they mean it’s carbon-based.
I usually object to pedantry over the usage of the term ‘organic’, but yeah, if the subject is chemistry, which it is here, then ‘organic germanium’ is that special kind of stupid nonsense.
Please note that this company isn’t claiming to be organic. The claims they do make are bogus, but they package it like it’s a real product.
The FAQ notes you only need to use it for 3 minutes a day, that you don’t need to push hard and you should use it from the inside of your face outward. If you notice any abnormality from using it, please discontinue usage.
The only things I use on the inside of my face are food and toothpaste.