Blog Layout

Types of PEMF Technologies

Dr. Jessie • November 27, 2022

This is Part Two in a series on PEMF or Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy, which is a modality we are pleased to offer in addition to Frequency Specific Microcurrent right here at The Healing Collective.

There are an overwhelming number of PEMF products on the market today. Some have FDA approval. Some do not. Some are prescribed by surgeons and covered by insurance. Others are available through network marketing companies can be purchased from your neighbor. There is significant preliminary research on PEMF and also a lot of room for further study (stay tuned for next week's post on current PEMF data). How does one make sense of all these options?


What are Some of the PEMF Devices Available On the Market?

There are far too many devices to list completely here, and there are new devices coming available every day. Here is a short list of some of the current PEMF systems that are available:



NOTE: This is, by far, not a complete list so please excuse omissions.


Some of these devices require a prescription from a healthcare provider. The reason for this is because providers can undergo training and education to enable them to cater treatments to their patients on a case-by-case basis, in order to keep patient safe and keep the treatments as effective as possible. Others purport to scan the bioenergetic field and deliver frequencies based off of a scan. Still others offer programs that target specific qualities or conditions, such as sleep or pain.



What are the Similarities Between Various PEMF Devices?

  • There is an electromagnetic field created
  • The frequencies delivered are typically expressed in Hertz (pulses per second)
  • Increased cellular energy can lead to improved cellular function
"The scientific evidence is that PEMF therapy is effective because it conveys ‘information’ that triggers specific repair activities within the body. The currents induced in tissues by PEMF mimic the natural electrical activities created within bones during movements. Pulsing magnetic fields initiate a cascade of activities, from the cell membrane to the nucleus and on to the gene level, where specific changes take place."

— James Oschman

Medical Use of Electricity & Magnetism
in Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis

What are the Differences Between Various PEMF Devices?

What are the differences between these devices?  And why does it matter?



  • Some require a prescription or recommendation by a provider; others do not
  • The size of the field created is different depending on multiple factors
  • The strength of the field created differs
  • The delivery system (is it a headband? a wrist band? a pad? a wand? a mat that you lay on? a probe?)
  • The generator that creates the field and frequencies
  • The specific frequencies delivered (or not delivered) in each protocol or program


What Matters : The Specific Frequencies

The most important difference between the various PEMF devices available are the frequencies (you could consider them the "instructions") that are pulsing throughout the electromagnetic field.  In many cases, these frequencies are pre-programmed into the devices, and depending on which delivery system you use, you may or may not have much control over (or even know) which frequency instructions are being delivered.


Some devices available are pre-programmed to match the biorhythm or circadian rhythms throughout a 24-hour day, optimizing a treatment to the specific time of day.  Other PEMF units have programs that specify treatment for different tissues, different qualities - or desired qualities.  Some offer a "menu" of options from a pre-programmed Mode Bank.  Other devices are optimized for one specific purpose, such as improving microcirculation, alleviating symptoms associated with depression, improving bone healing, or promoting restful sleep — and that's all they do.


Which is Best?

In short: it depends on your individual goals, condition, current level of function, capacity, and needs.  What do you want to get out of your PEMF treatments?

"It truly depends on what your goals are. You can spend a whole lot of money on some of these devices.
If you are seeking PEMF therapy for very specific wellness outcomes such as alleviating your chronic low back pain, optimizing and recovering from a surgery, promoting the function of an elimination pathway, or supporting mood: I strongly recommend working with a practitioner who has extensive training in Frequency Medicine who can test, treat, and program a PEMF unit.  That is the best way to discern what can benefit you as an individual and ensure you get the outcomes you hope for in the long term."
— Dr. Jessie
Certified Frequency Specific Microcurrent Practitioner
Doctor of Physical Therapy

Of all the devices available, some claim to be able to scan your bioenergetic field and deliver frequencies according to the scan. Others have standardized programs that have been shown to help with conditions like depression or arthritis.  We have seen many patients who were passionate about frequency medicine but didn't quite achieve the goals they hoped for with their pre-programmed devices.


Here is the rub: if you are looking to use PEMF to help your chronic headaches, for instance, the effectiveness of the protocols very much depends upon the root cause of your headaches. If you have headaches because you have systemic gut & brain inflammation from eating gluten, just as an example, a PEMF program that helps with upper-cervical misalignment headaches or a PEMF program that addresses reduced circulation will not be helpful to you, because you are not treating the correct root cause.


You may have trouble sleeping and try a device that claims to help with insomnia.  There are all sorts of testimonials stating that it is effective.  However, if that device does not treat the reason you have insomnia, it may not work for you.  Insomnia can come from emotional factors, detoxification impairments, food sensitivities, hormonal imbalances, and on and on, so if you try a PEMF device and it "doesn't work," it may simply mean you're not targeting the correct root cause. 


This is where seeing a Frequency Medicine practitioner with extensive experience and a root cause (or Functional Medicine) perspective can be absolutely game changing.


Frequency Prescription for PEMF

The benefit of working with a practitioner who can take your complete history, assess your symptoms and perform a physical exam, treat you in real time, and make adjustments is this:  You are not just getting some standardized, pre-packaged treatment. You are getting true individualized support to promote wellness that is specific to your unique system. A healthcare provider specializing in Frequency Medicine should be able to direct you to the most cost-effective and outcomes-driven option for you.


There are undoubtable benefits from running a pre-programmed PEMF device twice per day; there are data to support this. However, clinical experience suggests that there is an even stronger potential for benefit when you are prescribed a PEMF unit after a thorough assessment of your body's response to very specific frequencies within the PEMF field.



A skilled Frequency Medicine medical provider is trained to assess your tissue's response to specific frequency combinations in real time.  There are ways your provider should test your body's reaction to the instructions in the field, and then can customize protocols that will truly work for you. 


PEMF at The Healing Collective

Dr. Jessie is involved in collecting effectiveness data on customized PEMF protocols for her patients and is committed to contributing to the research on this exciting modality. She is happy to advise clients on the best options for their specific goals, for the best possible therapeutic benefit.


Currently, Dr. Jessie integrates PEMF therapies into her Physical Therapy and Frequency Specific Microcurrent sessions.  Dr. Madelyn Altman also utilizes these therapies in her Integrative Pelvic Therapy and Frequency Specific Microcurrent sessions.  You can contact The Healing Collective to schedule a free consult and learn more.


Schedule a Free Consult
RESOURCES

Bohn W, Hess L, Burger R. The effects of the "Physical BEMER® vascular therapy," a method for the physical stimulation of the vasomotion of precapillary microvessels in case of impaired microcirculation, on sleep, pain and quality of life of patients with different clinical pictures on the basis of three scientifically validated scales. J Complement Integr Med. 2013; 10: S5-S13. doi:10.1515/jcim-2013-0037


Hug K and Röösli M. Therapeutic effects of whole-body devices applying pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF): A systematic literature review. Bioelectromagnetics. 2011; 33(2): 95–105. doi:10.1002/bem.20703


Meyers, BA. PEMF: The Fifth Element of Health, 2013. Balboa Press.


Miller, CP, Prener, M, Dissing, S, Paulson, OB. Transcranial low-frequency pulsating electromagnetic fields (T-PEMF) as post-concussion syndrome treatment. Acta Neurol Scand. 2020; 142: 597– 604. https://doi.org/10.1111/ane.13300


Larsen ER, Licht RW, Nielsen RE, et al. Transcranial pulsed electromagnetic fields for treatment-resistant depression: A multicenter 8-week single-arm cohort study. Eur Psychiatry. 2020; 63(1): e18. Published 2020 Feb 18. doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.3


Oschman, JL, PhD. Energy Medicine (Second Edition), 2016


Peng L, Fu C, Wang L, Zhang, Q, Liang Z, He C and Wei Q. The Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on Angiogenesis. Bioelectromagnetics. 2021; 42: 250-258. https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.22330


Yang X, He H, Ye W, Perry TA, He C. Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Pain, Stiffness, Physical Function, and Quality of Life in Patients With Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials. Phys Ther. 2020; 100(7): 1118-1131. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzaa054

Happy Pride and Alzheimer's/Brain Awareness Month!

By Tracy Shulsinger • June 1, 2024
This month has two very important celebrations that I would love to connect. Making connections is actually one of the strengths of the functional medicine detection process that guides us to the root causes of illness and toward healing! I now invite you to take a pause and ask yourself, what does pride in owning one’s sexual orientation as LGBTQ have to do with brain health and Alzheimer's Disease? As not to leave anyone out- if you identify as straight or heterosexual, what could having pride in yourself have to do with your brain health and Alzheimer's? An important connection that I would like to make involves the nervous system. The brain is a central component of the nervous system, along with the spinal cord and nerves. Our nervous system influences and controls many bodily functions and is also influenced and controlled by many factors. Our emotional state highly influences our nervous system. Individuals who do not feel accepted to be who they are without being judged, criticized, ridiculed and loved by others live under tremendous stress. They often feel unsafe- emotionally and/or physically. Living with constant emotional stress and feeling physically or emotionally unsafe takes a major toll on the nervous system, including the brain, and can be one of many contributors to cognitive impairment. This constant level of stress can impair cognitive function. Stress is inflammatory to the body and brain. Stress affects neurotransmitter production, causing excess excitatory neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and epinephrine, which up-regulate our system which can unfortunately cause even more stress. Stress also causes increased cortisol, the stress hormone to be produced. An excess of these chemicals causes health consequences to many bodily systems. To name a few: Cardiovascular- increased blood pressure and heart rate Respiratory- shallow and rapid breathing that reduces oxygenation Musculoskeletal- pain and tension Endocrine System- sex hormone and thyroid hormone abnormalities due to the HPATG (Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal Thyroid Gonadal) Axis disturbance caused by high cortisol and elevated blood sugar that could advance to diabetes Immune system- Autoimmune disease risk increases significantly from chronic stress Gastrointestinal- GI issues due to parasympathetic and vagus nerve disruption And on and on! Every single system is affected by chronic stress in the nervous system. 

Detoxing is Critical to Long Term Health!

By Tracy Shulsinger • May 23, 2024
When people ask me what is one of the most important elements of healthy living, disease prevention and feeling one’s best I always include detoxing as a top priority. Then one of 2 things generally happens. People respond with a resounding, yes! Or I get the deer in the headlight look. I love to break down information for my clients because the more understanding into why something matters, the more follow through and greater benefit to the client will occur. Detoxing is so critical because we are exposed to toxins all day, every day, in our modern life through our basic survival needs and beyond. . Exposure comes through the air we breathe, water we drink, food we eat, personal hygiene products we ironically use to cleanse and care for ourselves and our living spaces. Additionally, extra exposures occur when we renovate our homes or offices; buy a new mattress, carpet, or couch due to the new materials off-gassing chemicals used in the manufacturing process. On top of this certain industries provide extra exposures, such as: mechanics, chemists, beauticians who work in spas and nail salons, artists, construction workers/contractors/mechanical engineers, hospital workers, farmers and more! The deer in the headlights look continues and people wonder, how to detox? People often ask- do I have to do a juice diet or not eat…they often imagine something hard and extreme. Yes, these types of detox’s do exist but must be short lived and thus are less effective. The best type of detox is actually one that supports your daily life rather than interfering with it. There are 3 important, simple messages I’d like to share regarding detoxing. First, living a detox lifestyle is an important way to provide self care to your body, mind and emotions. This means you are eating, drinking, moving, bathing and sweating in an intentional way that helps the daily toxins that flow in, to flow right back out. This preventative method significantly reduces toxin accumulation . Second, address stored toxins by doing a deeper detox dive over multiple months. Start with supporting your drainage pathways, which is “Phase 3” of the body’s detoxing cycle. For this I recommend a detox kit by Cellcore, which they named Phase 1…sorry for the confusion! This is Phase 1 of a detox protocol but in fact it supports Phase 3 of our own body’s detox elimination cycle. Once the body’s drainage pathways are open then deeper detoxing is safe, effective and comfortable, which I love to guide people through!. Thirdly, incorporate intermittent fasting on a regular basis. At the least, do a 12 hour fast overnight. But then build up from there. I strongly recommend that we discuss this further before doing longer fasts to maximize effectiveness and minimize unwanted results. In addition to detoxing support, fasting also supports longevity, cancer prevention and treatment, metabolic disorders- but when not done correctly, especially for a woman's body, it can actually cause unwanted hormonal changes. I would love to support your detoxing needs further so if you feel you are in need and ready for some detox support, please reach out. Wishing you all the best and so, so well! With love, Tracy Shulsinger, FNP

Inhaled Molecular Hydrogen to Enhance Your Treatment Sessions

By The Healing Collective • May 10, 2024
INHALED MOLECULAR HYDROGEN IS NOW AVAILABLE IN SCHEDULED PHYSICAL THERAPY SESSIONS

A Heart Screening Test To Know About

By Tracy Shulsinger • February 21, 2024
Heart health is a major concern for many people. According to the Centers For Disease Control Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) has been the leading cause of death since 1950. Many daily choices are based on heart health. These may include not smoking, exercising, limiting high fat foods, taking heart focused supplements/medications, heart medical tests, and more.

Menopause is a Journey Part 1

By Tracy Shulsinger • October 30, 2023
The next several blogs will be presenting a series of information about menopause. This topic is SO immense that it will take many months to share...besides menopause is a journey! This series will open with presenting an article, “Women Have Been Mislead About Menopause” in the New York Times that was published in February 2023. I tremendously appreciate this article due to the blend of compassion and sensitivity regarding women who suffer through menopause and the scientific reporting from many excellent sources including large and small studies and experts in the field. Menopause is a topic that I am very passionate about. It affects every single woman and despite this wide reach, there is still a high amount of reported confusion, distress and poor impacts to quality of life and global health reported by women during per-menopause and menopause. One healthcare topic that affects half of the population in the world is worth giving lots of attention! But yet there is tremendous controversy about this topic and many women report difficulty having a satisfying conversation w/ their providers about menopause- one where they feel well informed of benefits and not just risks, lack of judgment and a sensitivity to their experience. Here are some important take-aways from this article regarding the many signs and symptoms women can experience: About 85% of women experience symptoms during menopause Hot flash’s are too often all that is discussed and understood by women as menopause symptoms. In fact there are whole body, systemic changes as well. The severity and experiences vary woman to women but here is a more complete list of signs and symptoms: Brain: Vascular effects, cognitive changes/impairments, poor word finding, forgetfulness, short term memory disturbances. Mental/Emotional Health- Insomnia, depression, anxiety, irritability, reduced libido Skin/Mucous Membranes- Dryness to skin, mouth, eyes; accelerated skin aging in appearance and loss of elasticity Cardiovascular- Increased cholesterol Gastrointestinal- Digestive disturbances Genitourinary/Vaginal- urinary leakage/incontinence, dryness, painful intercourse, atrophic vaginitis, increase in infections such as “BV” (bacterial vaginitis) and yeast infections, excessive vaginal bleeding, unpredictable menstrual cycles, shortening or lengthening of menstrual cycle. Musculoskeletal- joint pain, bone density loss that can lead to Osteopenia and further to Osteoporosis Metabolic- weight gain and body composition changes including reduction in muscle mass and increase in belly fat

Perimenopause - Know the Facts!

By Dr. Madelyn Altman • October 16, 2023
Everyone talks about what to expect during pregnancy and the first year of a child’s life, but few women are aware and few allopathic providers are talking about what to expect in perimenopause, which is why it is vital to increase awareness and inspire action. Most women enter perimenopause in their 40’s, but changes can begin as early as mid to late 30’s. These changes and symptoms can begin up to 10 years before menopause. Perimenopausal women may experience none, some, or all of the following symptoms:
Most of the crops in the US are sprayed with Glyphosate which is found in 70% of urine

The Harmful Effects of Glyphosate (and what YOU can do about it!)

By The Healing Collective • October 6, 2023
Glyphosate is a worldwide commonly used herbicide and is the primary toxic chemical in Roundup™, as well as in many other herbicides. Have you been eating a dangerous dose of poison without even knowing it?! Since the 1970s, we've seen a huge increase of a herbicide called glyphosate on our food crops - scientists estimate that over 150,000 tons are sprayed annually across America!

Staying Well this Fall & Sick Care when Needed

By Tracy Shulsinger • August 29, 2023
This month's blog is inspired by the times- back to school, approaching fall a.k.a cold/flu season and the increase in COVID cases amongst us. In fact I was exposed myself and am now nursing myself back to health. The functional medicine approach is quite simple when it comes to maintaining and improving health. Eliminate what doesn't belong in the body that contributes to disease and introduce or increase what supports health. In regards to viral illnesses such as the common cold and COVID, this approach is very helpful. While we still can be exposed and contract an illness, the severity of the illness can be significantly reduced by following dietary considerations and taking supportive supplements before, during, and after an illness.
Cutting Edge Frequency Specific Support for Surgical Procedures

Frequency Specific Support for Pre and Post-Op!

By Jessica Tierney • August 15, 2023
We have supported procedures including root canals, tooth extractions, shoulder replacements, hysterectomies, orchiopexies, ACL reconstructions, rotator cuff repairs, hip replacements, knee replacements & revisions, spinal surgeries, fusions, ankle surgeries, fracture ORIFs, osteoporosis & osteopenia, abdominal surgeries, and many many more procedures with frequency medicine. While we love to help our patients prevent the need for drugs or surgery, there are times when a procedure is essential and we especially enjoy helping the process go as smoothly as possible.

Frequencies for Brain Health

By Jessie Tierney • June 20, 2023
Frequency Specific Microcurrent pairs tissue and condition frequencies to elicit notable changes in patient symptoms. Brain Fog, Stroke, Acute and Chronic Concussion are conditions that all can be supported by a skilled Frequency Specific Microcurrent Practitioner who customizes treatment to your specific condition.
More Posts
Share by: