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:

• Magnetic Converter by Precision Distributing
• Magnetic and/or LED Converters by Mend Technology
• PEMF devices by Wellness PEMF
• iCare PEMF by iCare
• Bone Growth Therapies by Orthofix
• iMRS 2000 & iMRS Prime by iMRS
• Mats & Applicators by Bemer
• Healy Device & Coil by Healy
• AmpCoil System by AmpCoil
• MultiWave Mat by HealthyWave Pro
• Sleep on Command by Earth Pulse

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.

RESOURCES

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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