PEMF stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field. It is a low-level electrical field produced by a specialized device with the intent of restoring a person’s body to a fully functional state. When the electromagnetic waves pass through a person’s body, they excite the electrons in that person’s cells, rejuvenating them and restoring their function. We are only as healthy as our cells, and electromagnetic waves can give our cells the boost they need to keep going.
The idea of using magnetic properties for healing is not new. The ancient Greeks used lodestone – a naturally occurring magnetic stone – to heal injuries. Jump ahead several thousand years, when Nicola Tesla was inventing electricity, several intrepid folks came up with the idea of using electricity to heal wounds and mental illnesses.
When PEMF was designed in the 1960s, it started out as a giant device called a Helmholtz coil, which the patient was placed inside of for their sessions. Nowadays, the devices are much smaller, generally appearing as a rather thick yoga mat with wires, or as a halo device attached to a large battery.
The first medical professionals to used PEMF for treatment were veterinarians, who used the technique to heal the broken legs of racehorses. Since then, many studies have been performed on the efficacy of PEMF, determining that it is effective at healing bones, reducing pain and inflammation, affecting internal organs and restoring optimal function, and reducing symptoms of depression and other mental disorders.
PEMF works on the human body by helping it do what it naturally does on its own. The average human’s cells operate at -20 to -25 millivolts at all times. When they dip below -15 millivolts is when we get sick, because the body cannot do what it needs to do and heal at the same time. Optimal healing operates at -50 millivolts. The electromagnetic waves of the PEMF device help augment the body’s natural electrical field, allowing it to heal and run normal operations at the same time.
As always there are contraindications to keep in mind. Patients with implanted devices should not use PEMF. These include pacemakers, insulin pumps, and hearing aids. The magnetic field from the PEMF device will affect the implanted device, causing it to short out and stop working. Please do not risk it.
Anyone who is actively bleeding should not use PEMF. Because the waves have dilatory effect on blood vessels, causing more blood to flow to the area, the bleeding will not stop, and fatal blood loss could occur.
Pregnant women should not use PEMF. There is very little information on what the electromagnetic waves could do to the fetus, and naturally, no testing has occurred.
And as always, please consult your physician before starting any treatment. PEMF has been given the green light by the FDA for healing broken bones, and there have been tests done on the efficacy of PEMF on other disorders, but it is always a good idea to check with your doctor.
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