People today are turning to complementary and alternative therapies for many different reasons to help them deal with their health concerns and to improve their overall wellness.
Electrotherapy has been around for decades, and PEMF has steadily risen to become a recognized form of electrical treatment that can help many different medical conditions and complaints.
Consumers today have more choices than ever before for purchasing a PEMF device, which is excellent news but can also leave you feeling a little confused.
Have you heard of PEMF therapy?
Are you wondering if owning a PEMF device is right for you?
And, if so, which machine is the best choice for your needs?
This PEMF Buying Guide will help you determine if using PEMF therapy can help you, which functions and features to look for when purchasing a device, and how to know if the device you are getting will meet your needs.
We help you understanding everything you need to know about wavelengths, frequencies, and intensities, as well as the many ways that PEMF stimulation can be applied.
We hope this guide will answer all your questions and leave you ready to make your own PEMF device buying decision.
Understanding PEMF Therapy
PEMF stands for pulsed electromagnetic field, and it is a form of electrotherapy that uses specific kinds of energy to heal the body.
PEMF therapy is administered using a device that emits low-intensity, low-frequency pulses of energy that are generated from an electromagnetic coil.
Because the energy that is emitted is compatible and complementary of the natural electromagnetic fields within our body, they can help restore your cells’ function and improve your health in many ways.
PEMF therapy helps you feel better because it naturally restores your cells’ energy, which they need to function correctly.
By emitting pulses of low-intensity energy that are matched to those of your cells, PEMF devices help restore your cells to their natural state.
This enables them to function correctly, rejuvenate, repair damage, and create new cells.
When each cell is working correctly, your body can heal itself from many of the symptoms, conditions, and diseases that plague us today.
When you expose your body’s cells to PEMF stimulation, it increases cellular metabolism, which means your tissues, organs, skin, and bones can all recover from illness and injury, repair itself from aging, and protect itself from unwanted pathogens and invaders.
PEMF therapy has been shown to help treat several common diseases as well as alleviate chronic symptoms like pain and inflammation.
By restoring your body’s balance and natural state, you will notice improvements in all your functions and processes, including sleep.
When your cells are stimulated using PEMF treatments, they repair and regenerate more efficiently.
That means that anyone struggling with an injury, a disease, or a chronic condition can benefit from this form of therapy.
Because PEMF therapy is safe and easy, it makes the perfect option for at-home treatments to address a variety of health needs.
When selecting a PEMF device, there are three critical questions that you will want to be answered before making your final selection.
What waveforms can it emit, what frequency or frequencies does it use, and at what intensity does it operate? Understanding these can help you to make the best choice for your wellness needs.
How to Select the Best Waveform for PEMF Therapy
A PEMF device will emit one or more specific types of waveforms. What is a waveform?
Think of it as a picture that represents the amplitude of an electrical signal over time.
As the amplitude rises, the line goes up; as it decreases, the line goes down.
There are many different types of waveforms in PEMF therapy, as well as within our own bodies and even the earth.
Most PEMF devices use one or more of the most common waveforms, which include the sine (sinusoidal), square, and sawtooth patterns.
Many other waveforms are also used, but these are three of the most popular and well-studied, with sine and sawtooth being the most widely applied.
While these waveforms each look quite different and deliver energy in a somewhat different pattern, there is little evidence to suggest that one may be more effective over another.
The sine and sawtooth patterns have been heavily researched and have the most medical data to support their use, though.
So, you can feel confident in any device that uses either of the waveforms for PEMF stimulation.
How to Select the Best Frequency to Use for PEMF Therapy
Like waveforms, PEMF devices can also emit varying frequencies.
Frequency is perhaps the most crucial of options to look for in a PEMF device, as various conditions and tissues respond differently to different frequencies.
Because the goal of PEMF stimulation is to target and replenish your mitochondrial energy and capacity, selecting the right frequency can help you get the most from your healing efforts.
All PEMF devices use low frequencies that are designed to complement those of the body.
Frequency of electromagnetic fields is measured in Hertz (Hz) and is an indicator of how many cycles per second are emitted.
PEMF devices on the market today may emit frequencies as low as 0 or as high as 10,000 (which is still considered to be low on the spectrum), but the most recommended and commonly used are those between 1 and 32 Hz.
This range represents the natural EMFs of the earth and our bodies.
Choosing a device that emits a range of frequency and can be programmed to change these as needed would be the most versatile use of this form of therapy.
How to Select the Ideal Amplitude or Intensity for PEMF Therapy
The final consideration for your PEMF device is the amplitude, which is a measure of the intensity of each pulse.
This factor is measured in µT (micro-Tesla) or Gauss. To convert, you can use the ratio 100 µT equals 1 Gauss unit.
Low intensities are best for healing and wellness, and most PEMF devices today all operate at a safe and low-intensity range that heals rather than harms.
The human body cell responds best to intensities between 30 and 60 µT, where healing occurs.
Amplitudes that are too high can cause damage.
While most machines today operate at a low intensity, even those that are rated at 100 Gauss units may be too intense for your needs.
Checking the amplitude rating of your device can ensure you are getting one that will help rather than hurt you.
Who Should Use PEMF Therapy?
When it comes to asking who should buy a PEMF device, the answer is nearly everyone!
Because PEMF stimulation benefits all cells, helps combat aging, disease, and injury, and can help restore your body’s natural functions, it is great for people of all ages and with varying health needs.
Regardless of your medical condition, age, or gender, using a PEMF device can help in the following ways:
- Lower levels of inflammation throughout the body
- Reduced pain
- Improved blood circulation
- Accelerated healing for bones and other damaged tissues
- Improved muscle function
- Improved neuronal function
- Minimized effects of stress on the body
- Improved supply of oxygen to the body’s cells
- Enhanced quality of your sleep
The devices that are available today use many different applications methods, which means there is one out there that can help you treat a specific injury or condition.
Most people who choose PEMF therapy do so because it is a safe, non-invasive method of healing the body that can complement and not interfere with other forms of treatment.
In general, PEMF therapy is extremely safe and can be used by just about anyone, but there are a few people for whom PEMF stimulation is not recommended.
Those people who have any sort of implanted electrical device, including cochlear implants, pacemakers, or intrathecal pumps, should avoid placing a PEMF probe or pad directly over the electrical device.
The EMFs emitted could interfere with the electronics of your device. While this is a rare side effect, it can happen.
PEMF therapy has not been widely evaluated on pregnant women, so they shouldn’t use this form of treatment.
While it may be safe, there is not enough evidence to support this claim.
Other than these minor risks to a small subset of the population, PEMF therapy has been found to be extremely safe and to result is very few reported adverse reactions or side effects.
It can be used by just about anyone and is safe to use on all sorts of tissue, including the brain.
If you have questions about the safety of PEMF stimulation, you can also talk to your doctor.
She or he will be able to share with you any additional information available about your specific condition or concerns and tell you whether PEMF therapy is right for you.
Types of PEMF Devices
PEMF devices are designed to deliver electromagnetic stimulation either locally or diffusely, so devices are either made to be used on a specific part of the body or to deliver whole-body stimulation.
Every device will be different in how it is used or applied as well as in the intensity, waveform, and frequency that it produces.
You should carefully read the operator’s manual and specifications for any device you are considering.
Whole-body devices are usually some type of mat, and you are meant to ay upon these for various lengths of time.
They typically deliver very low-intensity pulses for more extended periods, such as while you are sleeping.
Local treatment devices use pads, applicators, paddles, and other types of probes to apply simulation to a smaller area, such as an arm, leg, or neck.
These devices are meant to be used in shorter intervals and, therefore, may deliver slightly higher intensity.
Some smaller, local-treatment devices use belts, straps, and supports to keep your PEMF device in place while you use it.
This can allow you to go about your daily routine while getting PEMF therapy.
Those who use more local treatment may do so for a specific purpose and discontinue use after an injury has healed while full-body mats are often used every day.
There is no one best PEMF device because everyone has unique needs, which means the best machine for you may differ from one that is best for others.
You should select the machine that is a match for your needs, your budget, and your health concerns.
Be sure to do your own research and make a selection based on your individual requirements, not what works for other people.
When considering a PEMF device, here are some factors you should look for when making your selection:
- Will one person be using this device or several?
- Do I have multiple conditions that PEMF therapy could help?
- Is the manufacturer a reliable one?
- Do they offer a money-back guarantee?
- How long has this company been making PEMF devices?
- If you have a problem, how easy will it be to get it fixed?
- How long per day do you plan to use the device?
- What controls and functions are essential to you?
Taking all these variables into consideration along with your health history, budget, and overall needs, you can make the most informed choice for yourself and your family when it comes time to buy a PEMF device.
If you have a specific medical condition, you should research it to learn more about the frequencies that would be best for treating it before you purchase a device.
Final Thoughts
We have known of the many health benefits of PEMF therapy for some time, and as more people in the medical community are realizing its potential, the use of at-home PEMF treatments is becoming more acceptable and available.
The variety and quality of PEMF devices today keep increasing, which is great for consumers.
PEMF therapy helps to heal the body from the inside, and this form of treatment can help prevent diseases, heal injuries, repair damage, and restore your health.
Those with chronic conditions and whose health has not improved with conventional therapy would do well to try PEMF stimulation.
Using the criteria we have outlined in this guide, you can select the best device for you with ease.