Written by Jessi Cottrell, BSN, RN
The prevalence of pain and mental health disorders is on the rise, with 1 in 5 US adults affected by chronic pain, 9.5 percent affected by a depressive illness, and approximately 18 percent affected by an anxiety disorder. As PEMF therapy is increasingly utilized in 21st-century medicine for a wide range of inflammatory, painful, or psychological conditions, many people are now finding relief where previous conventional treatments failed.
Actively studied and reported in peer review since the 1970s, PEMF (Pulsed ElectroMagnetic Field) provides a safe, drug-free, non-invasive, and easy-to-use therapy that helps millions of people around the world - with the potential to help many more. If you have questions about whether PEMF therapy is right for you, we invite you to read on to find evidence-based answers about its safety, contraindications, FDA-approved use, and efficacy.
 | Sonix Pulsation Full Body Vibration PEMF System View Product |
To help assure patients are receiving treatment that has some proof of efficacy, the ethical delivery of health care demands evidence-based practice, and there is an abundance of science to back up the safety and effectiveness of PEMF therapy. Originally approved by the FDA in 1979 as a safe and effective treatment to heal nonunions of bone, PEMF treatment is now used in 72 percent of US hospitals for fractures that fail to heal, along with stimulating bone growth for conditions like osteoporosis. Since then, the FDA has approved PEMF therapy for reducing post-operative edema (swelling) and pain, as an adjunct to cervical fusion surgery, medication /treatment-resistant depression, and treating certain cancer conditions like glioblastoma and metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma.
While the FDA has not yet approved all the medical applications healthcare practitioners and their patients are using PEMF therapy for, ongoing studies continue to prove its efficacy for a wide range of conditions, including autoimmunity issues, musculoskeletal disorders, low back pain, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, and so much more. There are many PEMF devices that are registered with the FDA, including the popular PEMF brands, HealthyLine and PureWave Technologies. These medical devices can range from a Class I to a Class III status, with Class I being the safest and Class III having the most potential to cause harm (pacemakers, breast implants).
Recommended: Sonix Pulsation Full Body Vibration PEMF System
Most people tolerate PEMF therapy quite well, finding this gentle therapy to be relaxing and calming - you might even fall asleep! Some folks may feel a bit of warmth and the pulse or tap as the magnetic field does its work, while others don’t feel anything during the treatment session. For the rare people who are exceptionally sensitive to electromagnetic energy, PEMF may feel a bit intense at first. Shorter, less frequent therapy sessions can help those hypersensitive to EMFs to better tolerate the therapy in the long term. As a form of detoxification, PEMF therapy may cause some mild temporary discomfort, like headaches, fatigue, and slight nausea. These detox symptoms will fade more quickly with frequent PEMF use and staying hydrated.
PEMF therapy is extremely safe, offering a natural, drug-free, and non-invasive healing approach for a wide range of physical and mental health disorders. The electromagnetic fields produced with this therapy are at an even lower frequency than those produced by a wireless mobile device, computer, or wireless internet. Unlike other alternative healing modalities which use electrical currents that are only safe for short periods of time, PEMF has no known significant side effects with excessive exposure, using electricity only to create the magnetic field. It can be safely utilized for up to 8 hours a day, making it a great choice for treating specific conditions like osteoporosis or fibromyalgia.
Trusted for decades and essentially posing no serious risk beyond a handful of contraindications, PEMF therapy should not be used by anyone wearing a pacemaker or any other implanted electronic device like a cochlear implant or defibrillator. Because scientific research is still sparse regarding safety during pregnancy, it is recommended to avoid it. This lack of research also contraindicates PEMF for open wounds, active bleeding disorders, and blood clots. People living with epilepsy and seizures will want to exercise caution, along with those who have received organ transplants, as PEMF may cause complications.
 | PureWave PEMF Full-Body PEMI Mat System View Product |
The PureWave PEMF Full-Body PEMI Mat System has been extensively researched and repeatedly substantiated to deliver exceptional EMF elimination and ion transport, boasting ground-breaking technology and featuring prominently in the science and medical media. Holding 3 international patents, this Class I medical device utilizes proprietary portable electromagnetic ion transport (PEMI), functioning with extremely low frequency (ELF) programs that sync with the natural frequencies of the human body. Effective at clearing the electrosmog inherent with the harmful, higher frequency EMFs in our environment, the beneficial low-frequency tech used in the PEMI mat helps to restore cell-to-cell communication, reducing EMF disruption and helping to bring the body back into balance and harmony. This system is also conveniently lightweight and easy to transport for therapy on the go!
As the public demand for more effective, non-invasive, and drug-free pain solutions is rising, it’s good to know that PEMF therapy has been found to be a safe, effective, and well-tolerated answer. Beneficial for a wide range of physical and psychological conditions, PEMF therapy has been FDA-approved for some specific conditions, such as stimulating bone growth for osteoporosis and nonunion fractures. The plethora of research done so far demonstrates that pulsed electromagnetic field therapy is also successfully utilized as an adjunct or stand-alone healing modality for several other medical conditions as well.
Thank you for reading this article and we hope it helps you to understand more about PEMF therapy and how it can optimize your health. We invite you to check out our Caregiver University blog where you will find a wealth of information to help you and your loved ones to attain maximum wellness and live your best life.
Jessi Cottrell is a Registered Nurse, copywriter, mother, and avid book reader. Her nurse background includes emergency medicine, psych & trauma, orthopedic surgery, addiction detox & rehabilitation, and school nursing. She has a passion for finding non-pharmacological methods to treat pain. This passion is fueled by her experience in addiction medicine as well as her own experiences with pain management after various surgeries.
