Written by Dr. Eric Wood, ND, MA
A common response to pain or discomfort is to take over-the-counter medication, but more than 50 percent of people who take OTC medicine for everyday pain misuse these medications at some point. Additionally, many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including acetaminophen and ibuprofen, have side effects. Overuse of these increases the risk of stomach ulcers, kidney problems, and liver dysfunction.
An alternative to medication is Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy, using bursts of low-level electromagnetic radiation in waves of varying frequencies to stimulate and support the body’s natural recovery process. An electric current is passed through copper coils in the PEMF device, often a mat or applicator, that generates a magnetic field that enters the body’s cells.
Cells possess an electrical charge, which is diminished when there is injury, trauma, or disease in an area. The magnetic field generated by a PEMF therapy device can transfer an electric charge to cells, which helps to activate the body’s natural healing mechanism.
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Low-frequency microwave pulses pass through the skin in PEMF therapy, penetrating deeply into muscles, tendons, bones, and other internal structures. These pulses activate the cell’s mitochondria, stimulating the body’s natural healing mechanisms. Not all damaged tissues can regenerate, but even so, PEMF therapy can improve blood flow, reduce pain, and decrease swelling in the targeted areas.
Depending on the underlying condition, it’s common to see noticeable PEMF therapy benefits within the first week or two. There are some conditions, though, that can take weeks or months to see final results. Since illness can sometimes take a long time to develop, it can take a long time to heal. For chronic ongoing issues, it could be six months before achieving optimal results, but during that healing process, PEMF therapy can help manage symptoms and reduce pain.
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For short- and long-term treatment, PEMF therapy reduces pain via pain blocking, decreased inflammation, increased tissue oxygenation, increased circulation of blood and fluids, and increased cellular flexibility. By stimulating the body’s natural healing process, PEMF therapy helps eliminate the cause of pain. In addition, PEMF therapy reduces nerve pain and may help slow the progression of nerve damage. It also disrupts the path that pain signals would take to the brain, dampening the sensation of pain.
The electromagnetic charge sent to your body’s cells floods them with energy. This impact at the cellular level helps stimulate cell regeneration, boost circulation, and recharges your system. PEMF therapy also stimulates the production of Human Growth Hormone (HGH), and melatonin, both of which contribute to the ability to relax and sleep deeply, and improved sleep leads to better focus and higher levels of energy.
PEMF therapy reduces inflammation and accompanying swelling through stimulation of cytokines, which are small proteins that play a part in controlling the activity of other immune system cells and blood cells. This treatment also impacts the metabolic pathways that reduce and resolve the body’s inflammatory response.
Muscle function is impacted in several ways by PEMF therapy. First of all, it reduces lactic acid, which reduces muscle soreness. It also accelerates the movement of electrolytes, which increases cellular energy. By stimulating the release of nitric oxide (NO), PEMF also reduces muscle spasms and stimulates the production of ATP, which is a component of cell energy that results in shorter recovery times.
PEMF therapy can activate different intracellular pathways, including processes and mechanisms within the immune system, playing a key role in tissue regeneration. Good health requires a balanced immune cell response, which PEMF therapy contributes to by charging cells and helping them operate at optimal levels.
The biological activity of bone tissue, mechanical forces, and electrical currents are all related. Non-invasive PEMF therapy induces an electric current and a magnetic field to stimulate bone and tissue regrowth, cell regeneration, and the healing properties of increased blood flow to an injured area.
PEMF therapy increases the permeability of cell membranes. That increases the oxygen and nutrients transported via the vascular and lymphatic systems and accelerates waste removal via the lymphatic system.
PEMF therapy increases NO, which is a vasodilator that opens blood vessels and makes it easier for blood to flow through the vessels. This enhances the passage of oxygenated blood to the tissues, supporting regeneration and healing.
Most PEMF therapy is delivered through a mat. These mats can come in a range of sizes from full-body to smaller options for localized treatment and portability. They can be laid on, sat on, or placed on an area of the body, depending on the model. Prices start at around $350 and they can get up to several thousand dollars.
Early on, doctors knew magnetic fields and electricity could help patients, but they didn’t understand how. Once electricity could be well enough controlled to be used safely and painlessly in the 20th century, investigating the effectiveness and benefits of PEMF was underway. Extensive research for pulsed electromagnetic field therapy began in the 1950s, with early versions of today’s PEMF machines becoming available in the 1970s.
Veterinarians were actually the first to offer PEMF therapy to their patients in the United States, when it was used to successfully treat injured racehorses. A timeline of use in the United States includes:
Pain from chronic conditions or injuries can severely impact your quality of life and ability to conduct daily activities. A non-invasive non-drug treatment like PEMF can be a valuable part of a treatment plan to reduce pain and encourage healing.
We offer several options for PEMF Therapy Mats and Devices for home use. For more information on treatment options, product reviews, and buying guides, visit Caregiver University, a free online resource provided by Rehabmart.
Dr. Wood is a licensed naturopathic doctor in Washington D.C. and founder of Visionary Health. A graduate of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Dr. Wood is a professor at John Patrick University in the Integrative and Functional Medicine Department as well as an adjunct professor at the American College of Healthcare Sciences in Holistic Nutrition. He began his career as a specialty physician for two leading supplement US companies, Neuroscience Inc. and Life Extension. Over his fifteen-year career in integrative and holistic medicine, he has worked in diverse capacities including as an educator; writer; medical advisor, consultant and formulator for supplement companies and treatment centers in the US and the EU; public speaker; and clinician. He has long been a practicing advocate of lifestyle medicine, fitness and mind body medicine approaches initially spurred by aging family members not getting help from traditional medicine and is passionate about innovating and bringing natural and integrative medicine to the masses!
