PULSED ELECROMAGNETIC FIELD THERAPY FAQ’S:
What is Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)?
PEMF is a therapeutic technology which is a non-contact, non-invasive, non-pharmacological and effective treatment for a variety of conditions because it promotes and maintains general cellular health and function. PEMF therapy device uses a computer/control unit to administer precise natural pulsating magnetic fields to the body (with specific frequencies and intensities) through various applicators such as a full body mat, localized pad applicators and pinpointed probes to treat specific point on the body. It is fast and easy to use for pain management and recovery from sports injuries, lower back pain, muscle aches and pains, headaches, nervous tension and stress, improving the immune system, regulating high blood pressure and degenerative conditions related to aging.
What does PEMF therapy do?
PEMF or any other energy medicine technologies do not heal or cure diseases directly. What it does, however, is to empower and jump-start our body’s innate natural healing processes by delivering a series of pulsating magnetic frequencies into the body, which creates a penetrating energy that will dynamically interact with cellular metabolism in order to produce a wide range of healing benefits:
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The cells within this variable pulsating electromagnetic field are being exercised. The cells that have low energy can be felt as a mild discomfort or slight pain. Higher energy cells are being exercised but may not be felt.
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While these low energy cells are exercised they are beginning to have toxins permeate out their membranes and therefore the PEMF unit supports cellular detoxification processes.
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The PEMF unit also increases blood circulation and oxygen flow which helps the cell to repair.
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The PEMF technology has been known to help detoxify and increase the flow of the lymphatic fluids which will help detoxification and cellar fluid dynamics including nutritional uptake.
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PEMF puts a healthy energy charge into the interior of the cell behind the cell membrane that raises cellular energy so the cell can heal itself faster (it increases ATP production within the cell). While many technologies can affect the interstitial fluids, pulsed electromagnetic fields can influence and charge the interior parts of the cell including the nucleus and the mitochondria.
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PEMF’s are like a spark plug or catalyst for energy production in the cell. Just like a car needs oxygen, fuel and an ignition (spark plug), so does the human cell need fuel (glucose), oxygen and a “spark plug” or ignition. This ignition is PEMF or pulsed magnetic energy. We can also think of PEMF as a battery re-charger for the human cell. We now know that the voltage of a healthy cell is about 70 millivolts. When we get sick or have damaged cells, these cells have been known to operate at 30 – 15 millivolts or less in cases of cancer, or cell / body death. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) act like a catalyst and battery re-charger for the human cells.
What should I experience during a PEMF session?
Since everyone is unique and has different physical problems or conditions, each will experience something different. There are numerous types of therapeutic and intensity settings on the device, allowing the individual to increase or decrease its effects. Thus a person can experience many different sensations. Frequently, people will state that they feel a tingling in an area of an old or existing injury, while others say they feel a sense of wellness and relaxation. Check it out for yourself and see what you experience.
Are there people who should not use the PEMF?
Yes. Because PEMF is utilizing a magnetic field it should NOT be used on or close to any electrical devices. (i.e. pacemakers, defibrillators, cochlear hearing devices, cell phones, etc). Additionally, if you are prone to seizures, you should not use it. Neither should pregnant women or those who are currently going through radiation or chemotherapy treatment.
What kind of adverse reactions are possible?
Because magnetic therapies have such a wide array of actions within the body, it is not uncommon to experience some discomfort, especially when treatment has just begun. It is our experience that these reactions happen about 5% of the time, and tend to be more common when the entirety of the body is treated, as opposed to local treatments.
Most adverse reactions are mild and temporary and can be managed by simply continuing the therapy. In individuals with electrical hypersensitivity and electromagnetic hypersensitivity, these reactions are more common and more uncomfortable. Rarely does magnetic therapy have to be discontinued as a result.
Magnetic therapies can alter circulation, stimulate cell and tissue repair, stimulate nerve cells, cause relaxation, affect blood pressure and heart rate, alter the absorption of medications and nutrients, affect acupuncture energy movement, stimulate vision changes, among many other actions. So, overreactions by the body, perceived or measurable, do happen.
Sudden increases in circulation, especially in ischemic tissues (areas with restricted or reduced blood flow) may lead to uncomfortable increases in circulation for a short time after the magnetic field has been applied. The increase in circulation, while usually a desirable effect, can lead to a surge in oxidative stress. It is desirable to have adequate antioxidant support in the body before beginning treatment. Sudden improvements in circulation may also lead to aggravations of existing extensive or severe inflammatory processes, typically in the skin. Aggravation of hives is likewise possible and should be considered before starting treatment.
When nerve cells are suddenly stimulated, pain may be temporarily aggravated due to the increased signal traffic in the nerve and/or improved circulation to the nerve/s. We see this in individuals who have had prior fractures or scars. Magnetic fields applied distal to the fracture site or scar may temporarily cause pain at the fracture site. If there are multiple blockages along the body, magnetic treatment may cause the phenomenon of “chasing the pain”. In this situation, when one area is treated and improved, another area that may have been quiet, now begins to show pain or discomfort. Normally these problems are not a concern, but should be recognized as a normal consequence of magnetic therapy. In some situations, where the magnetic therapy causes pain in a body part that does not normally have pain, this may be an indication of an unidentified underlying problem in that body part, and medical evaluation should be considered. In this case, the magnetic therapy serves as an early warning process.
Magnetic therapies commonly lower blood pressure and decrease heart rate, actions that are almost always positive. These actions can pose a concern for individuals who are elderly, on medication with blood-pressure-lowering actions, are frail, have labile or easily altered blood pressures, have been on extensive bed rest, are in shock or have overwhelming systemic infection, or who have non-brisk, compensatory vascular reflexes. Because people in these situations can have faint when rising from a seated or laying position, they should be warned about this possibility and the need to allow the blood pressure and/or heart rate to stabilize when changing positions. Usually these reactions settle down as magnetic therapy continues and stabilizes body functions.
General reactions occasionally happen as well, particularly in those who have or are suspected of having magnetic field sensitivity. Possible reactions include: increased fatigue, aggravations of sleep, increased pain, vague weakness or loss of energy, metallic tastes, dizziness, “brain fog”, thirst, increased urination, warmth, cold sensations, prickly sensations in the skin, colors in the visual fields, heaviness of the extremities and palpitations. Mostly, people who experience these reactions are thought to have systemic hemodynamic or autonomic instability and/or neurotoxicity, due to chronic infections, chemical sensitivity or environmental toxicities. Many have chronic regional pain syndromes, fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome. The degree of the sensitivity reactions will determine the approach to take with adjusting the magnetic therapy.
If the adverse reactions are intolerable, you can lessen them by making some small changes to your protocols. These changes include lowering intensity, decreasing treatment times, and limiting the amount of the body that is being treated. These changes should only be necessary on a short-term basis, as such reactions tend to diminish relatively quickly with continued treatment.
Is the PEMF covered by insurance?
At this time, we do not have any successful reimbursements for patients. However your doctor can write you a prescription for it and it might be covered under your HSA plan.
How many sessions of PEMF will I need?
The answer, as with most natural therapies, is different for each person. It really comes down to how well you “hold a charge.” Your cells’ ability to hold a battery charge depends heavily on two things:
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How well hydrated the tissues are – Hydration refers to whether or not you have enough healthy water and electrolytes in the areas surrounding the cells. The battery ‘age’ does not necessarily refer to a person’s biological age, but rather the amount of wear and tear the cells have endured. Think about your cell phone. A cell phone with a two year old battery is not going to hold a charge as long as a phone with a new battery. However, one person’s two year old battery can be much more “used and abused” than another person’s.
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The age or damage to the batteries – Your cells’ batteries may need a charge once per week or three times per week depending on your goals. The length of therapy depends on the amount of work that needs to be done. Are you building a new deck or a whole new house?
My pain is gone, am I done now?
Most people notice that PEMF therapy rapidly decreases or eliminates pain. Pain is simply a signal from the body for more energy. When the workers run out of charged batteries, they aren’t able to complete their work, so it builds up. They are also sitting around with nothing to do and can become grumpy, starting to complain. When you charge their tools, the complaining stops and they go back to work. First they have to get to the backlog of tasks that have piled up, so they need power support during this time. If you stop charging the tools before the work is completed, the complaining – i.e., the pain – will resume.
How much does a session with the PEMF cost?
Your first session is free. It is $80 thereafter or you can choose self-serve appointments for $40. You may buy 3- or 5- packs at a discounted rate.
How long does a session last?
Sessions with the PEMF unit last approximately 20 minutes though can vary depending on the patient’s needs.
Are there other benefits of the PEMF Therapy?
PEMF’s have also been shown to improve microcirculation, oxygenation (up to a 200% increase), help in nerve regeneration, pain management and many other health promoting benefits. There are over 2,000 clinical studies and over 7,000 research papers validating the therapeutic benefits of PEMFs.