A cursory search through news articles yields plenty of pieces discussing the prevalence and hazards of electromagnetic fields. What is less common, though, is a thorough examination of the term itself, what it entails, and all of the different forms of energy that “EMF” encompasses, including the energy found in all living things. Understandably, many people may be quick to dismiss energy therapies, such as PEMF, due to their perceived link to harmful EMFs. Unfortunately, linking the two can bar you from engaging a highly safe and effective form of therapy. What exactly are PEMF therapy and EMFs?
What Are EMFs?
Despite having a largely negative connotation, the term “electromagnetic field” is not inherently negative. EMFs are found all around us. The water we drink, the people we call friends, and the animals we see racing across our yards are all made up of electromagnetic energy, and emit some amount of that energy. EMFs have seen a surge in negativity largely due to the bodies of evidence warning against exposing yourself to certain types of electromagnetic fields—a distinction that is not always understood or identified in journals and news articles disseminating the dangers of EMF exposure.
What Is PEMF?
PEMF stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field, and describes a particular type of EMF that is carefully crafted to support health and healing in the body. PEMF therapy has been used for over 40 years as an intervention for humans and animals alike, in applications ranging from mental health to wound healing and pain management. PEMF therapy can be found in clinics, alternative health practices, and even homes. This type of therapy begins with a copper coil through which energy is funneled. The copper creates an electromagnetic field which is then delivered to the patient in question via controlled pulses. PEMF therapy can be delivered with a wand, ring, or a mat, all of which are effective delivery methods.
PEMF therapy has been used to treat chronic and acute conditions alike, and has been linked to rapid improvements in wound healing, arthritic pain, and even declining mental health, with fewer side effects than standard over the counter medications. This alone makes PEMF a valuable form of therapy. Increasing numbers of research studies are evaluating the broad scope of PEMF therapy, and most of these studies have found positive associations between healing and consistently administered PEMF therapy, using both low and high frequency machines.
Harmful Versus Beneficial: Exercising Discernment
Harmful EMFs are any electromagnetic fields that can disrupt or damage the human body. The mechanism behind bodily disruption differs from field to field. Some EMFs, for instance, are associated with ionizing radiation, or radiation that is capable of heating atoms and molecules in the body, which can lead to a chain reaction of bond disintegration and the development of free radicals. Regular exposure to this type of radiation—think nuclear reactors, or continual exposure to x-ray machines—has been positively associated with cancer risk, and has led to the development of countless safeguards to ward off a high incidence of cancer in populations exposed to ionizing radiation.
Some EMFs are non-ionizing, but should still be avoided in large volumes, such as power lines and other sources of electricity. This is why some recommendations urge against using cell phones at ranges closer than one foot for extended periods of time, or suggest remaining at least 10 feet from power lines whenever possible.
In either case, it is important to follow the evidence. There have been numerous studies linking these types of EMFs to damage to the human body, and numerous governing bodies have created safety guidelines to maintain public health and safety. Conversely, studies on PEMF therapy have continually demonstrated the safety of the technology, with no links to increased incidences of cancer, illness, or other damages to the body. Just as arsenic is found in the soil and, subsequently, trace amounts are found in root vegetables without causing harm and those vegetables restore nutrients, some exposure to EMFs can prove beneficial—as is the case with PEMF therapy.
Can PEMF Be Harmful?
Opponents of electromagnetic therapy as a whole have argued that the technology has the potential to cause harm if it is used improperly. Although virtually anything can be said to cause harm if used incorrectly, it would be very difficult to create a high enough frequency and intensity using a PEMF machine to do damage at a cellular level. This is because, as a safeguard, most PEMF machines do not reach extremely high intensities and frequencies, and are instead created to emit frequencies and waveforms that closely mimic those found in nature, or those associated with the human body. There are instances in which high intensities are used, but high intensities and frequencies are both associated with shorter concentrations of PEMF, and are not used as a constant barrage of electromagnetic energy.
That being said, there can be mild side effects associated with the use of PEMF therapy, most of them most likely to occur when first beginning treatment, and none of them posing a great threat to an individual’s overall health. Possible side effects include discomfort at the application site, an increase in feelings of pain at the beginning of a treatment plan, decreased blood glucose levels, and decreased blood pressure. Although the last two are usually considered boons to PEMF therapy, they can be problematic in populations who are prone to uneven blood sugar levels, or are at risk of fainting, such as those with uncontrolled diabetes, or elderly populations.
PEMF versus Harmful EMFs
Although PEMF therapy and harmful EMFs may seem to be cousins, suggesting this is the case does a great disservice to PEMF therapy, and obscures the truth of electromagnetic field therapy as a whole. Electromagnetic fields can be harmful when they interact with the body in a way that is considered excessive, uncontrolled, or chronic. Living directly beside a power plant, for instance, may lead to an increase in cancer incidence, or might produce symptoms associated with chronic migraines or disrupted sleeping patterns. Nevertheless, PEMF therapy and harmful EMFs are not the same, and engaging PEMF therapy can directly counteract the issues most commonly associated with harmful EMFs.