EMF and PEMF therapy share some characteristics, but the two are not synonymous. While they may share characters in their name, PEMF therapy and EMF therapy actually describe two different types of energy therapy—and one of them has a distinct advantage over the other.
EMF Therapy: The Basics
The term “EMF therapy” is easily convoluted, as it can encompass a large number of energy therapies. In some cases, the use of the broad term can conceal a lack of evidence to support the use of energy therapy products. What exactly is EMF therapy, then? Any type of therapy that calls itself EMF is a therapy practice that uses electromagnetic energy in order to promote healing. Some of the more popular types of EMF therapy include TENS therapy and radionic therapy. Although these therapies are often compared to PEMF therapy—largely due to the use of “EMF therapy” in their descriptors—TENS and radionic therapy differ significantly from the PEMF therapy that has been heavily researched and supported by health professionals.
TENS (a form of EMF) has been used for one purpose: to block pain receptors, and thus dull or eradicate the sensation of pain. This therapy does not promote healing, as PEMF does, but instead functions as an energetic alternative to Tylenol, or other over the counter pain medications designed to merely eliminate or lessen the sensation of pain, rather than sorting through or helping with the cause of pain.
Radionic therapy, another popular type of energy therapy, is used almost entirely in alternative arenas, as it has very little scientific support for use in clinical or hospital settings. Radionic therapy is said to use radio waves to interact with bacteria and other microbes in the body, in order to eliminate or kill pathogens and promote healing, but as of yet, does not have any research or evidence to support these claims.
PEMF Therapy: An Overview
The term “PEMF” stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field, and describes a specific type of electromagnetic therapy that uses low-level pulses of electromagnetic energy to improve cellular communication and sharpen cellular function. PEMF therapy is arguably the most well-researched and heavily supported type of electromagnetic field therapy. It has been studied extensively, and is even considered a valuable source of healing by NASA, which uses PEMF to treat returned astronauts whose bodies have grown weak or ill following the loss of exposure to earth’s energy frequencies.
PEMF therapy is typically delivered using either a wand or a mat. Although it can be offered by health clinics and hospitals, PEMF therapy machines are frequently found in homes, as well. Because PEMF therapy has a high rate of success, and a low rate of risk and hazardous side effects, it is considered a safe and effective treatment method for numerous health conditions.
Treatment Options: The Uses of PEMF and EMF Therapy
EMF therapy has been proposed as a cure for virtually every ailment you can conceive of, but there are far fewer conditions that are actually approved for EMF treatment, making false claims of EMF therapy quite dangerous. EMF therapy is such a broad area, that studies do not typically evaluate EMF therapy alone. Instead, research studies tend to follow a particular type of EMF therapy, such as TENS or radionic therapy—both of which have little application in the support or promotion of health.
PEMF therapy is one of the most well-studied and thoroughly supported types of energy therapy. It has been approved for use in bone fracture healing, treatment-resistant depression, post-surgical recovery (including wound healing and pain management), and muscle pain and fatigue. Although these are all areas in which PEMF has been proven to be successful, PEMF has also been linked to improvements in nerve damage, general inflammation, and has even shown promise as a treatment for elevated blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and a supplementary therapy for people undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
PEMF Drawbacks
PEMF has very few drawbacks, and is considered an extremely safe form of energy therapy. PEMF can require caution for people who have pre-existing conditions. Individuals who are pregnant are encouraged to avoid energy therapies like PEMF, due to the lack of safety studies conducted on pregnant populations. People with pacemakers and cochlear implants are similarly encouraged to exercise caution, as PEMF waves have the potential to interact with electrical implants. In these cases, limiting PEMF applications to areas not immediately impacted by the implant will usually suffice to ensure safety.
EMF Drawbacks
EMF has numerous drawbacks, because it encompasses such a wide range of therapy practices that are not regulated or even clearly defined. EMF therapies as a whole do not have solid FDA approval or registration, and instead usually rely on alternative clinics that do not require the presence of oversight of a licensed or certified health professional. EMF therapy may not actively damage the body, but are more often ineffectual; this is particularly true of EMF therapies that claim to heal the body through radio waves, or promote health remotely.
Some EMF therapies, for instance, claim to treat or cure cancer, without any evidence that this is the case. Although EMF therapy has enjoyed some time in the research spotlight as a potential supplemental treatment for cancer patients, there is little to no evidence to suggest that EMF therapies are established treatments for any form of cancer.
EMF Versus PEMF: Which Is Best?
PEMF therapy continually comes to the fore as a powerful therapy modality because of its versatility; unlike EMF therapies, PEMF therapy has a hefty number of research studies supporting its use, and has shown plenty of consistency in treating diverse conditions, including depression, arthritis, and muscle damage.
Although many other forms of EMF therapy may be useful for various maladies, they are typically only supported for use in narrow applications. TENS, for instance, is a type of EMF therapy, but is specifically used to block pain receptors, and is not approved for use in any other capacity. Radionic therapy is considered a type of EMF therapy, and is said to target bacterial infections, but as of yet, does not have any real research supporting its use. Due to its body of research, versatility, and high safety rating, PEMF therapy is the better choice.