PEMF therapy is an alternative therapy practices that utilizes the power of electromagnetic energy to aid healing and manipulate the body’s cells. Although it has been in use for over thirty years, PEMF therapy is only just beginning to receive the widespread recognition is arguably deserves, as it can be applied to a wide range of issues, including bone remodeling, depression, and chronic ill health. PEMF therapy has several components that can be altered to target specific issues and illnesses, and intensity is among the most important. What is intensity? First, a review on the basics of PEMF therapy is in order.
What Is PEMF Therapy?
“PEMF” stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field, and PEMF therapy is the therapeutic application of PEMF to the body of a human or animal. Although electromagnetic fields are found in virtually every living thing—and plenty of non-living or non-sentient items—the exact nature of the electromagnetic field found in PEMF machines differs from those found in electrical lines, for instance, or even in another human body, largely because of the way the fields are generated.
To create the EMF found in a PEMF machine, well-built machines utilize copper coils. These coils are fed electricity, effectively generating the electromagnetic field. That energy is then directly applied either through the use of wires leading to a handheld wand, or through a mat. In either case, the field is applied directly to the individual seeking therapy, allowing the electromagnetic field to permeate the body and directly affect cells. PEMF therapy was built for over 100 years, compounding on the work of a century of scientific inquiry and discovery regarding human health, electromagnetic radiation, and the fusion of the two, and has been used for over 30 years as a healing modality for humans and animals.
What Is PEMF Intensity?
There are three primary components of a PEMF machine that influences the way the machine works, and controls the application of the device. Intensity is one of the three components that plays a leading role in PEMF application, and identifies the strength with which a PEMF signal is applied. The intensity of a PEMF machine can be likened to the volume on a stereo; a low intensity can certainly be useful and yield results, just as a low volume will still transmit sound, but a higher intensity will create a “louder sound,” or a stronger energy signal.
PEMF therapy essentially recharges cells, and imbues them with energy, in the absence of adequate amounts of cellular energy. A high intensity level, then, is essentially a stronger battery for the body, and will create a stronger charge in the cells. This is why high intensity charges are considered more effective for deep or acute issues: the more healing energy needed, the more “battery power” the body requires. A high intensity machine will provide more of that battery power.
High vs Low Intensity
High-intensity EMFs are usually identified as harmful, but high intensity PEMF energy differs substantially from the EMFs found emanating from high-intensity sources, such as UV rays. High-intensity PEMF therapy is therapy that uses a stronger signal, which may more effectively penetrate deep into the body. High intensity PEMF therapy is most often used to target acute issues, issues that lie deep within the body, or issues that pose a serious threat. In most trials using PEMF therapy as a supplemental treatment for cancer (PEMF therapy is not currently approved as a primary cancer treatment), high-intensity PEMF energy is used, to more effectively and dramatically “touch” or alter the body’s cells.
Conversely, low intensity PEMF machines are typically used to treat chronic conditions, such as chronic inflammation, and superficial issues, such as wounds and surgical incisions. Again using the analogy of a battery, not all issues require a strong charge; just as some electronics might be overloaded and be rendered non functional should they receive too much power, chronic illnesses and small or superficial wounds might not receive as much benefit from high intensities, and will require longer exposures to lower “battery power.”
A Note On High Intensities
Although high intensity machines have come under some fire for their potential hazards, the nature of PEMF therapy is dramatically different from that of overtly harmful electromagnetic fields, and will not affect the body in the same way as, say, directly exposure to a power plant. Even when used in high intensities, PEMF therapy is still generally considered a safe and effective therapy. In some clinical trials, high intensity therapy has proven more effective in treating certain conditions and, when used appropriately, such as using in shorter bursts, rather than drawn-out sessions, can be a very useful way to treat health issues and ongoing concerns.
Why Intensity Matters
Intensity in a PEMF machine matters greatly when it comes time to select the best machine for you, because the intensity capability of a machine identifies how strong the pulses of electromagnetic energy will be. If you are looking to impact an issue deep within your body, a high intensity machine will likely be necessary, as intensity drops dramatically the further away from the targeted area it is. For a deep-set organ, for instance, PEMF therapy might use a high frequency for two sessions of 10-20 minutes per day. The high intensity ensures that the organ in question will be reached, and the short duration ensures that no additional harm is incurred. Intensity is a vital key in determining what type of PEMF therapy machine and what treatment schedule is ideal for a given issue, and paying close attention to the intensity settings of a machine will yield the best results.
Some PEMF machines are designed with versatility in mind, and provide high and low intensity settings. Other are created largely to focus on chronic issues, and will only offer low frequencies. Still others target a specific issue, and are almost entirely characterized by high intensities. Consequently, the intensity of a machine matters greatly, and can make all of the difference in rendering PEMF therapy an effective therapy modality.