There is no best device, but there is probably a best unit for you.

You should be wary of anyone who tells you the unit they are selling is ‘the best’, especially if they tell you that before knowing what health conditions you wish to address. If there was one ‘best’ unit, life would be much easier, but managing health is rarely black and white.

Some problems or health needs respond best to high intensities, some respond best to low intensities. Some conditions respond better to low frequencies, some high frequencies, and some need a wide range of frequencies. There is no best unit, but there is probably a best unit for you. Only someone with training and experience can objectively help you determine which system that will likely be. It’s even better if that person has hands-on experience with various systems. Someone who has only worked with one system is not in a position to make the best recommendation.

Additionally, product comparisons are often misleading because they are not true assessments, but marketing tools. In these circumstances, a reseller/dealer or marketer has created a table comparing and contrasting systems, but it has already been pre-determined that the unit they represent is the ‘best’ or ‘most complete.’  Look for fair comparisons, a rarity in this industry where most dealers and companies represent the units of only one manufacturer.

Know your frequencies.

As we said before, different pathologies will respond best to different frequencies. There seems to be a great deal of discord about which frequencies are ‘best.’ But remember, what is best for you may not be best for your neighbor or other family member. If the unit does not work well for one person, it may still work exceptionally well for another, because of our vast differences.

Some companies promote that their products only have ‘earth-based frequencies’ which range from 1-32Hz. While this may be ideal for some health conditions, there are some that will likely not budge unless presented with a higher frequency, or a combination of frequencies. There are FDA-approved systems that produce frequencies tens of thousands of times higher than those ‘earth-based frequencies.’ A general rule of thumb is that chronic problems will respond better to higher frequencies, and acute problems will respond better to lower frequencies. But even this is not absolute.Available frequencies are one of the most important things to take into consideration when purchasing a PEMF unit. Your reseller should be knowledgeable enough to explain the difference between frequencies, and guide you toward the right system for your needs.

More intensity is not always better.

Similar to frequencies, different intensities are used to treat different health conditions. First, know that the overwhelming majority of PEMF systems on the market are considered very low-intensity. Perhaps comparatively there are higher-intensity units, but they would not be considered high-intensity in the broad sense of magnetic field strength. 

A good rule of thumb here is that the deeper the problem is in the body, or the more tightly-packed the tissues in the affected area are, the higher intensities you will need to see results in a reasonable amount of time. Now, a magnetic field will pass completely through the body, whether it is high or low intensity. The difference is the amount of charge the field will produce in your tissues as it is passing through the body. Higher intensity fields produce greater charge, thereby causing greater and more rapid change.

There is no perfect or optimal waveform.

The truth is, there is no such thing as a superior waveform. In fact, waveform matters little in comparison to frequencies and intensities. But some companies make a big deal out of waveforms, so let’s take a look at the facts. Many different waveforms have been studied. Nearly every waveform has research proving it to be effective. The problem here is that there is virtually no research that has compared waveforms among different PEMF systems.

All the waveforms used in PEMF systems (and there are many – sinusoidal, square, sawtooth, trapezoidal) have been found to be effective by the companies that produce them—by both their own research and research done by others.

Various waveforms have been researched for more than 30 years, and while past and current studies are used to develop frequency and intensity programs, the choice of waveform is more of a philosophical or conceptual decision based on the manufacturer or designer’s take on the signal. So, there is no perfect or optimal waveform, just as there are no perfect or optimal frequencies or intensities.

Some units have only one program. Some have multiple programs based on wellness conditions. Some have an ‘organ clock’ or ‘biorhythm clock’ as their programming guide. None of these options is better or worse than the next. Biorhythm clocks base frequencies on what time of day it is – they will be alerting in the morning and relaxing in the evening.

But as we have said, some pathologies in the body want high frequencies (read: alerting), so you may sometimes wish to run biorhythm programs out of order. Additionally, condition-based programs (which have names like “Circulation,” “Relaxation,” or “Vital”) can be used to mimic where your brain would or should be at a given time of day. As long as you know what frequencies your system produces, you can choose the correct program for your needs, regardless of what time of day you are doing treatment.

Be wary of purchasing a unit solely based on its accessory options.

Accessories for your PEMF unit tend to be limited to full-body systems. Depending on what you wish to treat, accessories can be either useful or unnecessary. Devices that have the option for sound and light machines, for instance, can be very helpful if your intention is to meditate or enhance relaxation.

Many full-body systems have an optional pen applicator (also called a handheld probe). This is one of the more widely- used accessories, but its benefits can often be produced by the smaller pillow pad that is included with these units. Be wary of purchasing a unit solely based on its accessory options.

Additionally, some systems have the option for a database of protocols. This can be helpful in some circumstances, but generally is not necessary. Most systems that offer these protocols have very little research to support their recommended settings. If a system produces only earth-based-frequencies, for example, a database of protocols will be of little value, because the frequency options are already so limited. PEMF machines are not Rife machines; individual frequencies rarely apply to individual pathologies.

Do not let polarity be a deciding factor.

Polarity has little to no bearing on pulsed electromagnetic fields. Dealers and resellers who make a big deal about their magnetic system switching polarity do not understand the fundamental basics of magnetic science.

The concept of polarity is taken from the convention used to describe the Earth’s poles as North and South. This is confusing because there are actually two types of poles on earth – magnetic and geographic—and they are not situated in the same place. The geographic North Pole is a magnetic South Pole. It’s easy to see why confusion exists, so to avoid uncertainty, scientists and engineers use the terms ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ instead of ‘North’ and ‘South.’ Switching polarity in a PEMF system simply means that the system is going to be changing direction in which the magnetic field pulses, and therefore has nothing to do with a north or south orientation.

But here’s the real kicker: unlike electricity, magnetic fields have no charge. Therefore, the terms positive and negative carry little to no meaning for magnetic fields. Gauss’s law of magnetism tells us that there are no magnetic charges. Instead, magnetic field lines neither begin nor end, but make loops or extend to infinity and back. One pole is not relaxing while another is stimulating. There is no good, reputable scientific research to support a separate action for each pole. Do not let polarity be a deciding factor in your selection of a PEMF system.

Do not confuse fda registration with fda approval.

The FDA registers items, and the FDA approves items. Do not confuse registration with approval. Often, companies tout their system as FDA registered, hoping that the customer will assume that means the same thing as FDA-approved. Truthfully, if a system is FDA registered, that means only that the FDA knows the item is being imported into the US. It is in no way a guarantee of safety. All PEMF devices imported into the United States have to have FDA registration. So, no single device is better than another relative to FDA registration. FDA approval and oversight is not necessarily a guarantee of value or safety, either. The FDA approves many drugs that subsequently have to be withdrawn for safety reasons. That being said, there are some FDA-approved PEMF devices, so we know that the FDA does approve of the use of electromagnetic fields for therapeutic use.

Furthermore, most manufacturers do not want to be FDA approved. You read that correctly; they are not seeking FDA approval. There are many reasons for this, including the high price tag associated with seeking FDA approval. FDA approval also comes with the stipulation that the product be condition-specific. Because PEMF devices treat us at such a basic, cellular level, choosing only one health condition would be a disservice to both the brand and the consumer. Additionally, PEMF systems are, first and foremost, wellness devices. It is not medication – a magnetic field does not change the chemistry of your body. A magnetic field acts on the most basic of biological functions – the cellular level. It’s more physics than medicine.

Try before you buy.

Higher-priced PEMF units, usually full-body systems, often have rental programs that allow you to try the unit before you purchase it. Make sure the rental program is a reputable one, though. You need enough time with the system to be able to make an informed decision. As we said before, low intensity systems will likely take a bit longer to produce results, so it would make sense that low-intensity units have longer rental periods. Compare and contrast rental programs to get an idea of what is fair. Make sure the rental program is a reputable one, though. You need enough time with the system to be able to make an informed decision.

Pemf systems have an exceptional price-per-day value.

 There is a huge difference in pricing for PEMF systems. Units intended for use at home can range from $350 all the way up to $6,000 and well beyond. Full-body systems will cost more, but they also treat more of the body. The true value of owning your own PEMF system is that it is a one-time purchase that can be used for you and your entire family in the comfort of your home—there are no refills, no co-pays, and no need for each family member to have a different system. Systems are not consumable. Even pets and plants benefit from PEMF systems. When computed over the lifetime of the magnetic system, PEMF units have an exceptional price per day value. This is made even better considering that multiple users can receive regular benefit.

What you are paying for is quality construction and quality service. These things are equally important. Often, people make purchasing decisions based on affordability, so the best PEMF system for their needs may not be available to.

In this case, it will likely take longer for benefit to be achieved, resulting in increased frustration because needs may not be met as expected. Patience will be required in these circumstances, and greater value should then be placed on the amount of support your reseller or dealer is able to provide you.