Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) uses a low-power electromagnetic field to influence nerve signals and cellular metabolism. Although researchers do not fully understand how it helps, it can be pretty helpful in depression. It may even work relatively quickly and may even help treat resistant depression.
The efficacy of PEMF is now established beyond doubt. The US FDA has already approved multiple PEMF equipment. It means that evidence from clinical studies was robust enough. In addition, there are many PEMF mats available at Healthylineoutlet.com for various requirements.
PEMF appears especially good for boosting healing processes. Many early studies focused on using PEMF for accelerating the healing of fractures. It is now one of the US FDA-approved claims. If PEMF can boost bone healing, it is safe to assume it may heal other body parts.
PEMF may work for depression in many ways. It is no secret that brain cells work by exchanging electric impulses. It also means that the electromagnetic field can influence the behavior of these impulses. Thus, it may improve connectivity between neurons and help normalize levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, thus boosting mood.
Another possibility is that it may have a stimulating effect on various brain centers. Some studies show that it may help influence the limbic system and thus have a mood-elevating effect.
However, the most commonly used PEMF mats differ a bit from equipment used in various lab experiments. Consumer-grade PEMF mats are made by keeping safety as a priority. It means that they have very low-powered electromagnetic fields. It does not mean that these mats are less potent, as they also use special techniques to ensure high penetration rates of these pulses. Most PEMF mats would use pulses of different shapes to relieve tension and depression.
One of the distinct advantages of using PEMF mats for depression could be their effect on the whole body. After all, depression is rarely an isolated condition. It means that the PEMF mat may help relieve fatigue, improve flow to muscles, reduce body aches, and have a relaxing effect. Additionally, pulsed electric fields can penetrate deep into the tissues boosting cellular energy production. And all these effects come at no risk.
Role of PEMF in depression management
These days, numerous adults are using antidepressants, and doctors are prescribing them not just for depression but also for other conditions and even for pain. Unfortunately, however, these drugs are highly toxic, as they severely modulate the working of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Even worrisome are the findings that antidepressants do not appear to have any benefit in mild to moderate depression. Moreover, numerous studies and systematic reviews show that antidepressants do not work as intended.
Based on these findings, the American Physician Association has stated that there is little or no clinical role for antidepressants in managing mild to moderate depression. Thus, these drugs should be reversed for severe conditions. Regretfully, these drugs are still widely used.
On the other hand, studies show that non-pharmacological means can be pretty good for managing depression. It means that one should combine lifestyle interventions with PEMF for managing mild to moderate depression. And, one may also use PEMF in more severe cases along with medications.
There is sound evidence that PEMF may help. In fact, PEMF could be so good that it may even help in cases that are resistant to traditional drug therapy. Thus, in a clinical study with 58 participants with moderate to severe depression and not responding well to medications, most benefited considerably by adding PEMF to the treatment. Moreover, these patients did not even respond to other electro therapies, and many of them could achieve prolonged remission with PEMF.
One of the doubts that people have is that alternative treatments do not work fast enough. However, PEMF is altogether a different thing. Studies show that PEMF may work much more quickly than medical drugs. Most antidepressants show effect only after several weeks of use. However, PEMF starts acting in hours. In one of the studies at McLean Hospital, researchers reported that in some cases, low field magnetic stimulation might provide an almost immediate effect.
It is also worth noticing that PEMF is not just for managing depression. Since it is highly safe, it could also be used regularly to prevent future episodes of depression. It may also be an excellent non-pharmacological option for maintaining remission.
Further, PEMF may have benefits for normalizing hormone levels and improving the sleep quality in those living with depression. PEMF may also help in various chronic conditions frequently found in those living with depression.
To conclude, PEMF is a safe and yet effective way of overcoming depression. Moreover, it works quite quickly, from the first day of its use. Therefore, it may be used alone in mild to moderate cases of depression along with lifestyle interventions and other therapies. It is also good to use along with antidepressants in severe depression. Moreover, it is one of the safest therapies and safe to combine with treatments like infrared therapy and photon therapy. For added benefits, one may buy PEMF mats from Healthylineoutlet.com with multiple functions.