Depression is a disease that affects millions of people.
Not only does depression affect your mood, but it can also result in physical changes to your body.
Not everyone responds well to medications for depression.
Complementary or alternative treatments can make a significant difference for those suffering from this mental health disorder.
This article explores the benefits of PEMF therapy for treating depression.
We have also reviewed two of the most effective PEMF devices currently available for treating depression at home.
We share all the information you need to choose between these two high-quality devices.
While one is known for its quality, it comes at a high price.
The second device works very well and uses four types of healing treatment, making it the perfect choice for those with a smaller budget.
What is PEMF?
Pulsed electromagnetic field, or PEMF, therapy is a medical treatment that uses electromagnetic energy to heal the body using short pulses of low-frequency, low-intensity energy.
It has no known adverse side effects and is safe to use for treating a number of different health conditions.
PEMF therapy is a way to re-energize the cells in your body naturally.
Your cells become drained of their energy when you are ill or have tissue damage.
The mitochondria in your cells do not function properly without enough energy, and your cells will no longer perform their functions as they should when they lack a proper charge.
The electromagnetic waves emitted from PEMF devices mimic the energy found in your cells, and PEMF therapy replenishes their stores and allows them to work at their full capacity.
When your cells are working to their fullest, you can recover from diseases and tissue damage much faster, enjoy fewer negative symptoms from chronic illnesses and feel better overall.
PEMF therapy works on all types of cells, including nerves, bones, soft-tissue, and organs.
What is Depression?
Depression is a mental health disorder.
It results in extended periods of time, in which the patient has difficulty managing their emotions, has a persistently depressed mood, loses interest in activities or has trouble participating in daily life.
Those who are clinically depressed can also have other behavioral or physical symptoms, including sleep disorders, changes in appetite, decreased energy levels or an inability to concentrate, changes in daily behavior and lowered self-esteem.
Some with depression also have thoughts of suicide.
Depression is usually classified as mild, moderate or severe, and depressive episodes can last anywhere from days to years.
The recurrent depressive disorder involves repeated bouts of depression lasting at least two weeks, while bipolar affective disorder involves alternating depressive and manic episodes.
Depression is caused by the confluence of several factors, including psychological, social and biological.
Your genetics play the most significant role in determining if you will have depression.
Depression is traditionally treated through a combination of talk therapy, changes in lifestyle, medication, and diet and exercise.
Alternative therapies, such as PEMF stimulation, are showing more promise in being able to help treat depression and other mental health disorders.
Depression and PEMF Therapy
Depression is a common mental health problem, with over three million new cases reported each year in the US alone.
It is the leading cause of disability in developed countries.
Many patients who achieve some success in treatment, experience relapses in their symptoms.
Many people also do not respond well to traditional treatments, like anti-depressants.
While some individuals have success with these types of medications, others cannot handle the sometimes, serious side-effects of these drugs.
This is why many people are excited to learn that PEMF therapy, which has no adverse side effects, could be used to help treat depression.
A 2014 study, published in Biological Psychology, examined the impact of PEMF therapy on mood elevation in patients with bipolar affective disorders, which is a form of depression (1).
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients were identified as either having bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder, and each participant received one 20-minute treatment.
After the treatment session, researchers measured their change in mood, using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule scales, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the Visual Analog Scale.
Results were compared to a placebo group of patients, who received a sham treatment.
Patients in the treatment group enjoyed a more than 10% improvement in their mood, according to these tests, compared to their baseline measurements.
This improvement far exceeded those seen in the placebo group.
Researchers concluded that electrical stimulation quickly produced mood changes.
However, it is still unclear how this type of treatment works to relieve depression.
One theory posits that low-frequency stimulation of this kind causes the neurons in the brain to vibrate, which changes the electrical activity and thus result in an enhanced mood.
Another theory is that PEMF therapy improves the glucose metabolism in parts of the brain associated most with depression and anxiety, which could, in turn, change your mood.
Types of PEMF Devices
The PEMF devices that are currently available vary significantly in how they deliver their healing electromagnetic energy.
Different devices supply varying frequencies, and they may also use different waveforms or intensities to provide therapeutic healing.
Frequency in PEMF Therapy
The cells in your body all respond differently to various frequencies.
Some respond best to low-frequency waves, while others may need high-frequency energy to heal sufficiently.
The most beneficial waves for PEMF therapy are somewhere between 1 and 32 Hz, which is the same frequency as the Earth’s core.
Nearly all research on PEMF therapy has also used frequencies somewhere in this range.
Intensity in PEMF Therapy
The key to successful PEMF treatment for depression or any other health disorder is to use low-intensity pulses.
Nearly all PEMF devices available today run at low intensities because they do not harm the body.
You should still check the strength of your PEMF device, which is measured in Gauss units.
Some devices only emit one Gauss unit, but your device should never emit more than 1500 Gauss units.
Waveform in PEMF Therapy
A waveform is a graph that shows the rise and fall over time of the electromagnetic energy being emitted by electrical pulses.
There are many different types of waveforms, including sinusoidal (sine), sawtooth, square, triangular, trapezoidal and even custom waveforms.
The most studied and researched type of waveform is the sine waveform.
Most clinical studies on PEMF therapy have used the sine waveform, making it the most trusted form available today.
Some machines use sawtooth or other types of waveforms, and while these do not have adverse effects, they are not the preferred form of delivery.
Best PEMF Devices
There are currently many different PEMF devices to choose from.
It is vital that you know which devices have the right frequencies and waveforms for your condition and which are right for your budget.
Our review provides you with two options to treat your depression using PEMF therapy.
There are two standouts in the PEMF device market that may work well for treating your depression or other health issues.
We will share details about the iMRS 2000 and the HealthyLine’s TAJ-MAT-7632-PP (PEMF) InfraMat Pro®, both of which can be used to treat depression.
iMRS 2000
The iMRS 2000 is a fully-body mat that is consistently ranked highly by users.
This device can be used to treat a wide variety of disorders and diseases, including depression.
It is made by the Swiss Bionics Solutions Company.
The device uses varying frequencies and waveforms to enhance your mood and treat your depression.
The iMRS 2000 comes with a programmable computer that allows you to select from several low-frequency settings.
The iMRS 2000 system comes with the mat, a pillow, and a probe, and has several key features and functions that make it an excellent choice.
The mat uses the sawtooth waveform, while the pillow and probe emit square waveforms.
While many people have claimed that sawtooth waveforms are the best for PEMF therapy, these waveforms are actually not as well-studied or proven as the sine waveform pattern.
Sine waves continue to be regarded as the best for PEMF treatment.
The iMRS 2000 system can help you sleep better at night, which is often a problem for those with depression.
The included light and sound system enhances the relaxing effects of PEMF therapy, which can allow you to rest more comfortably.
The system also includes a biorhythm clock, which can help you adjust your natural circadian rhythms to produce better quality sleep, as well as enhance your mood.
The iMRS 2000 system is perfect for long-term use with its biofeedback feature, which prevents habituation to the PEMF treatments.
This is a quality PEMF device with a three-year unconditional warranty.
It is an excellent choice for treating your depression, but it does have one significant disadvantage.
The iMRS 2000’s price starts at over $3500, making it too expensive for many people looking for depression treatment options.
If you want to treat your depression using PEMF therapy but have a smaller budget, the device that we review next is the perfect alternative.
HealthyLine’s TAJ Mat Large 7632 Firm
The InfraMat Pro® mat by HealthyLine is an excellent choice for treating your depression.
It uses several forms of treatment.
This mat uses four forms of effective therapies to help improve your mood and treat your depression.
In addition to electromagnetic therapy with PEMF pulses, the TAJ Photon PEMF InfraMat Pro® also uses photon therapy, far infrared rays and negative ion treatment.
The HealthyLine mat delivers the best in PEMF therapy, by emitting a frequency of 7.83 Hz, which mirrors the energy naturally emitted by the Earth.
This PEMF device is the better choice for treatment because it also uses the sine waveform.
This trusted delivery method is the most researched and documented waveform for use in PEMF treatment.
The HealthyLine mat also uses photon light therapy, by emitting visible red light at wavelengths of 660 nanometers.
These waves penetrate just below the surface of your skin, where they help your mitochondria regenerate cell tissues.
Negative ion therapy is a part of how this mat heals your body and regulates your mood.
When the tourmaline, amethyst, and jade (TAJ) gemstones that are embedded in the mat are heated, negative ions are released.
These ions can purify the air and help neutralize the positive ions that cause physical pain and other symptoms, that are often associated with depression.
Finally, the HealthyLine mat uses far infrared rays (FIR), to treat your depression symptoms.
FIR is a form of invisible light that penetrates deeper into your body, promotes blood circulation, reduces pain and stiffness and lowers inflammation.
Like negative ion therapy, this type of therapy helps to relieve the physical symptoms that often come with depression.
When selecting a PEMF device to help treat your depression, you can’t go wrong with the HealthyLine TAJ Photon PEMF InfraMat Pro®.
It is a quality device that uses four types of technology to help improve your mood and alleviate your symptoms.
Its quality construction means you will not have to worry.
The 45-day trial period also allows you to try it without risk.
The biggest advantage that HealthyLine’s mat has over the iMRS 2000, is its price.
For under $1500, which is less than half the cost of the iMRS 2000, you get a quality PEMF device that will help treat your depression using proven technology.
Conclusion
In addition to treating depression, PEMF devices like the mats reviewed can also help heal damaged tissue, lower inflammation, reduce pain, and allow you to enjoy better overall health.
When you make an investment in a PEMF device, you can feel good knowing you can use it to treat a wide range of health issues.
The two PEMF devices we highlighted in our review offer excellent results for people of all budgets.
While the IMRS 2000 has many exciting and interesting features, the HealthyLine InfraMat Pro® is the better choice, in our opinion.
For a smaller price, you get four proven treatments in one quality product.
Richard Hoover is a PEMF expert and content contributor to PEMF Advisor. With a bachelor’s degree in physics and multiple certifications in natural health programs, he is one of the best PEMF experts around.