The currently available anti-cancer therapies, such as gamma radiation and chemotherapeutic agents, induce cell death and cellular senescence (a state in which a cell stops dividing) not only in cancer cells but also in the adjacent normal tissue.

They studied how breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and normal cells found in connective tissue (fibroblasts - FF95) reacted to PEMFs. 

PEMFs were applied at a frequency of 8 Hz, intensity of 110 gauss, using a square wave, and applied twice daily for 5 days.

The data collected showed that the application of PEMF decreases the proliferation rate (how quickly cells multiply or reproduce) and viability (their ability to survive and function normally) of breast cancer cells while having the opposite effect on normal fibroblasts. Additionally, PEMF induces cell death and cellular senescence only in breast cancer cells without any effect on the non-cancerous cells.

PubMed ID: 38473720

You may have heard the saying that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell, and that's because they are major generators of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), a key molecule in energy storage and transfer in living organisms.One of the most significant applications of PEMFs is enhancing the utilization and production of ATP, thereby boosting energy levels in the body's tissues.

 To understand how this works, we first need to grasp ATP hydrolysis, the process by which ATP is broken down into ADP (adenosine diphosphate) to release energy. The enzyme responsible for this task is ATPase, which can be found in mitochondria.

 When ATPase was exposed to 60 Hz PEMF and different intensities of 3 gauss and 5 gauss this enhanced the hydrolysis activity, whereas 1 gauss exposure caused no significant changes. So, in addition to helping with ATP synthesis, PEMFs increase the production of energy from the ATP itself, but only if the stimulation is above a specific intensity threshold.

PubMed ID: 19496105

In chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma, pro-inflammatory cytokines are continuously released. These cytokines fuel inflammation, contributing to tissue damage and disease progression. They play a central role in driving the inflammatory process characteristic of these conditions, leading to symptoms such as pain, swelling, and tissue dysfunction.

One study used 15 gauss PEMFs at 75 Hz, and it was observed to increase A2A (adenosine receptors) and ARs (androgens) within the body. This is associated with a significant inhibition of the pro-inflammatory signalling pathway (NF-kB), leading to a decrease in both the synthesis and activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

The anti-inflammatory and tissue-preserving effects exerted by PEMFs through the specific action on A2A and ARs show great potential to be exploited also to control brain inflammation and to provide neuroprotection following brain damage.

Science Direct ID: S1094715921064266

In a study 58 patients from the Liverpool Tinnitus Association volunteered to take part in a double-blind placebo controlled trial. They applied pulsed electromagnetic stimulation, over the mastoid bone, to see if it caused an improvement in the level of tinnitus in long-standing tinnitus sufferers. At the end of just one week of treatment, each patient noted whether their tinnitus had completely disappeared, was improved, unchanged or made worse by the treatment 45% of the patients who completed the trial were improved by the active device.

PubMed ID: 8877185

Since 1979, PEMF has been FDA-approved for treating nonunion fractures, which is the body's inability to heal a fracture, making it as one of the earliest recognized applications for PEMF.

 One study involved 139 patients with established non-union fractures who received PEMF treatment. Patients who used the device for less than an average of three hours a day had a success rate of 35.7% (5 out of 14), while those who used it for more than three hours daily had an 80% success rate (108 out of 135).

 Treatment success remained consistent regardless of factors such as bone length, fracture type (open or closed), duration of non-union (ranging from nine months to ten years), patient age (under or over 60 years), gender, previous treatment history, infection status, fracture gap size (up to 1cm), or weightbearing status.

 Patients who averaged more than three hours of PEMF treatment daily and initially achieved healing were clinically and radiographically reassessed four years post-treatment, revealing that 92% maintained a solid union.

PubMed ID: 10147555

It's important to understand that low oxygen levels in the body, a condition known as hypoxia, can occur during various situations such as stroke, heart attack, or even just when blood flow is restricted to certain areas. When cells are deprived of oxygen, they can become damaged or even die, leading to serious health issues.

In this study, scientists looked at how low-energy electromagnetic fields affect different types of cells in the body. They focused on cells similar to neurons (nerve cells) and microglial cells (immune cells in the brain). Their main goal was to see how these electromagnetic fields might help protect against damage caused by inflammation and lack of oxygen in the cells.

They tested this by exposing the cells to electromagnetic fields and then subjecting them to conditions similar to low oxygen levels for different amounts of time. They found that the electromagnetic fields helped to reduce cell death and prevented cells from undergoing a type of programmed cell death called apoptosis when they were under low oxygen conditions.

Additionally, the electromagnetic fields stopped a protein called HIF-1α, which is involved in responding to low oxygen levels, from becoming active in the cells. They also found that the electromagnetic fields decreased the production of harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are usually produced when cells are starved of oxygen.

PubMed ID: 27639248

A 4-week study by the University der Bundeswehr München in Germany looked into PEMF devices for insomnia. 101 patients were randomly given either a working device or a placebo. Among those with the active device:

70% complete relief

24% clear improvement

6% slight improvement

The active-treatment group showed significant improvements in sleep latency, interruptions, sleepiness, concentration, and headaches. No adverse effects of treatment were reported.

PubMed ID: 11697020