I’m laying down on my back on the Santa Monica Proper hotel’s outdoor patio, gaze turned skyward as I watch the palm trees sway in the breeze. I’ve been resting on a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) mat for the last 15 minutes—it’s one of the offerings at a wellness pop-up taking place at the hotel, and I’ve been promised a cellular recharge. While I can’t say for sure if my cells are re-energized, I do feel pretty dang relaxed. Color me intrigued.
As a longtime health and lifestyle journalist, I’ve had the opportunity to test a wide range of wellness trends—and my philosophy is skeptical until proven otherwise. As I learned before my first PEMF experience, this mat is designed to emit electromagnetic waves that mimic natural frequencies found in nature. Here’s how it works: “Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy uses the application of intermittent magnetic field pulses to living tissue,” says Nisha Chellam, MD, an internal medicine physician at Parsley Health. “This leads to tiny electrical currents that enhance the functions of the cells.” So, rather than sprawling out on the earth, you can use this mat to reap the same benefits.
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Those benefits, according to Dr. Chellam, are dependent on the frequency, which usually range from one to five hertz. Lower frequencies (like the Delta or Theta range) may be more calming and grounding, helping you regulate your nervous system, unwind from a stressful day, encourage your brain to slow down, and prepare for sleep. Whereas higher frequencies, “help with cellular transfer of calcium and other minerals or ions, leading to less inflammation, increased circulation, stress reduction, and enhanced recovery from exercise,” she says.
According to Jessica Alcalde, vice president of product at HigherDose, higher frequencies can also “offer a feel-good energy boost that allows you to focus, feel more creative, and problem-solve—even in high-stress situations.” What’s more, because of its benefits for cellular health, inflammation, and circulation, PEMF can be a powerful tool for recovery and performance. Which is why HigherDose opted to include infrared heat in its mats, “creating a synergistic effect where the heat relaxes the muscles to allow the PEMF waves to penetrate even more deeply.”
That said, Dr. Chellam notes that PEMF therapy can be great for “people with chronic insomnia, chronic pain, athletes, high-stress individuals, and people who need improvement in circulation.” Well, as a self-identified high-stress individual, I was eager to give these mats another try. There are a number of at-home available options on the market, ranging in price from around $350 for a Bon Charge PEMF mini to nearly $1,300 for a full-sized, HigherDOSE infrared PEMF Pro mat. I opted to try the latter, as I’m already a fan of their sauna blankets.
My Experience With PEMF Mats
The mat is easy enough to set up, you simply find a bit of floor space to spread it out, plug it in, and relax atop the mat. Dr. Chellam suggested using the mat 10 to 20 minutes, starting on the lower end and slowly increasing time to get the maximum benefit (but no more than 30 minutes at a time). As I’ve been trying to hone my nightly wind-down ritual for a clearer mind and better sleep, I decided to try it out an hour before bed. Not certain I could sit for 10 minutes without my mind racing, I opted to queue up a guided meditation, to really get in the flow. By the time my session came to a close, I felt significantly more relaxed, and ready for some shuteye (candidly, I may have started nodding off towards the tail-end of the session). Was it the mat or the meditation? While I can’t know for sure, I do plan on incorporating this practice into my routine more regularly.