PEMF Part 1: From Electrons to Energy: Exploring Grounding & Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy

When we think about health, nutrition is often the starting point. But increasingly, research is exploring how the body’s electrical systems may also play an important role in overall well-being.

At the centre of this are electrons.

But why does the body need electrons?

Electrons are tiny negatively charged particles found within every atom. In the human body, they are fundamental to cellular processes, particularly the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) by the mitochondria (found within cells acting as batteries), the energy that fuels everything we do. From using our muscles to digesting the food we eat, without efficient energy production, systems across the body would struggle to function optimally.

Reconnecting with nature

The Earth itself provides a natural source of electrons – from the ground, trees, plants and bodies of water; with  Winfred Schumann (1954), reporting a natural extremely low-frequency field (7.83 Hz) called the Schumann resonance (SR) frequency in Earth’s atmosphere that propagates electron magnetic field (EMF) waves. Historically, regular contact with the ground was part of everyday life. Today, modern lifestyles often limit this connection due to wearing ‘insulated’ (rubber/plastic) soled shoes instead of ‘conductive’ leather soles, walking on concrete pavements, and a reduced need to grow our own food and/or garden, thereby reducing interaction with the soil.

Grounding, also known as earthing, refers to direct contact with the Earth, such as walking barefoot on grass or sand. Research suggests regular practice may support mental health, reduce inflammation, pain and stress, improve sleep, wound recovery, blood flow, heart health and general wellbeing, although more robust studies are needed.

This concept also aligns with what we understand about oxidative stress. The body produces free radicals as part of normal metabolism/function, including during the production of ATP. Whilst free radicals have a role to play in cell signalling, if they are not deactivated by receiving electrons, then they may become imbalanced causing oxidative stress and potentially damaging cells and tissues within the body; which in turn may lead to inflammation and increase the risk of chronic disease. Antioxidants from vitamins and minerals (including zinc and vitamin C), typically from food, are electron donors and help maintain balance. Grounding may represent an additional, non-dietary factor within this wider system.

So that sense of calmness you experience whilst laying on the grass on a summer’s day, after swimming in the sea or local fresh water lake, or even walking barefoot on the sand after dinner whilst on holiday may potentially be linked to grounding.

What is PEMF?

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy offers a different way of engaging with the body’s electrical nature. It involves exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic pulses, typically delivered through a mat, pad or localised device (placed directly on a particular area). These pulses mimic the natural electromagnetic frequencies that already exist in nature and the human body, and aim to interact with the body’s tissues, fluids and cells in a similar way to grounding.

Unlike other approaches, PEMF is a non-invasive therapy, with individuals receiving the therapy clothed, and the experience is generally noted in the research to be pleasant.

What does the research suggest?

Studies have explored PEMF in a range of contexts, with particular interest in how it may influence cellular communication, circulation, and inflammatory pathways.

Some research has investigated its potential role in musculoskeletal health, including osteoarthritis and chronic lower back pain, where improvements in pain or function have been observed in certain studies. PEMF may also reduce prostate volume and improve urine flow in benign prostatic hyperplasia, and reduce postmenopausal stress incontinence alongside exercise rehabilitation programs. There is also emerging evidence exploring fatigue in multiple sclerosis, sleep quality, and nervous system regulation, particularly through its interaction with the parasympathetic nervous system and the vagal nerve.

However, whilst research highlights that the therapy is generally safe, human studies are typically small, and responses appear to vary depending on the individuals, the condition, and the treatment parameters used; therefore, larger-scale, longer-term studies are needed.

Where does this therapy fit?

PEMF and grounding are best viewed as complementary approaches rather than standalone solutions. Nutrition remains essential for providing the body’s ‘ingredients’ needed for energy production and antioxidant defence. At the same time, lifestyle practices that reconnect us with natural environments, alongside emerging technologies, may offer additional ways to support the body.

Final thoughts...

The idea that the body is both biochemical and electrical is not new, but it is an area of growing interest. Whether through spending time barefoot outdoors or exploring therapies like PEMF, these approaches invite us to think more broadly about health.

Sometimes, the most powerful shifts come not from adding more, but from reconnecting with what has always been there.

Look out for Part 2, which will discuss my own experience with PEMF. In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more or discussing how this may complement your own wellbeing journey, then please do get in contact via the Contact tab above.

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References:

Chen, S.H. et al. (2022) “The effect of electromagnetic field on sleep of patients with nocturia,” Medicine (United States), 101(32), p. E29129. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000029129.

Koniver, L. (2023) “Practical applications of grounding to support health,” Biomedical Journal. Elsevier B.V., pp. 41–47. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2022.12.001.

Kull, P. et al. (2025) “Efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on pain and physical function in patients with non-specific low back pain: a systematic review,” Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift. Springer, pp. 11–19. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-023-01025-5.

Maiullari, S. et al. (2023) “Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Induce Skeletal Muscle Cell Repair by Sustaining the Expression of Proteins Involved in the Response to Cellular Damage and Oxidative Stress,” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(23). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242316631.

Mansour, M. et al. (2025) "Efficacy and safety of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy for fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2025.106549.

Menigoz, W. et al. (2020) “Integrative and lifestyle medicine strategies should include Earthing (grounding): Review of research evidence and clinical observations,” Explore. Elsevier Inc., pp. 152–160. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2019.10.005.

Mohamed, D. et al. (2024) "Effect of electromagnetic stimulation combined with visceral manipulation on stress urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women: A randomised control trial," Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 40, pp. 2179-2184

Oschman, J.L., Chevalier, G. and Brown, R. (2015) “The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases,” Journal of Inflammation Research, 8, pp. 83–96. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S69656.

Paolucci, T. et al. (2020) “Electromagnetic field therapy: A rehabilitative perspective in the management of musculoskeletal pain – A systematic review,” Journal of Pain Research. Dove Medical Press Ltd., pp. 1385–1400. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S231778.

Sun X, Huang L, Wang L, et al. Efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field on pain and physical function in patients with low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2022;36(5):636-649.

Tenuta, M. et al. (2020) “Therapeutic use of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy reduces prostate volume and lower urinary tract symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasia,” Andrology, 8(5), pp. 1076–1085. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12775.

Zavadskis, S. et al. (2026) “Interaction of pulsed low frequency electromagnetic field (PEMF) with mitochondria,” Scientific Reports, 16(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-37527-6.