PEMF therapy is an increasingly popular form of alternative therapy that has been making its way into clinics, hospitals, and homes. Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy is becoming more and more popular because it can cover a host of ailments, and can do so in a way that is free from the risk of dependency development, pain, and a high degree of risk.
What Is the Bemer Company?
The Bemer company is one of the oldest PEMF therapy companies currently in operation, with around 20 years of experience in the industry. The age of the Bemer company is often used as one of the most advantageous aspects of Bemer machines, and marketing materials typically focus a great deal of energy and attention letting customers know that they are well-established in the world of PEMF therapy.
The Bemer company is a somewhat large PEMF therapy production company. With a celebrity spokesperson, company-specific studies, and a substantial marketing platform, Bemer certainly does not disappoint for people who are searching for a company with notoriety and plenty of face time in media and marketing efforts. In part due to these marketing efforts, people may use “Bemer” therapy and “PEMF” therapy interchangeably, but it is vital to understand that, although Bemer is a large PEMF manufacturer and makes claims regarding its status as the only viable PEMF therapy company for microcirculation improvements, this is not necessarily the case. Bemer, like all other PEMF therapy companies, follows a blueprint for a therapy technology that was neither invented nor patented by Bemer. Some components of Bemer therapy have been patented, but PEMF therapy itself is not relegated to the Bemer company alone.
What Sets Bemer Apart
The Bemer company is among the oldest PEMF therapy companies currently in operation, which is one of the most compelling things that sets it apart. Consumers often feel more comfortable purchasing items from a company that has been in operation for at least five years, and the twenty years of experience Bemer offers can be tantalizing for someone venturing into the world of PEMF therapy for the first time (or dipping a toe in after having a disappointing experience with another company or product). There are other attributes that set Bemer apart, and each of these will be identified and further discussed below.
Company Structure
Although Bemer has been accused of being a pyramid scheme, the term has incorrectly come to describe an increasingly common business structure titled “Multi-Level Marketing.” People familiar with the term might recall Amway or Mary Kay as MLM companies, but there are plenty other MLM companies that have made a name for themselves in the media in recent years. Although MLM companies are not illegal the way that pyramid schemes are, it is important to recognize that the structure of MLM structures do naturally require increases in product prices, as there has to be enough overhead to cover multiple people’s paychecks—levels that can have a virtually unlimited number of tiers. This is something that may negatively set Bemer apart from its peers: there is overhead added to Bemer devices to cover a series of paychecks that you would not encounter in a company that does not utilize the MLM structure.
Selecting a machine from Bemer has been difficult in the past, as past customers have been required to first find a distributor, then purchase a machine, rather than simply purchasing a machine from the company. While this may not be problematic—and there may be a way to purchase directly from the company—visitors to the company site will first be directed to find a distributor (see: a third-party sales rep), before they will be directed to purchase straight from the Bemer site.
Approach to Delivery
Although most PEMF therapy companies leave the precise number of times you use your machine to your discretion, or provide customers with a basic framework to work with, Bemer designs their machines to be used for eight minutes, twice per day. While this may not be problematic, some users would like a greater range of recommended usage options. Bemer machines are not forced to adhere to an 8-minute, twice-per-day routine; the units will not turn off automatically and refuse to function outside of these parameters. Instead, these are the usage times recommended for Bemer machines. For those who are not concerned about going off on their own using PEMF therapy, a Bemer may work, but those who want a more substantial usage time and do not feel comfortable straying from producer recommendations may not be satisfied by the Bemer line of machines.
The approach to delivery includes the delivery modes available for Bemer customers. Although many home PEMF machines focus on providing a mat for ease of use, Bemer therapy uses two different approaches to home PEMF delivery: a wrap-like device, called the B.Pad and a small, circular application device, called the B.Spot. These can be used to target specific areas of the body, but do not provide the all-over application unique to mats. Despite the small area of application, Bemer technology is said to improve circulation overall, rather than improving circulation in the particular area of application. It should be noted that most studies evaluating PEMF therapy efficacy focus on improvements in targeted areas, rather than all-over circulatory improvements after PEMF is applied in a small, localized area.
Bemer Products: Components and Purchase Factors
Like all other PEMF therapy machines, Bemer products come equipped with PEMF-specific components that can be used to customize Bemer’s therapy and set it apart from its competitors Each of these components will be identified and discussed in great detail below, to provide a clear picture of how Bemer might stack up against its competitors and PEMF therapy production companies as a whole.
Pricing
Although Bemer products are not the highest-priced PEMF therapy products currently on the market, they are usually considered among the middle of the road or slightly higher middle of the road price when it comes to PEMF products. Bemer products begin at $4500, but can go up to over $5,000, depending on the package being purchased. Bemer is not the most budget-friendly device on the market, but is also not the most expensive PEMF device currently available for purchase and home use. With models between $4,000 and $6,000, Bemer’s offerings are slightly more affordable than the highest-grade machines, but is still out of reach for people on a strict or discerning budget.
Waveform
Waveform describes the shape of a pulse of electromagnetic energy as it enters and leaves the body, and Bemer lays claim to a unique type of waveform that is not utilized in other PEMF therapy machines. The waveform is identified as a “sinusoidal” waveform, and is believed to be something akin to a combination sine and square waveform. The sinusoidal waveform patented by Bemer is identified by the company as the reason for the technology’s unique ability to target “microcirculation,” or the circulatory patterns terminating in the capillaries of the extremities.
Intensity
The intensity of Bemer’s machines is quite low on the intensity spectrum, offering intensity levels of between 0.035 and 0.35 Gauss. For reference, the possible range for low-intensity machines range from <1 Gauss to 500 Gauss, which makes Bemer’s machines on the extremely low end of the low-intensity spectrum. While this may not be problematic for some, research has suggested that larger Gauss ranges are both effective and safe for use in a host of conditions—among them, improved circulation and muscle recovery.
Frequency
Bemer machines utilize a frequency of 33 Hz, but the 33 Hz, but due to the nature of the pulse delivery, some have concluded that the frequency of a Bemer machine is actually closer to 1200. Because most studies evaluate and encourage the use of frequencies that adhere closely to the frequencies associated with the earth and human beings, a 33 Hz frequency is considered ideal, while higher frequencies might be considered unnecessary or even overkill. In this respect, some have suggested that Bemer frequency is not the best in the industry.
Additional Concerns
Each of the components and company practices above can play an important role in determining how likely Bemer machines are to successfully manage or supplement treatment for a condition, but there are additional concerns that potential customers are likely to want to take into account, the most pressing of which are company warranty policies and available guarantees. Both of these factors can vary dramatically from company to company, which can make defining a “good” warranty or guarantee difficult. To determine whether or not a guarantee and warranty is beneficial, examine the price of the machine and the potential replacement cost against your personal abilities and budget. If smaller warranties would devastate your budget, should your machine fail, the system may not be the best to meet your needs. How do Bemer’s warranty and guarantee measure up against other PEMF companies?
Warranty
Bemer machines come with a 3-year warranty for all parts and pieces apart from the battery for the mat and the B.Light (an optional accessory). These components come equipped with a six-month warranty and will require a full-cost investment should anything go awry. The 3-year Bemer warranty is somewhat standard among PEMF therapy machines, as most machines offer at least a 1-3 year full warranty, with additional warranty options provided after this period.
While the Bemer warranty is certainly not a blight on the device, it is important to note that many PEMF machines come with a 1-5 year unlimited warranty, followed by an additional 2-5 year warranty that allows customers to receive a discount on machine parts or a replacement, should the machine stop working during this time frame.
Guarantee
Bemer’s machines come equipped with a 30-day money-back guarantee, provided that all stipulations are met and the machine is delivered in pristine condition. Machines that are damaged or defective (due to user error) will not be accepted for a money-back guarantee, nor will machines that are not returned in the original packaging, with all components that came in the original box. The 30-day guarantee is also dependent upon customers’ ability to procure the original invoice for the machine, and may require you to purchase the mat directly from Bemer—a feat that can be difficult, given the MLM structure of the Bemer company. To determine exactly how this process works, it may be necessary to speak directly with a Bemer representative.
Should all stipulations of the warranty be met, customers can then return the mat, minus the cost of shipping and handling, and a 10% restocking fee. Given the price of Bemer machines, customers utilizing the guarantee can expect to pay between $450 and $600 in fees—money that will be lost entirely, should the machine not work for them. Although this practice may be common among PEMF therapy manufacturing companies, it certainly bears mentioning if you are on a strict budget, or are dubious about losing this sum.
Are Bemer Products Worth the Hype?
Bemer is a solid PEMF therapy company: it is well-established and at least decently respected in the Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy industry. What is less certain, however, is whether Bemer machines are the best machines out there, or the greatest value. While PEMF therapy itself from Bemer machines may be perfectly adequate, the price of Bemer machines can be a significant detractor, as can the limited modes of delivery. While clinics and hospitals are prone to offering PEMF therapy primarily with the use of bands and hand-held applicators, many people seeking PEMF therapy for home use would prefer the ease of use and simplicity of a mat—a mat that Bemer does not offer.
Ultimately, Bemer machines can be a solid investment for PEMF therapy delivery, if your budget can absorb the cost of a Bemer machine, and the potential loss associated with the Bemer company’s guarantee policies. While Bemer may not be the only PEMF company that can successfully support microcirculation, as some marketing materials claim, it does utilize the correct components necessary to deliver effective PEMF, and can work well for individuals looking for a low-intensity PEMF machine for home or clinic use.