Any thoughts on BEMER product? (not exactly Pulsed EMF - microcirculation)
Some friends just asked me if I had any opinions about a device (or devices) and therapy they are being introduced to, and encouraged to buy (but very expensive - we are talking about amounts like 4000 USD or 4000 EUR) called the
BEMER Physical Vascular Therapy.
It is meant to improve blood microcirculation, and it is proposed to be used daily for short periods of time.
_http://www.bemeramerica.com/bemerGroup/welcome/
I noticed this thread about Pulsed EMF and thought maybe someone might have run across this device because upon first appearance it seems to be related, although
apparently it is NOT actually a PEMF therapy at all:
_http://reviewbemer3000.com/ said:
BEMER is not a part of the pulsed electromagnetic field therapy category. The effect of BEMER is achieved through a very specific bio-rhythmically defined signal configuration which only uses an electromagnetic field as its carrier. The use of an electromagnetic field is not absolutely necessary for the energy transfer of the signal and therefore merely incidental. We could as well use a mechanical wave in the ultrasound range, for example. We chose, however, not to do so for cost reasons and because of possible side effects.
So that is one thing to get clear, it is not PEMF.
But what is it then?
_http://www.bemeramerica.com/bemerGroup/why-bemer/what-is-bemer/ said:
BEMER can improve restricted circulation in the smallest blood vessels and thus support the body's own self-healing and regeneration processes.
The circulation is the human body’s supply system. 75% of it is in the area of the smallest blood vessels (microcirculation). It is in the area in which the blood cells supply the tissue and organs with nutrients and oxygen, taking waste products with them for disposal on their way back. Only with the help of these supply and disposal processes can the body’s cells fulfill their varied, life-supporting tasks and provide the body with energy.
The heart ensures that the blood cells move through the blood circulation. However: In total the blood corpuscles have to supply and cleanse an area of over 100,000 kilometers. As the heart cannot manage this on its own, it needs help: The smallest blood vessels drive the blood cells with their own pumping movements (vasomotion) and support the heart in this way. Additionally, they regulate blood flow with their movements in such a way that areas requiring a greater supply at a given time are better supplied with blood than those with a periodically lower requirement. Example: During sporting activities, the muscles have a high requirement, and the brain needs less. When learning, exactly the opposite applies.
The pumping movements of the smallest blood vessels help the blood cells to do their job - precisely where it is most needed. The results are impressive: The body’s defenses are strengthened, physical and mental performance levels rise, diseases are better combated and medicines reach their goal more easily.
Too much stress, too little sleep, an unbalanced diet, unhealthy lifestyle habits, illnesses and of course aging slow down the pumping movements of the smallest blood vessels. This affects the overwhelming majority of all people. This means that the blood cells move far too slowly and can no longer fulfill their tasks to the extent required. In the long term, an inadequate supply to the tissue and organs leads to declining physical and mental performance levels, pain, disorders and illness.
BEMER Physical Vascular Therapy can counter this, in a naturally limited setting. With the help of electromagnetically transferred stimulation signals, it stimulates the pumping movement of the smallest blood vessels, and can thus normalize the circulation again in this area. The supply to the body’s cells is improved and they can carry out their varied tasks. For example, fighting disease and pain, healing wounds, providing energy for physical and mental performance or also reestablishing general well-being.
BEMER can also be a valuable support in amateur and professional sports. With adequate circulation in the smallest blood vessels, shorter warming up and cooling down phases are possible, as well as faster regeneration and therefore more effective training sessions. Ideally, micro injuries can also be repaired immediately and in this way more serious subsequent injuries prevented in advance.
They claim it has a scientific studies to support it, and it is approved medical device:
_http://www.bemeramerica.com/bemerGroup/why-bemer/scientifically-proven/ said:
Patents EP-B-0995463, WO 2008/025731 A1, WO 2011/023634 A1 and WO 2011/023635
BEMER is an officially approved medical device in EU, class IIa (93/42EEC ja CE0483).
During the past 15 years, 46 publications have been developed and there are four scientific studies about BEMER therapy in PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/).
This is the first I have heard of it, and of course there are people claiming "snake oil" (i.e fraudulent). I cannot offer an opinion, but I am too aware that scientific studies are not always trustworthy - but if there are, then this is a good point for the device.
I am not very impressed by the existence of only four studies, and a quick glance it looks to me that they are very specific studies, and just a "blink" response I had was that there is kind of a big leap being made from those kinds of studies to the conclusions - but I could be wrong since I barely looked into it.
Further, even if, as they claim, they are approved medical devices, does not necessarily prove their effectiveness, but it does add some weight to their argument.
They say Prof. Dr. med. Reiner Klopp has a book that is a reference for Microcirculation. Maybe that could give someone some understanding of how the device is supposed to help microcirculation.
As for my friends - a different matter apart from questions about this technology/therapy:
In the end, my friends are taking trial runs with the device, seeing how it makes them feel, and counting their money. It will have to be up to them how confident they are in buying into it given their own research, experience and capacity to pay. Naturally.
Note: my first, "blink" response to their question though, was, how much are you doing towards diet and life style first - before looking at an expensive treatment option? If things are not just ok with how you feel, there is vast improvement that can be made with every day choices and they are aware of my ketogenic diet, the importance of getting enough sleep, detoxification, for example.
So, back to the main point of this post: does anyone have experience to share with this?