An introduction to electromagnetic field therapy and immune function: a brief history and current status

Interest in electromagnetic field (EMF) treatments has increased rapidly in recent years due to its advantages over other treatments for tissue healing and infection. Benefits include low-cost, ready availability, ease of localized application, few if any side-effects, and indefinite shelf life. Immunological studies show that low-intensity EMF can interact with cells and tissues, providing a large number of anti-inflammatory and wound healing applications. The effect of EMF on the immune system in phagocytic cells alone has attracted attention because of the role that extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) plays in decreasing the growth rate of bacteria. With today’s antibiotic-resistant bacteria, medicine is in need of a mechanism to aid in the control of inflammatory response, greatly benefitting the fields of disease pathology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.