**EP408: Talking PEMF and Joint Replacement Surgery with Candice Johnston**
**Dr. Warwick:** Hi, it's Dr. Warwick here, and thank you for joining me on my podcast and videocast. Today I've got a repeat guest, Candice Johnston, who was a star of episode 369. If you had a listen to that, we were talking about Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy. It's a hell of a mouthful, but we're going to talk about it a bit more, and it's an absolutely fascinating space.
First of all, welcome, Candice.
**Candice Johnston:** Thank you, Dr. Warwick. It's awesome to be back with you and chatting all things PEMF and the world of wellness. So thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure.
For those listening, I can let you know Candice is serious about trying to improve people's well-being, health span, biohacking, and really healthy aging, which is, I think, we're all starting to move towards that. I think we understand that a sickness mentality for health just doesn't make as much sense as a wellness mentality and a maintenance and well-being mentality.
So, yeah, your journey, I think, began with Best Self, which is the company you are the CEO of and the person who established it. So maybe in a couple of words, just so people know a bit about Best Self, Candice, what does Best Self sort of offer?
**Candice Johnston:** So Best Self was born from my passion and wild obsession with Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy. I've always been in the wellness world, whether it's in my career or personally, always looking for ways to optimize my health. Like you were saying, Warwick, we want to bridge health and vitality within lifespan so we can feel our best for as long as possible.
I've always been very curious and exploring ways to do that, not just for myself but for my family and my friends. I'm one of those people that once I learn about something, I tell everyone about it. When I was going to start Best Self and sell PEMF devices, I did the same thing; I told everyone about it. No one really knew what I was on about for a while there, but fortunately, it's growing a lot of traction in Australia, and we're being able to educate a lot of people about this incredible therapy. It's been a very rewarding journey. We've been helping lots of people with various issues and just helping give people a better quality of life.
So for those listening who haven't heard of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy before, for a complete novice, in just a couple of lines, how would you describe it, Candice?
**Candice Johnston:** So PEMF is from a man-made device. It essentially mimics the Earth's electromagnetic field, which is what is within the ionosphere and the Earth's cavity. It's created by when lightning strikes the Earth; it creates the electromagnetic field around us. So we're kind of naturally bathed in it. This is also called the Schumann resonance, and the average frequency is about 7.83 Hertz.
The Earth creates its own electromagnetic field, and we are in it. However, external frequencies, you know, like mobile towers, Wi-Fi, there's so much going on, especially if you're in a built-up area; it can interfere with that. It's not healthy for our bodies to be exposed to these really high-frequency, high-energy EMFs. So PEMF essentially mimics what we should naturally be bathed in, in the form of a device, which could be a mat, it could be a belt, it could be any kind of device that has a coil system with a modulator that has a frequency generator to produce those natural low-frequency energies.
Essentially, what happens is your body, because we're made up of cells and our cells have an electrical and chemical makeup, we require ion exchange where the cell has the voltage being charged inside and the minerals, which turn into electrolytes, going inside and outside of the cell. That happens, and when that happens, metabolic processes, your biological processes can function at their best.
Now, when your body is depleted or injured, stressed, or lacks sleep, the voltage of the cell can go down. PEMF is designed to increase the voltage and therefore improve that ion exchange, and that's going to have a cascade of effects. One of the main things we try to say to simplify it is it boosts circulation, and that's going to boost your blood, your oxygen, your nutrients, and your hormones. So when all that stuff's moving around in your body, there are going to be many effects, and that's sort of why it's very broadly and widely studied on so many different things, from cognitive performance to pain, inflammation, all around the body.
**Dr. Warwick:** That's true. And for those listening, this might sound a bit science fiction-ish, and it sort of is, and it also sounds a bit too good to be true. But Candice is quite right. The range or the breadth of where there's been a demonstration of benefit from Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy is really quite significant. We sell some devices through our center, and if anyone's interested, reach out to me directly. Candice has indicated she's happy to find a discount for anyone who wants to buy anything through the Best Self website. But reach out to me at info@drwarwickbishop.online, and we'll help you with that link.
One of the amazing things we've seen through some of the members at our own center is aches and pains, anxiety, even tinnitus being improved by Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy. But one of the things that really struck me in the early reading I did about it, and that's the topic I'd really like to stick with today, is the impact that Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy has on bone healing. And that's just quite astounding. Do you want to speak to that for a moment, Candice?
**Candice Johnston:** Yeah, sure. So there's actually quite a few studies on bones, joints, arthritis, and things like that with PEMF because it was actually originally used to heal fractures in racehorses successfully. A lot of these studies work with, well, one, for example, improved 80% union in non-union fractures, which was great. That was a targeted coil treatment of about 75 hertz.
Now, when we look at the reasons behind that, it's because of the way that it helps with the osteoblasts, the cell regeneration and formation. Also, when you're injured or you've had surgery, it's hard to get the blood to those areas. So, like I said earlier, circulation will help boost the blood; we're going to get it to that area, and we're going to start that process of healing.
It's not like it's a magic pill; like you said, it's your body doing the work. It's not PEMF going in like a TENS machine and zapping you. You don't feel it necessarily, but your cells are influenced by it to generate their own electrical action potentials, and that's what helps them to move and get things going in the body.
**Dr. Warwick:** Yeah, it is an incredibly fascinating space. To stick with the bone aspect, exactly as you said, cellular messengers and the function of the osteoblast, which is the cell that lays down bone, is improved with this Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy. One of the stats or one of the results of these studies that I saw was it could reduce fracture healing time by between 40 and 60 percent, which is incomprehensible.
In fact, that ability to help fracture healing has made us down here in Hobart, at our center in OsteoStrong, think about offering mats that people can hire if they're going through the process of joint replacement surgery. Because, of course, some of that healing is going to be fracture healing where the new joint is knocked into the existing bone. We're setting up a service. In fact, we've started that service. So if anyone's interested and they know someone who might be going through joint replacement surgery, particularly people who could be at increased risk—people who are older, frailer, diabetic, with previous steroid use, osteoporosis, or osteopenia—then we may have a real solution to help them improve their healing journey.
We've got your mats. We've got your original small portable mats so that people can come into our center and hire those mats. But you've got some new mats as well, and we've just been talking offline about us buying some of those to really put them in the position where we can hire them out. So tell me about your new mats and why they're the next level up from your existing ones.
**Candice Johnston:** Yeah, sure. So now we've got a new generation PEMF range, and it's basically adapting to the latest research, science, and different specifications to really take PEMF therapy at home to another level. The range includes mats, but it also has a PEMF belt, which is like one coil in a pad.
When we're talking about the study earlier, lots of studies that are published online are usually using targeted coil treatments on these areas that are injured or post-surgery areas. So you've got the localized pad treatment that you could use over an injury or an area that's had surgery, or you can use a mat. The difference is in a study, because they use the targeted, it might be a higher frequency. But with the mat, you distribute that intensity across a full-body mat. So you can actually do it for a lower frequency, and you can still do it for hours on end because it's very safe.
But the main things that have changed with our new gen range are, one, our waveform. In our previous range, we used a sine wave, which is fabulous because our brainwaves use sine wave. The Earth's electromagnetic field is a sine wave. So that's a smooth waveform, very natural, resonant with our bodies. For anyone who's trying to imagine a sine wave, think of the ABC logo. That's sort of a sine wave folded back on itself, that smooth, flowing, rounded wave.
**Dr. Warwick:** That's it.
**Candice Johnston:** So it's a very gentle approach. It's great for home use, especially with gentle healing and recovery. Now, the new gen range uses a square waveform, which, if you can visualize what a square wave might be, rather than a sine wave, it is square. So we've got fast, high rise and fall time to create that sharp square shape.
Now, it is said in the studies that that can be a little bit more stimulating because it's foreign to what we're used to. And so that's why we've decided in the new range to offer this so then people have a choice of which they would prefer based on their requirements. The square wave was actually used in a few of those studies that I mentioned earlier, and it is said to be a little bit more stimulating and triggering response.
**Dr. Warwick:** Are you getting any feedback from your customers regarding the difference between their sine wave experience or square wave experience, Candice?
**Candice Johnston:** People generally will use one of our devices, whether it's the new gen or the legacy range, and they will often feel like they experience similar benefits because one of the biggest things is regardless of what you've bought a mat for, you'll always have the sense of relaxation, anxiety relief, stress relief, and sleep improvements. So everyone always recognizes those benefits.
But in terms of long-term feedback for the square wave in the new gen range, we've only recently launched this. So if there was someone who might have had an injury or surgery, we would usually suggest a 60-day protocol for something like that, whether it was with the old range or the new range. And we haven't had the 60 days yet for those clients, so we're yet to find out the full results.
We're always getting fantastic feedback and responses, whether it's the way that they're immediately feeling or, I mean, we always get reviews that people have been able to stop physio or reduce the amount of physio because we always say that you should do this, integrate it with your healthcare protocol, with your physio, chiropractor, or whoever that is that you're working with. It should complement it, not eliminate anything else. We've had amazing feedback in that sense. So it's very fulfilling to know that people have been able to spend less on multiple appointments and invest in something they can literally use every single day for, you know, the indefinite future.
So, yeah, they're both fantastic. I think it's a fantastic piece of medical technology and so new. Actually, as you say, you haven't even had enough time for substantial feedback, but what I can share is that that impulse of energy that square waveform is going to deliver very efficient energy levels. To some degree, you can almost imagine that PEMF, apart from all the effects on ions, is delivering energy to the cell as well to help it work as well as possible. So I would be fairly sure that the new gen is going to be a fantastic addition to the range that you've got there at Best Self, Candice.
**Candice Johnston:** Thank you. Yeah, like you said, with the energy, PEMF is a pretty cool therapy because it's one of the only ones that passes through your entire body. So when you think about an infrared device or infrared sauna or something, infrared reaches your water molecules in your body, and then that causes you to perspire. So it doesn't go all the way through your body, but it feels like it because it's heating up the water. Near infrared goes only just beneath the skin surface; they all have excellent benefits.
But the reason why I love PEMF so much is because it passes through your entire body. It doesn't recognize materials—bone, flesh—you could put a blanket down; it doesn't care; it'll pass through. It doesn't know anything exists but your cells recognize it. And so that's the really cool part; you're getting on such a deep level that it's going through the entire cell, and it's going to reach the mitochondria where your ATP is produced, and it's going to help with that energy production.
**Dr. Warwick:** Yeah, that's fantastic therapy. So, look, I'm going to wrap up there. Candice, founder and CEO of Best Self, where the range of wellness products includes PEMF, which includes belts, mats of different sizes, and even red light therapy. I want to let people know that down here in Hobart, we're providing some of these fantastic mats. There's a higher service for people going through surgery, particularly if they're at increased risk, to try and improve their healing journey, which we think is super important.
If anyone's interested, Candice has promised to offer a bit of a discount. I can forward a link onto you. Just reach out to me, and I'll send that to you, and you can take advantage of that. Did you want to finish off with anything else in particular, Candice?
**Candice Johnston:** Well, basically, I just want to emphasize the fact that it's something that should complement your lifestyle and your health protocol that you've already implemented. But it is an excellent tool to be able to use when you can fit it in, whether it's the morning or the evening. It's something more to do with consistency, not intensity.
So you might have heard about PEMF devices that are quite high intensity, and you actually feel it on you pulsing, kind of like a TENS machine. And that's okay in a clinical setting and irregularly. But with these kinds of devices, very gentle, everyday use, consistency is the key.
**Dr. Warwick:** Yeah, we've certainly seen that. We've seen that through our center with the feedback that we've had, no question about it. Look, it's an area of medicine I knew nothing about. I'm embarrassed to say, but I'm completely fascinated by it. Candice, I'd like to thank you for spending some time sharing today.
**Candice Johnston:** It is a pleasure, as always. Thanks.
**Dr. Warwick:** Thanks so much. It's been fun.
So for those listening, if you've got any queries or questions, drop us a note at info@drwarwickbishop.online. Till next time, I hope you live as well as possible for as long as possible. I really do appreciate you tuning in and having a listen. Thank you.
