Overview
Frequency Specific Microcurrent is a new system of treatment using microamperage current and the resonance effects of frequencies on tissues and conditions to create beneficial changes to symptoms and health. These are answers to some of the most common questions.
What is microcurrent?
Micro current is current in millionths of an ampere. An ampere is a measure of the movement of electrons past a point. Microamperage current is the same kind of current your body produces on its own within each cell. This is current in millionths of an amp. It is very small; there is not enough current to stimulate sensory nerves so the current flow cannot be felt. You can tell it is running by watching the conductance meter on the machine.
Microcurrent history
Microcurrent was first used in the 1980’s by physicians in Europe and the US for stimulating acupuncture points, stimulating healing in injured athletes and stimulating bone repair in non-union fractures.
There are a number of devices on the market that can deliver micro amperage current. Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) uses a device manufactured by Precision Microcurrent Inc. It has two independent channels that allow you to set both the frequency and the current independently for each channel. It was developed in 1990 by an engineer named Glen Smith who wanted to make a machine that would help people. He created unique circuitry that allows for long battery life and frequencies that are precise to three digits to .1% accuracy.
FDA approved?
The Precision Microcurrent machine has a 510K certificate from the FDA meaning that it is approved for sale. The FDA does not approve devices for sale the way it approves drugs for sale. The 510K just means that it can be used in a medical setting and is substantially equivalent to other devices that have been marketed before it. FDA has approved all microcurrent devices for sale in the category of TENS devices. TENS devices are for pain control and deliver milli-amperage current. ALL TENS devices carry the same warnings precautions and contraindications. Microcurrent devices do not function like TENS devices but they are approved in the category of TENS. They deliver micro amperage current not milli- amperage current. The warnings for the device have to be the same because of FDA requirements even though they do not actually apply to microcurrent. There is no special class of devices that can be created for microcurrent. The cost would be in the millions of dollars and there is no guarantee that it would be approved.
The FDA regulates claims that can be made about therapies, drugs and devices. The claims made for the device can only be those claims that could be made for any device in the class of devices and what has been published in a peer reviewed journal. Precision Microcurrent and Precision Distributing cannot and do not make any claims about the uses of the Precision Microcurrent device or any microcurrent device or microamperage current beyond what is allowed by the FDA for the class of TENS devices and what has been published in articles in peer reviewed journals.
Effects of microcurrent
In 1982 Ngok Cheng published, “The Effect of Electric Currents on ATP Generation, Protein Synthesis and Membrane Transport in Rat Skin in Clinical Orthopedics volume 171: pages 264-272. This study showed that microcurrent increased ATP production in rat skin by 500%. ATP is the chemical that the body uses for energy. The current also increased amino acid transport into the cell by 70% and waste product removal. The implications for human healing and repair are obvious. ATP production was increased as long as the current was below 500 microamps. When the authors increased the current to 1000 micro amps, or one milliamp, a current range delivered by TENS devices and other types of electrical stimulation therapies, the ATP production was actually reduced.
Frequencies
In the early 1900’s, before 1934, medical physicians and osteopaths were using electromagnetic therapy devices to treat patients. They had equipment that delivered frequencies on two channels, one that was observed to address a specific tissue; and one that was thought to neutralize a specific condition or pathology. There were thousands of physicians using this technology at this time. They had journals and associations and were treating patients and doing research and sharing the effects of frequencies in articles and books. Dr. Albert Abrams had a clinic in San Francisco that treated pneumonia, influenza, and diseases caused by inflammation and toxicity.
In 1934, the American Medical Association in the person of Maurice Fishbein declared that electromagnetic therapies were “unscientific” and that drugs and surgery were the future of medicine and that any physician who used electromagnetic therapies would lose the license to practice medicine, which that that time was granted by the AMA not the government. The treatments fell out of use, the equipment stopped being manufactured and by 1950’s was made illegal by the FDA.
The frequencies were still available in books and articles and in the manuals that came with the old devices.
In 1994, Carolyn McMakin, DC and George Douglas, DC began using frequencies obtained from Dr. Harry Van Gelder, a retired osteopath, on Dr. McMakin’s chiropractic patients to see if any effects could be observed. The results were immediate and fascinating. The frequencies appeared to do exactly what they were alleged to do. Further use of the frequencies demonstrated effects that included changes in inflammation, range of motion, nerve and muscle pain, shingles pain, visceral organ function and even emotional states in response to frequencies. Later frequencies were added from the writings of Dr. Albert Abrams and from Dr. McWilliams.
After treating patients and observing these effects for over a year Dr. McMakin began teaching the technique in January 1997 to see if the effects were reproducible. Did the technique actually have a reproducible effect or was this some apparent effect produced by the patient’s mind or reaction to something else in Dr. McMakin’s clinic? By June of 1997 it was apparent that students were achieving the same results. Classes continue to be taught around the US and in Australia and Canada so that practitioners can bring these effects and the relief they create to patients.
What are the frequencies?
Frequencies are measured in hertz or pulses per second. The frequencies are used on two channels and it seems to make a difference what channel you put which frequency on. The frequency thought to address or neutralize the condition is put on Precision channel A or on the channel that fires first. The frequency thought to address the tissue is put on channel B. There are frequencies for over 200 conditions from very common conditions like inflammation and scar tissue and mineral deposits and toxicity to very unusual and hard to document conditions like “polio virus”, “arsenical poisoning”, prolapsus and “subluxations”.
There are a few frequencies that are used as A/B pairs. A is not a condition, B is not a tissue but the combination of the two frequencies appears to have the therapeutic effect. There is one such frequency combination that takes away shingles pain. When it is used before the blisters break out for an hour a day for three days the pain is gone in 20 minutes and the blisters never break out. When it is used after the blisters break out it takes the pain away and shortens the course of the shingles. Shingles is the only thing the frequency is good for and so far there is no one it doesn’t work on.
Dr. McMakin didn’t develop the frequencies. The frequencies were developed before 1934 by MD’s and Osteopathic physicians using an entirely different machine and system of treatment. She uses them clinically, documents the effects and develops protocols that are effective for different clinical conditions, teaches the protocols and determines if the effects were reproducible based on feedback from practitioners.
What can these machines treat?
The machines, approved as TENS devices, can only provide symptomatic relief of pain. The current can increase ATP production as shown in the peer reviewed article published by Ngok Cheng in 1982.
What can the frequencies treat?
The frequencies appear to change a variety of conditions and tissues and change pain and function in a large number of clinical conditions. FSM is especially good at treating nerve and muscle pain, inflammation and scar tissue. There is a kind of fibromyalgia associated with neck trauma that is particularly painful and hard to treat even with narcotics. There is one frequency protocol that is effective for taking away this kind of pain. Shingles is easy to treat. There is one frequency combination that so far is 100% effective in a small number of cases to take away kidney stone pain. The frequencies have created observed effects in asthma, liver dysfunction, irritable bowel and many other conditions. It has been observed that patients who are treated within four hours of a new injury including auto accidents and surgeries have much reduced pain and a greatly accelerated healing process.
There are no guarantees that any protocol is going to be effective in any given patient on any given condition. In general, the frequencies either work or don’t work and if they don’t work they simply have no effect. As long as appropriate proven therapies are not delayed or withheld, FSM “Can’t hurt. Might Help.” Every practitioner is trained in the concept that FSM is to be used as an adjunct to therapeutics appropriate to their discipline for the patient after proper diagnosis.
It is NOT recommended that the frequencies be used to treat cancer. The condition is too serious and too complicated to be addressed with this technique until we know more about it.
What is a frequency protocol?
Frequency protocols are sequences of frequencies observed to have a certain clinical effect in various conditions as determined in Dr. McMakin’s practice and by input from other FSM practitioners. The sequences of frequencies are taught in the course and the students are provided with a summary sheet of frequencies and the most common protocols at the end of the FSM course. The most commonly effective and useful protocols are pre-programmed into the Auto Care, an automated microcurrent unit that sequences through frequencies automatically for unattended in office care.
Frequency Animal Research
The frequency to “reduce inflammation” was studied in an animal research laboratory at University of Sydney in Australia. This frequency when combined with the frequency to address the blood and immune system reduced lipoxygenase mediated inflammation better than any drug ever tested in this animal model. The frequency reduced swelling by 62% and the medications reduced it by 45%. No other frequency tested reduced inflammation at all. The frequency worked in every animal with a time dependent response. 50% of the effect was present at 2 minutes, 100% of the effect was present at 4 minutes. This is the only frequency that has been studied in an animal model but the effects and the implications are important. The research is being prepared for publication in a peer reviewed journal.
Overview
Frequency Specific Microcurrent has been taught since 1997. It is taught as a three day 20 hour course available for 20 hours of continuing education credit for many disciplines in most states. Practitioners are advised to check with their board if course credit is important to them. The course has been taught to chiropractic, naturopathic and medical physicians, physical therapists, acupuncturists, occupational therapists and massage therapists and the assistants who function in physician settings.
The course includes lecture time and hands on practice time. The lecture includes the research data and conceptual framework within which the observed and documented FSM effects can be explained. The concepts are from physics, biophysics and thermodynamics but are structured in lay terms. The frequencies and treatment protocols for myofascial pain, disc, facet and nerve pain are taught on the first day. The protocols and frequencies for concussion, nervous system and visceral conditions and emotional issues are taught on the second and third day. The course includes diagnostic procedures for inner ear concussion, discogenic and facet generated and neuropathic pain.
The 6 hours of practical sessions include setting up and operating and caring for the machine and the gloves and how to use the protocols to treat various body parts. The treatment method and application is different than any other way of treating muscular pain for example because the hands are placed in such a way as to allow current to flow through the tissue being treated and pressure is used only to move the tissue while the frequency is breaking up the scar tissue.
Right now there are nine seminars a year throughout the country. We do offer our Core and Advanced seminars on DVD, and we are discussing doing an online seminar - setting up practical sessions around the country with trained instructors so that there are sessions available two weekends a month in convenient locations.
Once a year, there is a two day 16 hour advanced course that provides the complete list of frequencies not taught in the Core seminar. On this same weekend, there is a two day International Symposium with guest lecturers and presentations by practitioner presenters sharing case reports and research findings and workshops for both diagnosis and treatment. And finally on the two days following the symposium there is an instructor training for people wishing to be considered as instructors for the practical sessions.
Who can take the training and use FSM on patients?
Anyone who has a license that allows them to use or does not restrict them from using electrical stimulation on patients can take the course and use FSM on patients. The course is geared toward medical, chiropractic and naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists and physical therapists and the assistants who function in all of these clinical settings.
Are there any risks or dangers?
There are none as far as we know. Dr. McMakin has been using FSM since 1994 and has had no ill effects attributable to the use of the unit or the frequencies. There are two effects to be considered. The practitioner is protected from the current by wearing latex gloves and is therefore not affected by the current. The practitioner is in the field created by the frequencies and the resonance effect experienced by the patient. This field can be perceived by some practitioners and is either pleasant or bothersome depending on the practitioner’s ability to process the sensations.
There are no risks to the patient that we know about as long as the practitioner follows the proper contraindications and precautions associated with both FSM and the use of the machine. There are frequencies used to remove scar tissue that should not be used with 6 weeks of the time of a new injury. Sometimes when muscles are successfully treated range of motion increases so much that joints and nerves can become temporarily painful until range of motion goes back down. Practitioners are aware of these possible reactions and are advised to warn patients about them. After muscles are treated there is sometimes a detox reaction that occurs 90 minutes after treatment. This can be lessened by having the patient drink water and take an anti-oxidant combination supplement.
Is there any one FSM does not work on?
Patients who are dehydrated cannot benefit from FSM. It has been observed that patients who are dehydrated. Athletes with large muscle mass and inadequate water in take and patients over 70 who are chronically dehydrated have the most problems. Every patient is advised to drink at least one quart of water in the one hour preceding treatment. Patients who are chronically dehydrated may need more.
No technique is 100% effective and FSM is no exception. The effectiveness of FSM depends almost entirely on an accurate diagnosis. Shoulder pain can come from muscles, tendons, bursa, discs, nerves or joints. FSM will treat all of these pain generators effectively. But, if you are treating for muscle and the shoulder pain is from nerves or the bursa you may change the muscle but you won’t change the patient’s pain since it is not coming from the muscle. This analogy applies to every condition.
What machine do you use for FSM?
All of the FSM clinical and animal research has been done with the Precision Microcurrent, a two channel, battery operated microcurrent machine manufactured by Precision Microcurrent, Inc. Both the frequency and current can be set independently on each of the two channels. The frequencies are delivered with three digit accuracy from 0.1 Hz to 999 Hz. The current flows in a ramped square wave form and can be set to run either alternating or polarized. It runs on 8 D cell batteries that last about one to two years with full time use. Although all of the research has been done with this unit any device that has the same parameters should be able to reproduce the outcomes but this is not certain. The leads coming from the machine have small pin plugs that fit into either graphite gloves or gel adhesive electrode pads.
The Precision Microcurrent has frequency switches that are very easy to change allowing for very rapid shifting of frequencies. It allows the skilled intuitive practitioner to make rapid decisions about a frequency efficacy and then change based on patient response.
What is the difference between the microcurrent and a laser?
Microcurrent provides electrons and in published studies increases ATP production in cells. Lasers provide photons. I am not aware of any research suggesting that laser treatment increases ATP production. Lasers oscillate at set frequencies and provide beneficial results. They are doing it by some other method than frequency specific resonance and ATP enhancement.
What is the difference between microcurrent and TENS?
Microcurrent is approved in the category of TENS devices determined by the FDA. TENS devices deliver milliamp current and block pain messages that are tying to get up the spine to the brain. Microcurrent delivers microamperage current which has been shown in published studies to increase ATP production in tissues.
What is the difference between microcurrent and ultra sound?
Ultra sound creates ultrasonic vibrations and creates heat by vibrating the water molecules in the tissue. It does not provide current nor does it change ATP status. It provides beneficial results it is just completely different than microcurrent.
What is an Auto Care?
The Auto Care unit is a microcurrent device that is set to deliver 54 different pre-programmed sequences of frequencies and to deliver microamperage current in a range from 20 microamps to 360 microamps. The frequency sequences have been programmed by Dr. McMakin and are the frequencies thought to be effective for a number of conditions. The device is approved as a TENS device and as such is approved for treatment of pain. The frequencies are thought by Dr. McMakin and other FSM practitioners to address a number of conditions but the device manufacturer cannot and does not make any statements or claims about the effects of frequencies.
The Auto Care allows for unattended treatment of various conditions and increases office efficiency. It is a wonderful adjunct for FSM practitioners. It makes it possible for a patient to be treated at home if the doctor has one available to rent for home use. Patients can purchase the Auto Care on prescription from their physician and use it as prescribed for self treatment. The protocols are pre set and run from 13 to 86 minutes. The controls allow the operator to move forward to the next frequency, or back to the previous one or to hold on a frequency. The Auto Care can be used with disposable electrodes or graphite gloves.
The Auto Care does not allow for customized choices or the short custom protocols that can be provided with the Precision Microcurrent. It is recommended as an adjunct to offices with at least one Precision unit and is not recommended as a primary unit in offices who see very chronic or difficult pain patients. It is an ideal unit for offices who see primarily functional medicine patients.
What is the Sports Care?
The sports care was developed at the request of professional athletes and their trainers. It has preprogrammed sequences of frequencies that address the injuries and pain problems common to most professional sports and athletic endeavors. It has higher operating current than the Auto Care starting at 300 micro amps and a range of 100 to 700 microamps. The unit has sequences of frequencies for new injuries, injuries from one week to four weeks old and injuries and chronic pain issues. The frequencies also address concussion and other conditions common to athletes and people who have sports injuries.
Who can get a microcurrent machine?
All of the microcurrent machines used by FSM have 510K listing with the FDA. This means that they are available to physicians or those licensed to use electrical stimulation as part of their practice or on prescription by a physician. Patients and lay persons can only purchase a microcurrent device on prescription by their physician.
Why do you work with this technology?
I work with FSM because it brings relief to so many patients for so many conditions. It is low risk, non invasive and incredibly effective. I started teaching it to see if it was reproducible. I keep teaching it because it would be immoral not to. Every day I do things with FSM that are simply not possible with any other modality or any other known treatment. Every day I hear from FSM practitioners about the things they are doing with FSM to change patients’ lives. It is an awesome experience. I do it because I love it.
FSM Goal
Our goal is to treat every patient in pain who wants to be helped by training doctors who can treat them. And to teach, research, publish and promote FSM in such a way that it survives
FSM Motto
"Frequency Specific Microcurrent
Changing medicine one patient at a time
Changing patients’ lives one doctor at a time"