We won’t even attempt to enumerate the numbers of people who could benefit from better sleep, less stress, improved focus and concentration, deeper learning skills, and the ability to meditate effectively. Let’s just say most of us. Perhaps all of us. So an intriguing new wearable that just launched on Indiegogo may warrant investigation.
The ELF emmit lightweight reverse headband (it fits over your ears and wraps around the back of your head) is made of non-allergenic plastic. An embedded electromagnetic coil is controlled by a wired connection to a smartphone headphone jack. The technology involved is Pulsed Electromagnetic Stimulation (PEMS) which has been FDA approved in many devices, although we did not find ,nor does the company claim on the Indiegogo campaign that it has, specific FDA approval for the ELF emmit device.
The ELF emmit pulses frequencies between 0.2 and 19 Hz depending on setting in the smartphone app. Five presets correspond to claimed purposes, each with a specified frequency and suggested duration. High-frequency beta waves (18Hz) pulse in the ELF emmit Concentrate Mode, purportedly to assist with problem-solving, information processing, multitasking, and focusing. The recommended maximum duration is 120 minutes. The ELF emmit Anti-Stress Mode uses 10 Hz moderate frequency alpha waves for up to 40 minutes per session. For the Deep Learning Mode 8Hz alpha wave pulses are recommended for up to 20 minutes at a time. Meditate Mode employs slow frequency theta 8Hz waves for a 30-minute duration. The slowest frequency delta waves, 5Hz, are used with Sleep Mode to induce restorative sleep. According to the company, delta waves are the slowest recorded human brain waves and while common with infants and children, adults gradually lose the ability to produce these frequencies, hence they have less restful sleep.
Free apps are available for both iOS and Android devices. The ELF emmit doesn’t need a battery because it’s powered by the phone’s headphone jack. The company states that it doesn’t require FDA approval because it’s not considered a medical device, but that pulsed electromagnetic therapy PEMT and PEMS are approved. We were able to find several FDA-approved devices that use PEMS. The concept behind the ELF emmit seems simple enough and, with the relatively low $99 price during the Indiegogo campaign, if it can deliver even half the claimed benefits it sounds like a bargain.
