I‘m so sorry, but I don’t believe in crystals. I stopped wearing an amethyst around my neck in the late 90s. I am not convinced that a carefully-placed obsidian can suck the anxiety out of my heart chakra or a topaz can align the meridians of the body (whatever those are). I would not last long at a dinner party in Laurel Canyon, and I can live with that.
So I didn’t have much confidence that the HigherDose’s Infared PEMF Mat, topped with ground particles of crystals, clay, and charcoal, would change my life or even lighten my mood. But perhaps it’s not the crystals that deserve the credit.
PEMF stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field, low-frequency electromagnetic pulses that, when directed at tissues in the body, create tiny electrical currents in the cells. As a tool for pain management and post-surgical healing, PEMF therapy has been studied extensively and was approved by the FDA in 1979. It is believed that by stimulating the cell’s activities, PEMF treatments encourage cellular repair, decrease inflammation, promote blood flow, and even release endorphins and neurotransmitters like adenosine.
If you’ve recently broken an ankle or undergone a cesarean section, your treatment plan likely included sessions on a PEMF mat. They are equipped with small magnets that transmit different frequencies depending on the desired results.
Now, HigherDose brings this mat from the recovery room to the living room. It has four modes—restore, ground, relax, and focus—that mimic the brain’s wavelengths during different activities. It’s also equipped with adjustable infrared heat and an “ion” button, which somehow activates the aforementioned crystals to generate negatively charged ions (similar to the ones found at the seaside). These allegedly help offset the positive ions created by electronics, among other scourges on humanity.
The HigherDose mat is attached to a big, blocky control panel covered in flashing lights that looks like something out of Back to the Future. Could it turn me from bumbling zombie to human after just four hours and 37 minutes of almost entirely “light” sleep on a red-eye? (It’s moments like this when I loathe my Oura ring.)
I unfolded the pad, which is thrice as thick as a yoga mat and a little crunchy from the crystals, and lay down. (No need to strip—the waves permeate clothing.) I selected Level 3, “relax,” which uses a 10-hertz wave to mimic a meditation state. I put in my AirPods, phoned a friend (I didn’t want to fall asleep, for experiment’s sake), and spent the 20-minute session blissed out in conversation. I cranked up the infrared, too, because why not?
I was feeling so Zen that I hit the button again and stayed put. (Unlike sauna blankets, which can be dehydrating, there’s no downside to extended use; HigherDose recommends having a lie-down whenever the mood strikes.)
Now I know what an iPhone on a 2 percent battery feels like after 20 minutes with a lightning charger. Afterward, I was able to rouse without groaning. I unpacked my suitcase and made vegetarian chili. I even tossed in a load of laundry and fell asleep at my normal bedtime.
These days, the HigherDose mat sits right next to my desk. It’s in heavy rotation after HITT workouts, and my lower back (which tends to twinge) is feeling much more supple. When I’m writing—like right now—I lean against the wall and select Level 4, which emits a 23-hertz wave, used by the brain during deep thinking. (How’s it working? Is my story clear? Do you like my little jokes?)
As for those crystals? I’m still a disbeliever, but surely they can’t hurt. Perhaps if I keep up all this relaxing, my mind may eventually open up, too.
Ashley Baker is the Executive Editor at Air Mail Look
