Frequency Specific Microcurrent

What is Frequency Specific Microcurrent?

Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) is a gentle therapy that utilises very low-level electrical currents (measured in microamps) at specific frequencies to support tissue healing. The treatment delivers specific pairs of frequencies: one targets a particular tissue type, and the other targets a physiological condition, to influence cellular function and reduce inflammation. The exact frequencies used depend on the condition being treated, as different tissues and health issues respond to different frequency combinations. 

The theory of FSM is that by applying a specific frequency to your body tissues, the current can stimulate healing and reduce inflammation in those tissues. 

FSM is most commonly used to treat musculoskeletal conditions, such as muscle or nerve injuries, joint pain and localised inflammation, because the microcurrent is applied directly to affected tissues to reduce pain and inflammation. 

FSM can also be used for systemic or chronic conditions, including chronic pain syndromes, fibromyalgia, migraines, and other long-standing inflammatory issues. In these cases, the practitioner will apply frequencies to influence broader physiological processes rather than a single injured area.

To date, we have seen considerable benefit from using this gentle therapy for conditions as diverse as chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, asthma, eczema, anxiety, arthritis/joint pains, and many other conditions.

FSM can be particularly helpful when the body is locked in a sympathetic “fight or flight” mode. It can help encourage a shift into the parasympathetic state, where natural healing and repair take place, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. This gentle support allows autonomic processes like digestion, inflammatory responses and other bodily functions that operate without conscious awareness, to return to a more balanced state.

History of Frequency Specific Microcurrent

FSM grew out of early 20th-century fascination with the body’s electrical nature. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, physicians and inventors experimented with very small electrical currents to treat pain, wounds, and nervous system disorders, based on the understanding that nerves and tissues communicate electrically, and that passing very gentle electrical currents through the body created surprisingly powerful physiological changes.

By the 1920s to 1940s, doctors were actively publishing clinical observations and research on microcurrent and frequency-based therapies in journals such as Electromedical Digest, documenting the effects of specific frequencies on pain, inflammation, and tissue repair.

Unfortunately, this promising area of research was abruptly halted in the 1950s when the American Medical Association (AMA) prohibited the medical use of electrotherapy devices, including microcurrent approaches. As a result, much of the existing research was discredited, abandoned, or destroyed, and electrotherapies largely disappeared from mainstream medicine. Because of this suppression, many original records were lost, and today we do not fully know how early researchers identified the specific frequencies believed to resonate with particular tissues or conditions. 

Much of the modern-day development of FSM is due to the dedication of physicians who continued using microcurrents, observing consistent clinical responses when specific frequency combinations were applied to targeted tissues. Dr. Carol McMakin, in particular, has been instrumental in preserving and expanding the practice of FSM. Today, FSM is used by a growing number of healthcare practitioners worldwide as a gentle, non-invasive modality aimed at reducing pain, inflammation, and nervous system dysregulation.

How is Frequency Specific Microcurrent delivered?

FSM is delivered using a specialised microcurrent device that sends very low-level electrical currents through the body via damp towels or electrodes placed on the skin. The treatment is typically applied while the patient rests comfortably. Because the current is in the microamp range, it is usually not felt or is only mildly perceptible during treatment. 

It is important to be well hydrated before FSM treatment. This helps to maximise the benefits and reduce any side effects such as feeling lightheaded afterwards.

Are there any risks to FSM?

There are no known risks associated with FSM treatment; however, the following conditions are typically avoided as a precaution:

• Pregnancy

• Presence of a pacemaker or other implanted electrical devices

• Epilepsy or seizure disorders

Side effects are unusual. If they do occur, they are typically mild and brief, and may include drowsiness, light-headedness or nausea.

How soon will I notice the effects of the treatment, and how long do they typically last?

It is common to feel the effects of FSM during a treatment session, or shortly afterward, however sometimes several sessions may be needed before you begin to notice the benefits. The duration of the benefits will vary from person to person and may last a few hours initially. Your practitioner will aim to increase the duration of the benefits with subsequent treatments. 

Research

FSM is a complementary therapy, and research into its benefits is ongoing. In clinical practice, many FSM practitioners have experience with the benefits of this therapy, especially with chronic or difficult-to-treat conditions. As a non-invasive and painless therapy with little risk, it may help as an adjunct in the treatment of persistent conditions that have been unresponsive to standard care.

Dr Carolyn McMakin is the present-day pioneer of Frequency Specific Microcurrent, and her journey of discovering and later developing this therapy is detailed in her book, The Resonance Effect: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-resonance-effect/carolyn-mcmakin/james-l-oschman/9781623171100

Prices

1.5 hour exploratory session: £170

Subsequent 1-hour FSM sessions £110

Minimum 6 sessions recommended.

Dr Tavakkoli offers FSM as a complementary therapy for chronic conditions and will advise whether this therapy may be helpful for you after reviewing your details at your first appointment.

Please note that FSM is a complementary therapy. It is not a standard primary treatment for any medical condition but can offer additional support alongside standard treatments, especially for conditions that are difficult to treat.