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PEMF and Lyme Disease: What the Research Shows

An honest look at Lyme disease, lingering symptoms, and what studies say about PEMF.

Reviewed September 2026 by Sentient Light, Hayden, Idaho

Key takeaways

  • Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by black-legged ticks. It's diagnosed and treated by doctors, usually with antibiotics.
  • Some people have lingering fatigue, pain or trouble thinking after treatment, known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome.
  • PEMF has not been shown to treat Lyme disease or kill the bacteria that cause it.
  • Research on electromagnetic therapies for lingering Lyme symptoms is limited to one small study without a control group.
  • If you have Lyme disease, make decisions about your care with your doctor.

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which spreads through the bite of infected black-legged (deer) ticks. Early signs can include fever, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, headache, and a bullseye-shaped rash.1

More than 80,000 cases are reported to the CDC each year, and an estimate based on insurance claims suggests about 476,000 people are diagnosed and treated annually in the United States.2

Lingering symptoms after treatment

Most people recover after antibiotic treatment. But 10–20% of patients have symptoms such as fatigue, pain and difficulty thinking that last more than six months.1 This is called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), and its cause is still being studied.3

What does research show about PEMF and Lyme disease?

  • No study has shown that PEMF treats Lyme infection or kills the bacteria that cause it.
  • One small study looked at a related electromagnetic device in 10 people with lingering Lyme symptoms. Eight completed treatment, and all eight reported better quality of life within four months.4 The study had no control group, so it can't show whether the device caused the improvement.
  • A clinical trial of PEMF for lingering Lyme symptoms was registered in the UK but was terminated before completion.5

People living with lingering symptoms often look for non-drug options to discuss with their doctor. To learn what research shows about PEMF more broadly, read How PEMF Therapy Works.

Our founder's story

In 2000, Sentient Light founder Larry Langdon was bitten by a tick while hiking near Seattle and lived with Lyme disease for years afterward. That experience led the electrical engineer to study PEMF technology and, eventually, to design his own equipment. Larry's story is his personal experience, not evidence that PEMF treats Lyme disease.

Read more about Larry

Lyme disease should be diagnosed and treated by a physician; don't stop or delay prescribed treatment. Sentient Light products are intended for general wellness use and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent Lyme disease or any other disease. This page is not medical advice.

References

  1. Medscape. Lyme Disease: Background, Etiology, Pathophysiology. emedicine.medscape.com
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme Disease Surveillance and Data. cdc.gov
  3. Cabello FC, et al. Borreliella burgdorferi Antimicrobial-Tolerant Persistence in Lyme Disease and Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndromes. mBio, 2022. doi:10.1128/mbio.03440-21
  4. Derderian GP, Otenbaker N. A prospective study of patients with post treatment Lyme disease syndrome treated with modified VFEM energy. J Cosmet Dermatol, 2024;23(6):2044–2048. doi:10.1111/jocd.16256
  5. ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT04577053: PEMF Therapy to Treat Lingering Symptoms of Lyme Disease After Treatment With Antibiotics (status: terminated). clinicaltrials.gov