Frequency Specific Microcurrent: How FSM Therapy Can Help the Body Heal Pain, Inflammation, and Emotional Stress

In functional medicine, we have a wide range of treatment options and interventions available to us. We always take a multifaceted approach that may include any number of dietary strategies, supplements, herbs, and lifestyle approaches, tailored to the individual. 

But in our telehealth practice, we also see a lot of patients who are not yet in a place where they can respond to these inputs. Exercise protocols, supplements, and even healthy foods can trigger flares and feel threatening. Almost any intervention can be overwhelming to a nervous system that’s been living in survival mode for years. 

A critical component of healing is calming the nervous system and calming inflammation very gently. And one tool we can use for this is frequency specific microcurrent (FSM) therapy. 

FSM is most commonly used for pain, but it can also be very effective when it comes to reducing inflammation, soothing a nervous system that’s on overdrive, and helping people get to the next step of healing complex chronic illnesses of all kinds. 

Here, I’ll break down how it works, what kinds of conditions it can be used for, what to expect, and what else you need to know about FSM therapy. 

What Is Frequency Specific Microcurrent Therapy? 

Frequency specific microcurrent (FSM) is a noninvasive therapy that delivers very low-level electrical currents at specific frequencies intended to stimulate specific tissues. 

The currents are measured in microamps, a level that’s closer to the body’s own bioelectrical signals than to the stronger currents used in modalities like TENS. Most people don’t feel the currents at all (though you may feel the beneficial effects on your tissues right away). 

FSM is safe, gentle, and noninvasive, and it can help to calm inflammation, improve cellular energy production, support tissue repair, and regulate irritated nerves. 

The most common use of FSM is for musculoskeletal pain or injury. (1) It’s also used for nerve pain, and increasingly for much broader applications including chronic inflammation and nervous system overwhelm, in conjunction with other treatments. 

How Frequency Specific Microcurrent Can Help the Body Heal From Within

When it comes to pain, the specific frequencies used in FSM are able to target parts of the body that are injured, sore, or inflamed, such as fascia, nerves, or muscle. Unlike many other kinds of pain treatment, this process stimulates natural repair within the tissues it targets. 

Expanding outwards from its uses in pain, FSM promotes healing more generally by increasing production of ATP, the energy currency of our cells. Every cell in the body relies on ATP. We need it for tissue repair, detoxification, immune system regulation, and neurological signaling. ATP is often low in times of chronic illness, and this often causes healing to stall. 

FSM may also influence inflammatory signaling pathways and lymphatic drainage, and increase the production of proteins that help our bodies heal. These are all ways in which frequency specific microcurrent can help to stimulate and accelerate the healing process from within. 

How It Works

FSM sessions are typically administered by a trained practitioner using a battery-powered device. Electrodes are placed on the body where treatment is being targeted, along with a moistened towel or gel patch to improve conductivity. 

A practitioner will select frequencies based on the individual’s symptoms, goals, and other bioindividual factors. Sessions are painless and often deeply relaxing—some people feel a warm sensation or subtle shifts in the tissues being targeted, while others may feel nothing during a session but notice changes afterwards. Depending on the case, multiple sessions may be recommended. 

Hydration before and after treatment is important, as microcurrent therapy can increase cellular activity and metabolic byproduct clearance (which depletes fluids). This is the same reason why hydration is recommended after getting a massage. 

Who May Benefit From FSM Therapy? 

Frequency specific microcurrent may be helpful for those experiencing many different kinds of chronic conditions or symptoms, including: 

• Chronic musculoskeletal pain 
• Neuropathic pain
• Migraines or headaches
• Fibromyalgia (2) 
• Myofascial pain
• Tendinopathy 
• Arthritis and joint pain
• Hand function and Raynaud’s symptoms in scleroderma (3) 
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) (4) 
• Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and histamine intolerance
• Dysautonomia; POTS 
• Post-concussive symptoms 
• Chronic inflammatory and autoimmune patterns
• Stress-related somatic symptoms 

Research is limited on many of these conditions, but we’ve seen great results in practice. While it’s not used as a primary treatment for any condition, it can be very supportive in improving the body’s capacity to heal and calming down excess inflammation and chronic stress. 

The Role of Frequency Specific Microcurrent in Complex Chronic Illness 

We often recommend FSM therapy for patients with MCAS, dysautonomia, POTS, EDS, fibromyalgia, or chronic inflammatory conditions, who feel like they’ve tried everything. Often, these patients experience multiple sensitivities, reacting to foods, supplements, medications, stress, and temperature. 

The nervous system is stuck in a loop of hypervigilance, and the immune system mirrors that state, with inflammation feeding dysregulation and dysregulation feeding inflammation. FSM can be helpful here because it’s so gentle and works on a cellular level while the patient gets to actually relax. 

We often find that FSM can help to reduce inflammatory cytokines and calm down nervous system reactivity, and support energy production and mitochondrial function, which then allows patients to tolerate more nourishing foods, supportive supplements, stress management practices, and other integrative therapies that were previously too much to handle. 

FSM, Emotional Stress, and Hypervigilance 

Chronic or stored stress and unprocessed trauma often plays a major role in chronic illness. Among other things, trauma changes how the nervous system understands safety and how the immune system responds to stimuli. 

While FSM isn’t a standalone treatment for trauma or chronic emotional stress, it can help to reduce hypervigilance and improve the body’s capacity to heal and to engage with other helpful therapies.  

Early research has shown that FSM therapy can significantly improve somatic symptoms of stress, emotional regulation, negative emotions, serenity, and perceived stress in adults with distress. (5) 

Safety Considerations

FSM is considered very safe with no known risks. Because the currents are so low, side effects are uncommon and minimal. If side effects do occur, they may include short-term drowsiness, lightheadedness, or nausea, which can usually be mitigated or improved by staying hydrated. Resting after treatment is also recommended. 

Out of caution, FSM may not be recommended for those with implanted electrical devices or pacemakers, certain seizure disorders, or for those who are pregnant. As always, treatment decisions should be personalized and guided by a qualified practitioner. 

Thinking Outside the Box For Pain, Inflammation, and Trauma 

Sometimes, we need to take a step back from multiple treatment modalities, and gently nudge the body into a natural place of healing. FSM can help us do this.  

FSM works best when it’s integrated into a comprehensive plan that addresses inflammatory triggers, gut health, immune system function, nutrition, hormonal balance, sleep, and emotional wellbeing. 

If you’re interested in how this therapy may fit into your healing plan, please reach out to become a patient. 

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe. 

Photo: Unsplash.com

Sources

• Shetty, G. M., Rawat, P., & Sharma, A. (2020). Effect of adjuvant frequency-specific microcurrents on pain and disability in patients treated with physical rehabilitation for neck and low back pain. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 24(4), 168-175.
• McMakin, C. R., Gregory, W. M., & Phillips, T. M. (2005). Cytokine changes with microcurrent treatment of fibromyalgia associated with cervical spine trauma. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 9(3), 169-176.
• Gregory, W. M., Bagley, K., Eng, S., McMakin, C., & Del Galdo, F. (2025). Frequency-specific microcurrent improves hand function and Raynaud’s symptoms in scleroderma: results of two pilot studies. Rheumatology, keaf301.
• Perry, C. (2025). Frequency Specific Microcurrent in the Treatment of Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders: A Case Report. British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research, 12(03), 430–436. https://doi.org/10.14738/bjhr.1203.19020
• Pereira, M. G., Machado, A. M., Vilaça, M., Faria, S., Monteiro, I., & Santos, M. (2025, May). Effectiveness of Frequency-Specific Microcurrent (FSM) Therapy and Relaxation in Adults with Distress: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. In Healthcare (Vol. 13, No. 10, p. 1151). MDPI.