How it works

Two invisible technologies, explained simply.

OlyLife devices combine pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) with what OlyLife calls terahertz energy. Here's what those words mean in plain physics, and what the science says.

Try the frequency explorer

Go to the research

The words

The short version

Start with the words.

PEMF

Pulsed electromagnetic fields: a magnetic field that switches on and off in rapid pulses, made by sending short bursts of electric current through a coil of wire.

PEMF explained

THz

Terahertz: a band of electromagnetic waves that sits between microwaves and infrared light on the spectrum.

Terahertz explained

Both are forms of electromagnetic energy, like radio waves and visible light. They differ in frequency — how many times per second the wave or pulse repeats.

Step by step

Step by step

From a plug socket to a pulse.

Electricity makes magnetism

When electric current flows through a coil of wire, it creates a magnetic field around the coil. Stop the current and the field disappears. This is basic physics, used in everything from doorbells to electric motors.

Pulses make the field change

Switching the current on and off many times a second makes the field pulse. A changing magnetic field can create tiny electric currents in nearby materials that conduct electricity — the principle Michael Faraday described in 1831.

Terahertz sits between radio and light

Terahertz waves are higher in frequency than microwaves and lower than infrared. Water absorbs them strongly, which is one reason scientists use them in security scanners and lab instruments.

How OlyLife combines them

Two energy types, one calm session: the Tera-P90 brings both together under your feet.

“OlyLife describes the Tera-P90 as combining bio-electromagnetic energy operating at 1 MHz with terahertz energy in a 3–3000 µm band.”^*

— OlyLife's own description

On the spectrum

On the spectrum

Climb the spectrum.

Scroll to move up the ruler. Each stop is one kind of wave or pulse.

Between bands

OlyLife describes its terahertz band as 3–3000 µm

PEMF explained

Terahertz explained

A visual explainer of the technology's terms. It does not show any effect on the body. Drawn waves are not to scale.

• PEMF devices (typically 1–100 Hz) (1–100 Hz). PEMF devices typically pulse about 1 to 100 times per second. That is far slower than anything else on this ruler: it is a pulse rate, not a wave of radiation.
• Radio (about 10 kHz–1 GHz). Radio waves repeat from thousands to about a billion times per second. Broadcast and wireless signals use them.
• Microwave (about 1–100 GHz). Microwaves repeat billions of times per second. Radar, Wi-Fi and microwave ovens use them.
• Terahertz (0.1–10 THz) (0.1–10 THz). Terahertz sits between microwaves and infrared light. Scientists use it in security scanners and lab instruments.
• Infrared (about 10–400 THz). Infrared sits just above terahertz. TV remote controls and heat lamps use it.
• Visible light (about 400–790 THz). The narrow slice of the spectrum that our eyes can see.

Frequency explorer

Frequency explorer

See what a frequency is.

Move the sliders to change how often the field pulses. Then look at where PEMF and terahertz sit on the full electromagnetic spectrum.

The frequency explorer shows a coil sending out rings, one for each pulse. At 10 Hz that is ten pulses every second, or one pulse every 100 ms. Below it, a ruler shows where PEMF (typically 1–100 Hz), radio, microwave, terahertz (0.1–10 THz), infrared and visible light sit on the spectrum. OlyLife describes its terahertz band as 3–3000 µm. Turn on JavaScript to try it.

A visual explainer of the technology's terms. It does not show any effect on the body.

Go deeper

Go deeper

Pick a topic.

PEMF explained

How pulsed fields are made, and where they're used in research and medicine.

Read

Terahertz explained

Where terahertz sits on the spectrum, how scientists use it, and how OlyLife describes its band.

Read

Research library

Every study we cite, labeled by evidence strength and filterable by topic.

Browse

How to use

Setup and session guides for every device, with OlyLife's official videos.

See guides

The research

What the research says

The science, in the open.

Decades of independent studies^† on PEMF, plus early lab work on terahertz — each one labeled by the strength of its evidence, so you can read it for yourself.

Open the full research library

• Electromagnetic fields for treating osteoarthritis. Li S, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2013 · Meta-analysis · Moderate evidence · Mixed results. Pooled trials found electromagnetic field therapy gave modest extra pain relief versus sham, with no significant difference in physical function or quality of life. Read on PubMed
• Therapeutic effects of whole-body devices applying pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF): a systematic literature review. Hug K, et al. · Bioelectromagnetics · 2012 · Systematic review · Very low evidence · No clear effect. Evidence for therapeutic effects of whole-body PEMF mats was judged insufficient; no acute adverse effects were reported, but long-term effects were unstudied. Read on PubMed
• Non-Thermal Effects of Terahertz Radiation on Gene Expression: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Dione MN, et al. · Genes · 2024 · Meta-analysis · Very low evidence · Lab research only. Laboratory terahertz exposure produced gene-expression changes linked to stress and immune responses, but no consistent gene pattern could be identified. Read on PubMed