So what is
Frequency Specific Microcurrent therapy (FSM)?
If you've landed here, you're probably dealing with something that hasn't responded well to conventional treatment — chronic pain, hormonal challenges, long-term fatigue, or a body that just doesn't seem to be healing the way it should.
FSM — Frequency Specific Microcurrent — might be something you've never heard of. That's okay. By the end of this page, you'll have a clear picture of what it is, how it works, and whether it might be right for you.
Think of your body as an orchestra. Every cell, tissue, and organ has its own natural frequency — its own rhythm it operates at when things are going well. Injury, illness, chronic stress, or surgery can knock those rhythms out of tune, and when that happens, healing stalls.
Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) is a gentle, non-invasive therapy that delivers tiny, targeted electrical pulses to the body — so subtle you won't feel a thing — to help restore those natural frequencies and get healing moving again.
The current used is sub-sensory, meaning it sits below the threshold of what you can feel. It works quietly, at a cellular level, supporting your body's own repair processes rather than overriding them.
It is not a TENS machine. TENS devices work by blocking pain signals at the surface. FSM works differently — it uses pairs of frequencies, one targeting a specific tissue type (like nerve, muscle, or fascia) and the other targeting a specific condition within that tissue (like inflammation, scarring, or reduced energy). This combination approach is what makes FSM so precise.
What does FSM actually do in the body?
Research has shown that FSM can:
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Dramatically boost cellular energy - FSM has been shown to increase ATP production — your cells' primary fuel source — by up to 500%. More cellular energy means faster repair, less fatigue, and a body better resourced to heal itself.
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Reduce inflammation quickly - In one study, a specific FSM frequency combination reduced a type of long-term inflammation (called LOX-mediated inflammation) by 62% in just four minutes. This is the kind of deep, stubborn inflammation often involved in fibromyalgia, endometriosis, chronic pain, and conditions that don't respond well to standard anti-inflammatories.
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Calm an overactive nervous system - FSM helps bring the autonomic nervous system back into balance — easing the chronic stress response that underlies so many ongoing health concerns, from anxiety and sleep issues to pain hypersensitivity and burnout.
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Soften scar tissue and improve circulation - By targeting specific tissues, FSM can help break down adhesions and fibrosis, improve blood flow and lymphatic drainage, and support recovery from surgery, injury, or burns.
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Support regulation and integration of system energy and function.
What happens in a session?
Sessions at Healthier by Choice are called Gentle Reset Therapy (GRT) — a name that reflects both the approach and the intention. FSM is the heart of the treatment, woven together with Monica's naturopathic and bio-energetic training.
Here's what to expect:
Your first session begins with a conversation. Monica will take a detailed health history to understand the root causes behind your symptoms — not just what's happening, but why, and what might be keeping your body stuck.
Treatment is delivered through soft, warm towels placed over areas like the neck, back, or abdomen. The dual-channel FSM device runs specific frequency combinations while you rest. Most people find sessions deeply calming — some even fall asleep.
Sessions are 120 minutes long, giving your body adequate time to respond to the frequencies.
You won't feel the current — it's working beneath the surface, at a cellular level.
A typical treatment series is 4–8 sessions, though this depends on your history and how your body responds. Some people notice changes immediately. For others, improvements unfold gradually over the weeks and months following treatment.
Monica may also recommend herbs, homeopathics, nutrients, foods, or lifestyle practices during your sessions to support what the therapy is doing at a deeper level.
Who is modality this for?
We work with people dealing with a wide range of complex or long-standing health concerns, including:
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Chronic pain conditions (fibromyalgia, nerve pain, CRPS, migraines, back and neck pain)
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Women's health challenges (endometriosis, hormonal imbalances, pelvic pain, ovarian cysts, post-birth recovery)
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Scar tissue, adhesions, and post-surgical healing
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Mental health support (anxiety, PTSD, emotional overwhelm, stress)
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Gut and digestive issues (IBS, SIBO, bloating, leaky gut)
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Head injuries and concussion recovery
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Autonomic dysfunction and fatigue
If you're not sure whether FSM is right for your situation, the best next step is a free 15-minute phone conversation with Monica.
Is this right for me?
FSM isn't a quick fix, and we won't pretend it is. But for people who've been struggling with complex or treatment-resistant conditions, it offers something different: a genuinely gentle approach that works with your body, not against it.
Where does FSM come from?
FSM has its roots in early 20th century electrotherapy — a time when physicians regularly used low-level electrical currents to support healing. Much of that knowledge was quietly shelved as pharmaceutical medicine took over.In the 1990s, chiropractor Dr. Carolyn McMakin rediscovered a list of frequencies originally used by an osteopathic physician in the 1920s. Using a modern dual-channel microcurrent device, she began applying them — and the results were remarkable.
Patients with chronic fibromyalgia experienced significant pain relief. Conditions that had been stuck for years began to shift.From there, FSM expanded to address a wide range of conditions, and today it's used by practitioners around the world. Dr. McMakin's book, The Resonance Effect (2017), tells the full story for anyone who'd like to go deeper.
Want more detailed information?
The Resonance Effect: Dr. McMakin’s Book
In her book, The Resonance Effect: How Frequency Specific Microcurrent Is Changing Medicine (published 2017), Dr. McMakin shares the compelling story of FSM’s development. She weaves together the history of frequency medicine, the science behind FSM, and real-life case studies of remarkable healing.
The book explains how resonance between frequencies and tissues can shift physiology in profound ways, and why microcurrent is critical for stimulating the body’s repair mechanisms.
The Resonance Effect is essential reading for practitioners and patients alike, demystifying FSM in an accessible way while offering a hopeful vision for the future of energy medicine.
Dr McMakin explaining FSM & how it works
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is FSM?
FSM is a gentle, non-invasive therapy that delivers tiny, painless electrical pulses to the body at a cellular level. Using pairs of frequencies — one targeting a specific tissue type, the other targeting a specific condition within that tissue — FSM helps reduce inflammation, restore cellular energy, calm the nervous system, and support tissue repair without drugs or discomfort.
Q: How is FSM different to TENS?
TENS devices block pain signals at the skin's surface. FSM works completely differently — it uses ultra-low microcurrent (far below what you can feel) alongside frequency pairs that target specific tissues and conditions. This makes FSM far more precise and works at the cellular level where healing actually begins. FSM boosts cellular energy, TENS tends to deplete cellular energy.
Q: What does FSM feel like during a session?
Most people don't feel the currents — the current is sub-sensory, meaning it operates below your threshold of sensation, but they feel the effect of the currents. Sessions are delivered through warm, moist towels, and most clients find them deeply relaxing. Many fall asleep.
Q: How many sessions might I need?
Most people benefit from a series of 3–10 sessions, though this depends on your health history and how your body responds. Some people notice improvements immediately after their first session; for others, changes unfold gradually over weeks to months following a treatment course.
Q: Is FSM evidence-based?
FSM is evidence-informed. Research has shown it can increase ATP (cellular energy) production by up to 500% and reduce LOX-mediated inflammation by up to 62% in four minutes. Monica applies FSM within her naturopathic and bio-energetic clinical framework, drawing on over 30 years of practice experience.
Q: Who developed FSM?
FSM was developed by Dr. Carolyn McMakin, a chiropractor who rediscovered a list of frequencies originally used by an osteopathic physician in the 1920s. Her landmark book, The Resonance Effect (2017), tells the full story of FSM's development and the science behind it.
Q: What is Gentle Reset Therapy?
Gentle Reset Therapy is the name Monica uses for her personalised treatment approach, which places FSM at its core alongside naturopathic guidance, nervous system support, and nutritional and lifestyle advice. It reflects the broader, whole-person framework within which FSM is applied.
Who is FSM for?
"When we work with the whole person—not just the symptoms—we can enhance the body’s natural, interconnected intelligence to stimulate the conditions for deep, sustainable healing.' - Dr Carolyn McMakin