Full Guide

Dear foreign customers, our regular mats are for the U.S. electricity, 110-120V/60Hz, with plugs for a standard U.S. grounded socket.

If you would like to use the mat out of the U.S., we suggest checking our 220-240V collections, ready for direct plug-in to the European sockets, and with a simple adapter, to any the same voltage sockets.

We have many customers successfully using our products in Europe, the UK, Israel, Russia, HK, Korea, and even Australia with 220-250V/50Hz. You HAVE to use special step-down power transformers and units that convert  220-240V to 110-120V.

Remember that the power of the converter should be at least twice the mat’s power consumption.

IF YOU CONNECT THE 110-120V MAT TO THE 220-250V POWER SOCKET THROUGH A PLAIN ADAPTER, IT WILL BE DAMAGED.

Many of our customers use mats to awaken the inherent healing powers, and so it is imperative to listen to the body’s response and adjust procedures accordingly. 

It is also vital to self-educate, and if you are not familiar with healing therapies, it is essential to consult a doctor or health practitioner with sufficient knowledge of Biomats and similar FIR mats. 

Most people who use the mats correctly notice an improvement in chronic symptoms they’d been having, or if they are healthy, they feel an energy boost or improved immunity, more overall strength, and better sleep.

The mat controller has a temperature dial to completely adjust the heat in 1°C increment from 86°F to 158°F, displayed in Celsius from 30°C to 70°C. Sometimes we call the different temperatures “levels.”

When you rotate the temperature dial, the screen will show the temperature you set for several seconds. Then the display switches to show the current temperature of the mat. This value will gradually go up according to the mat warming until it reaches the set level.

• Level 1 is 86°F or 30°C ( used for negative ions, all-night sleep low heat mode )
• Level 2 is 98°F or 36°C ( low mode)
• Level 3 is 110°F or 43°C (low medium mode)
• Level 4 is 120F or 49C (medium mode)
• Level 5 is 133°F or 56°C (medium-High mode)
• Level 6 is 145°F or 63°C (high mode)
• Level 7 is 158°F or 70°C (highest mode)

The temperatures above reflect the condition of the inner heating elements, not the mat's surface, which can be 10-20°F lower (or even lower than this) if the mat is not covered with a thick blanket. 

Usually, if the ambient temperature is around 70°F, it takes between half an hour to an hour for the mat to reach the maximum level (158°F, or 70°C) is covered with a thick blanket.

NEVER cover the mat with anything but the covers provided with it or towels, sheets, and blankets made from natural materials (like cotton, bamboo). The material has to be permeable to FIR rays. If the material is not permeable (rubber), the FIR heat will be trapped, the mat could overheat and even burn. 

Some examples of not allowed objects on top of the mat can be - controllers, thick pillows, books, yoga, and camping mats. 

So, for your own safety, please, never keep or put anything on the mat besides permeable covers. Only your body can be on the mat. 

It is also highly critical that you cover the mat completely while preheating it.
If you cover the mat partially, the temperature sensors positioned in the different layers of the mat around all the surfaces will report different and controversial measurements to the main controller.

Finally, the controller may lose calibration and start to work incorrectly or malfunction. 

So, please, always cover the mat completely while it is preheating to set level.

The FIR amethyst Mat does not work like a conventional heating pad. It is not as hot, is warmer to the touch. Most of the energy from the mat, in the form of Far Infrared Rays heat, is transferred by radiation and not by conduction (as is the case with standard heating pads, which are hotter to the touch but do not heat the body much). 

The mat is not as hot to the touch as an electric blanket or heating pad; if it is left uncovered, it should be slightly warm on lower levels, warm on medium levels, and hot on high levels — but the transferred heating energy is actually much higher, and this warmth is far more penetrating. 

So the mat should be used at a much lower, more prudent temperature than a standard electrical heating device — and it demands extra care, especially for all-night use.

The heat is activated when you lay on the mat, and it penetrates the body. It does not heat the ambient air surrounding the mat, so it will only feel warm even on the highest settings and not too hot to the touch, even though the heat sensor might indicate high. This allows the FIR amethyst mats to generate deep penetrating heat yet not burn the body as conventional pads might.

But if you want to check the real heating power, cover the mat with a thick blanket, then lay on it, or put our amethyst Pillow on top and measure the bare mat surface temperature under your body or pillow blocking an hour. It may reach 140-160°F.

That is how hot stones work, in short. And it is essential to take extra care if sleeping on the mat, and in general, to listen to your body, to find the best way to use the FIR mat, and avoid overheating and any lightheaded feeling which may result from overuse.

The mats are great for sleeping as well. Just be sure that the heat level is on the lowest levels (30-40°C) at night time to not fall asleep on the hot mat and dehydrate. Some customers use amethyst mats for all-night sleep on the low heat settings. 

You could add a towel or a blanket on top of your protector or 3-D Air Mesh Pad to cushion the mat and make it softer during the first time until your body gets used to the crystals’ pressure. 

Most important is to listen to your body as you move forward — “LOW and SLOW.” It is easy to overdo if you move ahead too quickly. The cumulative effects are much more desirable without the lightheadedness or other side effects that can come with rapid detoxification.

The maximum time for each heat level is not specified. It depends on the mat size, temperature level, age, health, body size and composition, and many other factors. 

Basically, the main rule is to start with low settings and gradually increase the intensity, length, and frequency of sessions. 

It is very important to drink a lot of mineral water, herbal teas, or natural juices before, during, and after procedures to properly rehydrate and replenish minerals such as calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium if you sweat a lot and lose these salts.

In general, the larger and more powerful the mat is, the more benefits it brings and the shorter the procedures it requires.

But the Mini Mat has its own advantages. You can use it at a high heat level for local applications without overstimulating the whole body. It is portable, more bendable, and can cover the body when you are on a large mat for the most intensive “sandwiched” procedures.

The Midsize mat is in the middle; it is a cost-effective, universal model for both local use and almost-whole-body experience.

If you need to treat local pain and avoid the whole-body hyperthermia or buzz feeling, the mini mat can be a better choice, or you can turn the Professional mat sideways and lay with only a part of your body on it.

The most important thing is to avoid overheating, which may occur even in the lowest settings if the mat is used all night.

Our skin sensors can easily detect the high temperature caused by standard conduction heat, but our ability to feel the effects of radiant infrared heat is limited. The FIR warmth is much more penetrative and provides a deeper effect, so the mat should be used at a much lower temperature than any standard heating pad, and it demands extra care, especially for long or all-night use. 

This especially refers to the larger-sized mats, which are very powerful. Please use the mat only on the lowest setting while sleeping.

To relax, the standard procedure is to have a short relaxing session before bed of about half an hour, starting at 40-50°C, and then decreasing to the lowest levels of 30-40°C. If these levels cause any lightheaded feeling or overstimulation, either the temperature should be set even lower, or the mat should be used in unpowered mode. Especially in the summer, when it can absorb some excess heat from your body.

There is another point regarding the use of these mats:

The stones make them stiff and hard. This is great for short-term procedures, as it gives some acupressure-like benefits but may cause some discomfort or pain if overused.

If you would like to sleep on your mat, do it slowly, adapting your body to the pressure. You can start with shorter sessions at bedtime and move forward gradually. It is like acupuncture —there’s no need to overstimulate the body from the outset; it is better to slowly and continuously increase the intensity of pressure. 

Usually, our customers do not have issues with mats' hardness. However, if you are slim or skinny, you may feel the pressure of the mattress's ribs with crushed crystals or stone disks much more than other folks with substantial body composition. The best way to cushion the mat is to use it, similar to our 3-D air mesh pad, heat resistant and porous, permeable for all infrared rays and ions. You can buy the same tan pads or even two of them as included in the set of your mat. Or you can source a thicker one on Amazon. Remember, please, that it cannot cover the warming gemstone mat with rubber or foam mats while it is plugged and heating. But if unplugged, you can cover it with anything you want. Just do not put on the mat sharp tools or any heavy items creating pressure at some point. Of course, do not store the mat in the vertical position against the wall.

If you do not use our 3-D pad and cover and prefer to start naturally, it could be great but may demand a step-by-step increase when you lay or sleep on the mat, starting from minutes and adding several minutes more every day. If you feel discomfort or inconvenience, it means that you are overdoing it. 

If you would like to sleep on your mat starting the first day, to decrease the pressure from the stones is to use a 3-D air-mesh topper, some towels or blankets on the top of the included protector to make the warming gemstone mattress softer.  

Unplug your mat, disconnecting it from the power socket. Do not disconnect the controller from the mat; if you do it frequently, it may become loose. If the mat is not heating and connected to electricity, you can cover it with anything you want. A foam topper of 3"-4" inch thick lightweight foam topper may be a good choice. When you need to have a thermal session, it is easy to remove the topper from the Amethyst mat. Just do not put on the mat sharp tools or any heavy items creating pressure at some point. Also, do not fold the mat while it is still hot. 

Most radiant heat will travel through the mat protector and topper to your body, as will the negative ions. You will be more comfortable. Later, when your body gets used to the pressure, you can remove the extra layers one by one.

As for the procedures’ length and intensity, there is a general guideline in our user guide, but really the time and temperature are up to you. 

Some conditions require one hour, whereas some folks, for example, those with weakness caused by hypothermia, use the mat all the time to revive and feel well again. 

People use amethyst heating mats from one hour at a high temperature to 12 hours at a warm temperature for pleasure. 

You can ask your doctor about your individual condition or experiment and see what would be best. 

We always recommend starting with the lowest or medium temperature levels of 30-45°C for short procedures of 20-30 minutes to see how your body reacts and gradually increase the temperature and length of time. 

Of course, if you are an experienced FIR sauna user, you can start with the maximum temperature level or even use the sandwiched-between-two-mats procedure. Still, we always recommend checking with your doctor first and using common sense to avoid overuse.

If you accelerate this way, the first aim is to create a feeling of relaxation.

The second is to cause sweating, which is great for detoxifying the body. All intensive high heat procedures should be done with proper rehydration and electrolyte replenishment and within the first half of the day. It may take up to an hour to preheat the mat under a thick blanket to a high heat level. Then you can lay on your back on a bare mat, or a mat with a thin protector or a towel on it, and cover yourself with a blanket. After the procedure, leave the bare mat for a half-hour more while still heating to dry it out.

Of course, if your body does not sweat much, you may not start to sweat from the first procedure — but after several sessions, it should come. Drink many hot herbal teas (not cold drinks) before and during the procedure to accelerate sweating. When your body gets used to sweating, it will be easier to sweat voluntarily. Sweat releases many toxins, and the mat releases even those stored in deep fat tissue into the blood. It may be irritating and erosive to the surface of the mat. That is why something like a sheet or a protector cover under your body is must-have for everybody. Perspiration may also temporarily make you feel worse, but you should feel refreshed when the sweat is out.

If you lay on your right side, please note that you must be sure that you do not have gallstones and that your bladder is healthy. The left side is safer in this regard, but lying on one’s back is the best position.

Of course, you can lay on your stomach as well. Just be sure to protect the genital zone with some cooling pad or simply a towel folded several times and wrapped with aluminum foil to reflect heating rays.

In general, the rays penetrate your body, then improved circulation spreads the warmer blood to replace cooler blood — and finally, due to bio-resonant effects, the cells’ mitochondria start to produce energy themselves, this is why even after you finish the procedure, your body temperature may stay elevated for up to 8 hours, which is good for activity, immune health, and rejuvenation. But there is also the local effect when those organs and tissues closest to the mat receive more heat. It may be beneficial for them, but the highest levels may also cause some issues with movement if you have stones, etc.

So you can use your mat as long as you like. Unless you have special restrictions or needs, you can use it from a few times a week for 30 minutes to up to 12 hours daily. If you want a detox, high sweating, sauna-like effect, choose the maximum temperature suitable for your health and cover your body with a blanket or another mat. If you want comfort, set it to medium heat, around 45-50°C.

For FIR Heating, if you lay on the bare mat with your body covered with a thick blanket, you will get the maximum effect, as no heat will be lost or dissipated. All crystal rays will be radiated into your body. Some advanced customers even use foil blankets reflecting FIR Rays to the body, but it is very intensive therapy, and it cannot be recommended without a doctor’s approval.

In addition to deep crystal FIR heat and negative ions generated by all our mats, some models come with bio-magnetic and bio-stimulating functions, like Purple amethyst agate mats, ThermoGem mats, and others also produce PEMF and red light photons. 

It is a great reason to use the mat regularly to relax and reenergize even without heating.

• Red light therapy is activated by the Photon button for 30-60 minutes every 2-4 hours, so during 8 hours, you may have 2-4 cycles of 1 hour each (controllers may be factory programmed differently). This should be enough for bio-stimulation. After one hour, the red light function will switch itself off. In 2-4 hours, it will resume. In 30-60 minutes, it will auto-switch off again. You can also manually deactivate the Photon function at any time,  in which case cycling will be interrupted. Or you can re-activate it, and the lights will be ON.
• PEMF is activated by the PEMF button for 20-30 minutes every 2 hours, so during 8 hours, you may have 4 cycles of 20 minutes each. Powerful 50-100 gauss pulsed magnetic field coils can be deactivated any time by pressing the button, for example, if you will sleep and feel overstimulated by PEMF.

You can use the mat in several modes all together or each separately:

1. Only Red Light Therapy (if red LEDs are installed on your mat and there is a Photon button on the controller)
2. Only Heat/FIR. 
3. Only PEMF (if PEMF coils are installed on your mat, and there is a PEMF button)
4. Combination or PEMF, Red Light and Far Infrared Light together

Negative ions are always generated by the mat surface and inner layer upon heat and pressure distortion.

If you are falling asleep, it might be best to turn off the PEMF and Photon function so that they do not wake you up when the Red Light function resumes in several hours or if PEMF is programmed for auto-cycling. But most important is to choose 30°C to 40°C, a low level of FIR heat, before going to bed. 

If you feel that 8 hours is too much, an external timer can be used. A heavy-duty plug-in timer with a built-in surge protector may be a good choice for double protection at night. 

Regarding PEMF function use in the daytime, there are many schemes — the standard is a simple half-hour procedure (it will auto-off after 30 minutes). 

Same with the monochromic red light — the programmed length of therapy is 30-60 minutes, which should be enough. Same as with PEMF, auto-off time and cycling are preprogrammed at the factory. It is better to use the bare mat for bio-stimulating phototherapy so that the body gets more photon energy. 

Wearing clothes or using covers or sheets on the mat hinders photon therapy and some of the anion effects, but it should not be an obstacle to PEMF or FIR Heat. 

With FIR therapy, some of the heating rays will dissipate if you use a thicker layer on top of the mat and under your body. The same applies to negative ions, but most will still travel through. 

I hope this information will be helpful, but if you have any medical condition, please consult your health professional and also search Pubmed (a list of links to studies on the technologies incorporated into the mat is in the owner’s guide) and for customers' reviews on Amazon (for all models of similar mats) which is the best knowledge base. 

You can find out more info about PEMF in a PUBMED search https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=PEMF    

There may be a small clear plastic vial with a tiny little metal cylinder in it in the sets that come with the mats with PEMF function. It is a device for testing PEMF. If it is not available, you can make yourself with a disposable paper or plastic cup and a tiny piece of staple or another metal part. The best is to use a small magnet because it reacts to PEMF much more.

The metal cylinder moves in the vial when PEMF is ON, and you hold the vial a half-inch above the surface of the mat in the spots where the PEMF coils are positioned. This movement is the reaction to magnetic field pulsing. It is stronger near the PEMF Coil and goes down with distance. The tester is used to check from time to time if the function is working properly.

Please check this video:

There are also other videos on our channel https://Youtube.com/MediCrystal for PEMF testing.

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field, or PEMF, means that the magnetic poles built into the mat’s magnetic coils are quickly alternated at speeds around ten times per second, creating a dynamic Ultra-Very-Low-Frequency magnetic wave with a wavelength of 6 million meters, the same length as the sun and Earth's natural magnetic waves. Pulsation brings this energy into the body cells. It is not a vibration you can feel. 

Small electrical currents and magnetic fields exist in the human body as a part of its natural chemical reactions and biological processes, such as brain activity, digestion, the pumping of blood by the heart, or cellular potentials. 

PEMF coils emit EMFs biologically identical to these frequencies created by the body's cells, organs, bone, and tissues. They produce safe, natural magnetic fields alternating at very low or ultra-low frequencies and complement the chemistry and functions of the body.

So PEMF is not felt like a massage procedure. It is directing pulsed magnetic fields through the body tissues to stimulate cellular repair. We can also think of PEMF as a battery recharger for human cells. 

When we get sick, that voltage can drop to as low as -30 millivolts or even lower in the case of a terminal illness. PEMF may provide a healing effect by maintaining the human cell potential at -70–90 millivolts. It may feel relaxing and refreshing.

Bio-stimulating mats are also great for photon (red light) therapy, which influences the skin's surface layer, improves microcirculation, and may benefit nerves and bones. 660nm monochromic red LED light therapy is also considered great for anti-aging of the skin and mood improvement, especially during seasonal disorders. 

There is a lot of info in a PUBMED search on this, for example, this study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4126803/