Ceragem is a South Korean brand of thermal massage devices, best known for a bed that scans your spine and then moves heated rollers along it. The beds are FDA-cleared Class II medical devices, used at home and in professional settings such as chiropractic offices, spas and physical therapy clinics.

Whether one makes sense for you depends on who would use it, how often, and whether the price works out over years of ownership. Below you will find how it works, what the FDA clearance means, what it costs and who should check with a doctor first.

What is Ceragem?

Ceragem is a line of automatic thermal massagers made by Ceragem Co., Ltd., a company based in South Korea. Its best known product is a full length bed. The lineup also includes a lounger and massage chairs.

The Korean company behind the name

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 510(k) database lists Ceragem Co., Ltd. of South Korea as the applicant for the Ceragem Automatic Thermal Massager (model CGM-MB-1902), which the agency found substantially equivalent in November 2024 (1).

Beds, loungers and chairs in the lineup

The current lineup covers three kinds of devices. The Master beds (V4, V5, V6, V7 and V9) are full length thermal massage beds. The Master S4 is a massage lounger. The Pause chairs (M4, M6 and M10, with the M8 listed as coming soon) are massage chairs you sit in. You can see every model side by side on our Ceragem products page.

Who uses Ceragem: homes, chiropractors, spas and clinics

Ceragem devices are used by individuals at home, by chiropractors and wellness professionals, and by spas, physical therapy clinics and performance facilities. For most homeowners, the everyday reason is comfort and relaxation in the evening. One With Wellness is certified to provide nationwide consultation and technical support for the entire Ceragem lineup, so the same guidance applies to a home buyer and a clinic.

How does Ceragem work?

A Ceragem bed works by scanning the length and curve of your spine, then moving heated rollers along it in a programmed massage. A 2023 randomized trial by Korean researchers, published on the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central, describes rollers that apply heat and massage while automatically adjusting their height to the curvature of the entire length of the spine (2).

The spinal scan

Every session starts with a scan. The same trial describes the bed reading the curve of the spine with its rolling projector before the massage begins (2).

Heated rollers and far infrared heat

The heat comes from the rollers themselves. Ceragem beds use heated rollers along with far infrared heat, so warmth and pressure arrive together as the rollers travel.

Speaking about heat for everyday aches in general, and not about Ceragem or any device, Andrew Bang, DC, a chiropractor with Cleveland Clinic, explains: “If we can get the heat to help penetrate those areas where you have pain, you have increased blood flow; those ligaments, tendons, connective tissue loosen up back to a lengthened state instead of a tightened state” (3).

Automatic and custom modes

After the scan, the automatic program runs a set massage along the spine. Custom modes let you focus on one area and adjust the intensity. Programs differ by model, so check the details on a product page such as the Master V4 massage bed.

What a session feels like and how long it lasts

A session feels like steady warmth, with rollers moving slowly up and down your back. There is no single published session length. In the 2023 trial, participants used the bed for 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks (2). Follow your model’s manual and your doctor’s advice on how long and how often.

Is Ceragem approved by the FDA?

No. Ceragem beds are cleared by the FDA, not approved: they are FDA-cleared Class II medical devices. The two words describe different processes, and the difference matters when you read claims about the bed.

Cleared versus approved: what the difference means

The FDA explains that a device going through the 510(k) process may not be marketed in the U.S. until the submitter receives a letter finding the device substantially equivalent to a legally marketed device (4). That letter is a clearance. Premarket approval is a separate FDA process. So the word approved is the wrong word for a Ceragem bed, even though you will see it used online.

What the Class II clearance covers

The FDA’s product classification database lists these thermal massagers under product code JFB, a Class 2 multi-function physical therapy table under regulation 890.5880 (5).

The uses described for Ceragem beds are limited: temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain and stiffness, temporary relief of minor joint pain associated with arthritis, a temporary increase in local circulation where applied, and muscle relaxation. The clearance does not support any claim beyond that list.

Key point: FDA-cleared means the FDA found the device substantially equivalent to one already on the market. Read any Ceragem claim against the short list of cleared uses above.

What is the difference between Ceragem V3 and V4?

The V4 is part of the current lineup, and the V3 is not among the models listed today. Ceragem has cleared its thermal massager with the FDA more than once. The FDA’s 510(k) database shows a Ceragem Automatic Thermal Massager clearance decided in December 2014 for applicant Ceragem International, Inc. (6), and a newer one for the CGM-MB-1902 in November 2024 (1). Each generation is a separately cleared design.

Those records do not name the V3 or V4, and no independent source compares the two feature by feature. If you own an older bed and want to know how it stacks up against a current model, our consultation and technical support can answer that.

How the current models compare

The current beds run from the V4 through the V5, V6, V7 and V9. Price depends on the model and its features, within a range of about $4,400 to about $12,000. Compare the beds on our massage beds page and the chairs on our massage chairs page.

How much does Ceragem cost?

A Ceragem device costs from about $4,400 to about $12,000, depending on the model and features.

What is the price of a Ceragem machine?

The price depends on the model. The range above covers the current beds, the lounger and the chairs. Check each model’s product page for the current figure. Every purchase from One With Wellness includes delivery, a warranty and ongoing support.

Why is Ceragem so expensive?

A Ceragem bed is built from several costly systems working together. A 2022 study in Frontiers in Medical Technology notes that automatic thermal mechanical massage beds are equipped with multi axis traction and far infrared thermal projectors (7). Two of that study’s authors are affiliated with Ceragem Clinical, which you should know when you read it.

Then add the spinal scan, the motorized roller track, the FDA 510(k) clearance behind the device, and the delivery, warranty and support that come with it. Together they explain the price.

The cost per session over years of ownership

A fair way to judge the price is cost per session. Divide the purchase price by the number of sessions your household will really use over the years you own it.

Here is an example only, based on the trial schedule of five sessions a week. If two people each use the bed five times a week for five years, that is 2,600 sessions. A $4,400 bed works out to about $1.70 a session, and a $12,000 bed to about $4.60. If one person uses it three times a week for five years, the same beds come to about $5.60 and about $15.40 a session. Compare your own figure with what you pay per visit for any massage session you book today.

Cost rule: Purchase price divided by the sessions you will actually use. Honest usage numbers matter more than the sticker price.

Why is Ceragem free?

Ceragem is not free. The devices sell from about $4,400 to about $12,000. When the word free shows up in a search, the useful free part is advice before you buy.

The Federal Trade Commission warns that free trial offers often have a catch, and advises reading what a trial covers, how long it lasts and how to cancel before agreeing to anything (8). Treat any free Ceragem offer the same way.

At One With Wellness, the free part is advice. You can book a free half hour consultation with Todd Coulter, a Certified CERAGEM Specialist, before you decide anything.

Why talking it through first matters

A conversation answers questions a spec sheet cannot: whether a bed or a chair suits your space, how often you would really use it, and whether everyone in the home can use it safely. You can read more about how we work on our about page.

Are there any side effects of Ceragem?

Heat therapy in general can have side effects for some people, and a Ceragem bed uses heat. A review of heat therapy research on the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central notes that superficial heat is generally well tolerated, but that use at high temperatures may carry a risk of burns or skin ulceration (9). The same review advises caution for people with reduced skin sensation or poor circulation.

Who should not use a Ceragem bed

Some people should talk to a doctor before using a Ceragem bed. These are general cautions to raise with your doctor, not an FDA list:

• pregnancy
• recent spinal surgery
• severe osteoporosis
• a pacemaker or other implanted device
• a history of seizures
• reduced skin sensation or poor circulation

Ask your doctor before your first session

If anything on that list applies to you or anyone in your home who will use the bed, ask your doctor before the first session. Bring the model name and ask about heat, session length and how often to use it. Start with gentler settings, and stop if the heat or pressure feels uncomfortable.

Is a Ceragem machine worth buying?

A Ceragem machine is worth buying if the people in your home can use it safely, will use it often, and want it for comfort and relaxation within its cleared uses. In the 2023 trial on the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central, 40 participants used a Ceragem bed for 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks, and the researchers found that combining heat massage with physical therapy was not superior to conventional physical therapy (2). It was a small, short trial on one condition. Base the buying decision on comfort, use and fit.

A checklist before you buy

• Who can use it safely: check each person against the cautions above, and ask a doctor where needed.
• Space: a full length bed needs room to lie flat; a chair or lounger fits a smaller room.
• Real use: estimate sessions a week and work out the cost per session.
• After the sale: confirm delivery, warranty terms and who supports the device.

Support, delivery and warranty after the sale

Every purchase from One With Wellness includes delivery, a warranty and ongoing support, with an optional White Glove Service. Warranty terms are listed on each product page. We are certified to provide nationwide consultation and technical support for the entire Ceragem lineup, so you have one place to call with questions after the bed arrives. For more on why people choose thermal massage at home, read our page on the benefits of Ceragem thermal massage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Ceragem bed a medical device?

Yes, a Ceragem bed is an FDA-cleared Class II medical device. The FDA lists these thermal massagers under product code JFB as a multi function physical therapy table. Its cleared uses are limited to temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain and stiffness, temporary relief of minor joint pain associated with arthritis, a temporary increase in local circulation, and muscle relaxation.

How long is a Ceragem session?

There is no single published session length for every model. In a 2023 trial, participants used a Ceragem bed for 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. Follow the manual for your model and ask your doctor how long and how often is right for you.

Can more than one person in a home use the same Ceragem bed?

Yes, more than one person can use the same bed, because the scan reads the spine of whoever is lying on it at the start of a session. Check every user against the cautions in this article first, and ask a doctor where any apply.

Is a Ceragem bed or a Ceragem chair better for home use?

A bed suits homes with room for a full length device. The Pause chairs and the S4 lounger suit smaller rooms and people who prefer to sit or recline. Space, who will use it and how often should decide it, so look at both kinds on our product pages before you choose.

References

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “510(k) Premarket Notification K243355: Ceragem Automatic Thermal Massager (CGM-MB-1902)”, 2024. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K243355
2. NIH PubMed Central (MDPI), “Substantiating the Therapeutic Effects of Simultaneous Heat Massage Combined with Conventional Physical Therapy for Treatment of Lower Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial”, 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10093909/
3. Cleveland Clinic Newsroom, “Three Ways to Relieve Common Aches and Pains”, 2023. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2023/05/02/three-ways-to-relieve-common-aches-and-pains
4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Premarket Notification 510(k)”, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/premarket-submissions-selecting-and-preparing-correct-submission/premarket-notification-510k
5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Product classification: Table, Physical Therapy, Multi Function (JFB)”, 2026. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfPCD/classification.cfm?ID=JFB
6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “510(k) Premarket Notification K140592: Ceragem Automatic Thermal Massager”, 2014. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K140592
7. Frontiers in Medical Technology, “Computational modeling of tissue heating from a thermal-mechanical massage bed”, 2022. https://frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmedt.2022.925554/full
8. U.S. Federal Trade Commission, “Getting In and Out of Free Trials, Auto-Renewals, and Negative Option Subscriptions”, 2024. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/getting-and-out-free-trials-auto-renewals-and-negative-option-subscriptions
9. NIH PubMed Central (MDPI Life), “A Role for Superficial Heat Therapy in the Management of Non-Specific, Mild-to-Moderate Low Back Pain in Current Clinical Practice: A Narrative Review”, 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8401625/

About the author: Todd Coulter

Certified CERAGEM Specialist and authorized CERAGEM reseller, with over 20 years of clinical and industry experience.

Email: Todd@onewithwellness.com