The Many Benefits of an Acupressure Mat
I recently discovered the Acupressure Mat after seeing some videos about it on YouTube. The claims were too good to be true, and with my chronic back pain (from a back injury and an accident) I am always looking for pain relief without drugs. CBD oil helps keep the pain at bay, but I needed more relief and decided to try the mat.
I have received acupuncture before for tense back and neck muscles and was curious to see if this mat produced the same physiological response. When I first got it, I was apprehensive about laying down on this 'bed of nails', they are very sharp and appear to be painful.
When I first got it, I put it on the floor and laid down on it with my shirt on... didn't seem too bad. Recommendations are to use it shirtless, so I removed my shirt, and laid down with bare skin. The first minute was a little tough, the spikes are pretty sharp. In less than 5 minutes of laying on the mat, I felt intense relaxation and calmness. In no time at all, I was asleep. After about 25 minutes, I was ready to get up off the mat and I realized that my chronic nerve pain was gone, I felt refreshed and totally relaxed. The tenseness in my neck and back disappeared. When I went to bed, slept like a baby!
It hurts getting on and off the mat. The key is to get up and reposition slowly. Once you’re situated in a comfortable position, don’t move. You can play with how much pressure to put on certain parts of your body while lying on it.
Now, I look forward to using my mat. I place it in my bed and lay on it for about 20-30 minutes, usually falling asleep immediately. It always alleviates the chronic pain in my back and relaxes the tension in my neck. I love this mat and am so grateful that I learned about it. Who would think that lying on little 'needles' would eliminate chronic pain?
Acupressure is similar to acupuncture. It is an ancient Chinese therapy that is practiced by health professionals around the world. Many people prefer to enjoy the treatment in the comfort of their own home!
Currently, chronic pain statistics show that many people are trying alternative therapies to cope with daily pain, this acupressure mat is certainly worth a try when you see the many benefits of using it.
Below I've listed some of the many benefits of an acupressure mat. It's difficult to express in words how it feels while laying on it. Relaxed, calm, pain-free? That pretty much sums it up. If you have any of the issues listed below, I suggest you give it go. After all, it's affordable, and it really does work to eliminate chronic aches and pains, insomnia, and helps to stimulate blood flow.
1: ALL NATURAL PAIN RELIEF
Pain relief is one of the primary benefits of an acupressure mat. With 191 million opioid prescriptions dispensed in 2017, and the US government declaring it a public health emergency, anything that helps to manage pain in a natural way is definitely ideal.
A major systematic review in 2014 looked at all the recent research regarding acupressure used for pain. The results were very positive, showing that acupressure is an effective treatment for many different types of pain. The study showed that health professionals should seriously recommend the use of acupressure as a complementary therapy for managing or treating pain associated with many conditions.
2: PRODUCES ENDORPHINS
Many health professionals recommend acupressure as the process is found to help release endorphins. Endorphins work in a very similar way that opioids work. Generally, they are referred to as ‘the body’s natural painkillers’, and can help reduce pain, producing a feeling of euphoria.
Research published in 2017 showed that acupressure treatment helps to stimulate the production of endorphins and helping to block pain signals from reaching the brain.
3: LOWERS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Clinical trials conducted in Taiwan looked at patients with hypertension and how acupressure helped. Blood pressure was significantly lowered for a period of 30 minutes during the trial when using acupressure.
More studies need to be done to determine to what extent acupressure can lower blood pressure for long term basis, but the project did prove that it was effective for short term solution.
What’s the difference between acupuncture and acupressure?
Acupuncture and acupressure both stimulate acupoints. Acupuncture is with needles that pierce the skin, acupressure is non-invasive with manual pressure used to massage the acupoints.
4: ACUPRESSURE IS EFFECTIVE FOR MANY SERIOUS CONDITIONS
Regular use of an acupressure mat has shown to provide significant relief from a number of different health conditions.
A study conducted in Germany in 2012 looked specifically at the impact of acupressure mats on those suffering from lower back pain and chronic neck issues. The results of the study showed that pain was relieved in both areas. It also demonstrated the impact that the mat can have on the way the body processes pain. Amazingly, it also showed that acupressure can have a positive impact on patients suffering from myocardial infarction.
Another project conducted in 2018 studied the impact acupressure had on heart rate and blood pressure. At first, it appeared that acupressure had little impact. But after about 30 minutes of treatment, both blood pressure and heart rate were found to be quite a bit lower.
5: HELPS WITH SPORTS INJURIES
For people who suffer from sports injuries, the results of a study conducted at the University of Otago showed promising findings. They reported that acupressure decreased the reported pain scores in athletes with acute injuries but not their anxiety levels. The study concluded that acupressure could be very effective in a sports setting, particularly if medical care is limited.
6: IMPROVES SLEEP
Many people suffer from sleep and insomnia problems at a rising rate. Recent studies show that acupressure can help people sleep better.
The sleep of menopausal women were studied in 2015 and found that their sleep improved significantly following acupressure treatments.
Another, more recent study, focused primarily on self-administered acupressure for symptoms of insomnia. The participating respondents in the study were taught how to administer acupressure, and then they were monitored and kept a diary to record the quality of their sleep. The results of the study found that when people were shown how to correctly apply the treatment, acupressure could be used for treating symptoms of insomnia.
7: MUSCLE RELAXATION
Users of the popular Spoonk Acupressure Mat reported relaxed muscles following regular use of an acupressure mat. Particularly, people suffering from neck and back pain reported that their muscles felt much more relaxed after sessions.
Currently, there is little research to back this up, but take a look at the reviews of many acupressure mats and you’ll see many customers commenting how much better they feel after using their mat.
8: INCREASES ENERGY LEVELS
Amazingly, acupressure has been shown to help increase energy levels and reduce fatigue. An experimental study at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan focused on patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer. Findings proved that acupressure can definitely improve fatigue, and it was recommended that they need to create educational guides to help patients benefit from the therapy.
9: MENTAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT
In a major study done in 2015, they learned that depression, anxiety, and stress can positively benefit from acupressure. Treatments were administered to the subjects three times a week for four weeks and the results were positive. Depression, stress, and anxiety were reduced significantly and, in this particular study, positively impacted patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis.
10: IMPROVES DIGESTION
Surprisingly, acupressure has actually been shown to improve the quality of life for those suffering from digestion disorders. A 2015 research project looked at perineal self-acupressure which helped in the movement of bowel function and was found to benefit the wellbeing and improve the quality of life of patients suffering from constipation.
11: HEALTHIER COMPLEXION
Another surprising benefit! Some manufacturers state that acupressure therapy, when applied directly to the face, can actually have a positive impact on your complexion. Michael Reed Gach, PhD, an expert on acupressure therapy does state that this technique increases the amount of oxygen to the skin which in results in a healthier appearance.
Although, presently, there is very little evidence to substantiate this claim.
12: ASSIST WITH WEIGHT LOSS
A research project in 2010 found that acupressure, particularly ear acupressure, had a positive beneficial impact on weight loss. It demonstrated that over the course of eight weeks, BMI was significantly reduced.
Unfortunately, there is very little evidence to prove or disprove the claim, although many manufacturers do advertise it as a feature of the mat.
13: REDUCE OR ELIMINATE HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES
If you suffer from chronic headaches or migraines, acupressure has been shown to be a positive benefit. Research conducted in Taiwan in 2010 found that acupressure was much more effective when compared with muscle relaxant therapy. Six months after one month of treatment the effects still remained.
Consumer reviews of the Nayoya Acupressure Mat and Pillow back up this study, with many customers commenting on how wonderful the mat can be for reducing both the frequency and intensity of migraines.
I, personally, have not had my usual migraines since using my mat! Combined with a clean diet, plenty of exercise, no more migraines is definitely an added bonus!
Believe it or not, acupressure mats first originated from beds of nails, which were used in the early 1900s as a form of entertainment!
14: EASILY MANAGE YOUR OWN TREATMENT
It's important to be able to manage your own treatment, and this is a huge selling point. Most mats come with a carry bag, so it's easy to take it with you wherever you go and use it as often as needed to help you manage your pain.
Users providing reviews on their Spoonk acupressure mat purchase commented on how they use their mat as part of their daily routine to manage their pain.
15: LITTLE OR NO SIDE EFFECTS
Frequent use of an acupressure mat has been found to have almost no side effects. Research that looked at pain severity in female nurses with chronic back pain, showed that the acupressure mat was very effective in reducing pain and it was an easy therapy with practically no negative side effects.
But people with fractures should avoid acupressure.
16: NO ISSUES WITH LONG TERM USE
Acupressure mat therapy is considered a safe treatment option for long term use, according to published research about acupressure.
17: VERY LOW COST
Considering you can spend thousands of dollars on other types of therapy treatments, often requiring multiple visits for the treatment, an acupressure mat is a relatively affordable choice. Prices for an acupressure mat can range from around $20 to $70 depending on the size and quality of mat that you’re looking for.
18: NON-INVASIVE
When you want treatment for a serious condition you might have been given a number of invasive options. Remember, acupressure is non-invasive so can be tried without the element of risk.
19: COMPACT
Acupressure mats roll up just like a yoga mat, so they’re very compact. Ideal for carrying with you or storing away at home for whenever you need it.
20: PORTABLE
Many acupressure mats, like this VIVE natural linen organic mat, come with a bag, allowing you to take it wherever you want. It might be something you could keep at work for difficult days or use at the gym.
21: USE AT HOME
Acupressure is carried out by physical therapists in many clinics, but the primary benefit of an acupressure mat is that you can use it in your own home!
It’s ideal if you have pain that strikes without warning, as you have a pain relief option that you can roll out whenever you need it.
22: NO PRESCRIPTION REQUIRED
You don’t need a prescription to purchase an acupressure mat, they can be easily purchased from many different outlets.
23: ENHANCE YOUR YOGA AND MEDITATION PRACTICE
Regular users of acupressure mats appear to be reunited in how much their acupressure mat aids them in their yoga practice. Many (like users of Ajna’s Organic Eco Acupressure Massage Mat) speak of another level of relaxation and how the mat adds a new dimension to their practice. Others spoke of using it in meditation and how it can be used as part of a relaxation routine.
With so many benefits, it’s time to roll out your acupressure mat and reap the rewards!
References
- UCLA Center for East-West Medicine. (2019) What is the difference between acupuncture and acupressure?. [Online] Available from: https://exploreim.ucla.edu/east-west-medicine/what-is-the-difference-between-acupuncture-and-acupressure/ [Accessed 9 June 2019]. ↩
- Arbuckle, A. Q. (2016) 1910-1981 Beds of Nails. [Online] Available from: https://mashable.com/2016/03/04/bed-of-nails/ [Accessed 9 June 2019
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