The use of acupressure mats is one of the most recent trends to sweep the wellness sector off its feet. They are not, however, new in the market. Acupressure is related to acupuncture and has been practised for hundreds of years, it is used to treat several conditions, including back pain, migraines, cranial tension, insomnia, anxiety, and circulation. Not only will lying on an acupressure mat help with pain relief, but the tiny needles will also improve your mental health and general well-being. Your body’s meridians will get manipulated by applying pressure to specific body points, balancing your body’s energy flow (qi), and creating channels for life-giving energy to flow.
Acupressure is non-invasive and relieves pain by diffusing your energy, or chi, as known in Chinese medicine, through touch and pressure, which differs from acupuncture, which involves inserting tiny needles at various acupoints on the body.
What is an Acupressure Mat?
The modern equivalent of a “bed of nails,” also called a “needle stimulation pad (NSP),” is an acupressure mat. This mat is a rollable foam mat with hundreds of plastic “needles” or nubs interspersed throughout a layer of soft cotton. Despite the name, spikes can’t hurt you because they have rounded tips.
One of the great features of acupressure mats is their versatility. Further, as a support for your back, it can also be used for standing on and forming an “acupressure pillow.”
How do acupressure mats work for pain relief?
An acupressure pad works similarly to traditional Chinese acupuncture medicine, just in the comfort of your home, as the name suggests. Your back (or feet, or neck, for that matter!) and other pressure points on the mat receive pressure from the hundreds of needles that are evenly spread across it. Your muscles relax around the needles as the painless, gentle pressure stimulates them, causing endorphin release, releasing tension, and an increase in blood flow. Your back will feel warm and tingly as blood is drawn to the area. The increased blood flow brings oxygen to the area that is getting treated, promoting healing—which could be the root of your pain—and relaxing tense muscles. Along with pain relief, spending time on your pain relief acupressure mat will also leave you with feelings of joy, calmness, and internal energy. The ideal remedy for long hours spent at a desk, a day filled with anxiety, or a sore body following a vigorous workout.
How to use an Acupressure Mat for pain relief
Start by setting out your acupressure mat and pillow in a calm area of your home, such as the floor of your living room, couch, or bed. Gently lie on your mat for 20 to 40 minutes. When you first lie down, experiment with different positions until you find one that feels “just right,” placing your pain relief acupressure pillow in the groove of your neck. You ought to feel at ease on your acupuncture mat. Letting your shoulder blades drop and tailbone relax as you settle in, let your sore muscles melt into the mat
If you’re new to using an acupressure mat, you may find the sensation too stimulating. To find the right level of impact for you, experiment with wearing a t-shirt or placing a towel between you and your “bed of nails” if you want to ease into the world of acupuncture gradually. You can eventually try lying on your mat and pillow unclothed once you’re sufficiently brave.
If you haven’t dozed off by the time you get up from your mat after 20 to 40 minutes, your body will get flushed with blood and oxygen, your anxiety will have subsided, and your painful muscles will have been stimulated and released. Check out karma living wide variety of acupressure mats & pillows for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our home & living shops. Acupressure mats are highly effective. – You’ll feel completely at ease and high on endorphins.
