Are acupressure mats any good?

Are acupressure mats any good? You’ve probably seen these acupressure mats online or perhaps you’ve even bought one and it’s currently lying under your bed gathering dust!

I’ve been asked by many of my patients if they’re worth buying, so I thought I’d share my experiences here so you can decide if it’s something that might be right for you….

Which is best acupressure mat?

There are lots on the market – ranging from £14.99 from Aldi to the more expensive Bed of Nails at £70. The most well known is the Shakti mat at £69. I bought one called Base Yoga which was £27.99 and has worked well for me. It came with a spiky acupressure pillow as well, which is great for relieving neck tension.

Acupressure mats, also called acupuncture mats are padded sheets about the length of your torso covered with small plastic spikes. The idea is that you lie (face up!) on the mat and the plastic spikes provide an acupressure massage. This helps stimulate blood circulation and reduce muscle tension. Like acupuncture itself, this can help align your qi (energy) pathways within the body’s meridian system and reduce stress levels.

Acuppressure mats were designed as pain-relief devices

The needles on an acupressure mat do not penetrate your skin; rather your body sits on top of the spikes to stimulate pressure points. The idea is to relieve back pain by applying pressure on specific parts of the spine. You can also use it for other parts of the body but if you’re looking to pin your feet make sure you stay sat down as it’s way too uncomfortable to stand up!

Acuppressure mat side effects – are they painful?

The first couple of minutes felt a little uncomfortable but after that, the discomfort changed to warmth and then a deep feeling of relaxation. These pins stimulate your body and release good things like serotonin and endorphins. They’re not sharp so don’t worry about getting hurt.

To be honest once you get used to it, they’re just not painful at all. After a few minutes I forgot about the pins completely. My muscles were relaxed, and I felt incredibly calm. In fact, it’s a great thing to do just before bed as you feel super sleepy afterwards.

How long should you lay on an acupressure mat?

If you’re very sensitive, you might find the sensation too much to start with. I had a patient who had this exact experience, so she started off by lying on the mat fully clothed. As you become more accustomed to it you might want to expose your skin to the mat as you get a much more intense sensation overall.

So start off with just a couple of minutes until you get used to it. Over time you’ll be able to work your way up to 20-25 minutes. I’d keep to that as a maximum. If like me and you start to fall asleep it’s a good idea to set a gentle alarm.

Is an acuppressure mat as good as acupuncture?

This depends on your symptoms and what you need out of a treatment. If you’re experiencing very mild back pain or just need a little help to relax and rebalance, or if you can’t access acupuncture with a practitioner, then acupressure mats could be a good option for you.

But acupuncture is not just about alleviating physical pain. It has incredible emotional benefits as well and there’s much more to getting well and staying well than stimulating pressure points.

When I recommend acupressure mats I do so as an add on to treatment, or for when people are well and want an excellent add on to their self-care routine.

Acuppressure mats are a great self-care option, although they are not as effective as traditional acupuncture treatments.

Want to know more about acupuncture and how it could help you?