I Used An Acupressure Mat For 2 Weeks: Here’s What Happened
Health & Wellness experts are using this unique and simple tool to treat chronic pain. But is it worth it? This Post is all about my experience using an Acupressure Mat every day for 2 weeks straight. All opinions on this post are my own.
What is An Acupressure Mat?
An Acupressure Mat (also known as a Shakti mat) is a flat, somewhat puffy mat with plastic circles sewn in that have spikes all over. They are made from cotton or other similar materials. They’re used to stimulate targeted areas of the body, including acupressure points. They also stimulate your skin and increase blood flow for additional relaxation and health benefits. You can buy them as a set with a matching pillow and a carrying bag. I got mine on Amazon.
What Made Me Decide To Try A Shakti Mat
I have been a cosmetologist for over 23 years. There have been so many haircuts, foils, and blowouts in those 23 years, and I have chronic shoulder blade pain to show for it. I have tried multiple things over the years to help alleviate the pain. Things like cupping, monthly massages, essential oils, stretches, and more. Some of these methods worked okay and others did nothing.
The pain I have is between my shoulder blade and my spine on my right side (I’m right-handed, so I use my right hand a lot and it was elevated a ton during those years as a cosmetologist). I’m all about holistic healing and drug-free pain management rather than trying to pop a pill for pain relief. And honestly, there’s nothing that’s over-the-counter that can help with chronic pain anyway. I’m also not into using any type of muscle relaxer or prescription main killer.
I bought my Acupressure Mat a while ago and used it a few times. Honestly, it kind of intimidated me. But as I was scrolling one day I came across an ad and it was listing benefits that I hadn’t heard before so I decided to give it another go and really put it to the test.
Benefits of An Acupressure Mat
The effectiveness of an Acupressure Mat is clinically evidenced. Two studies found that these mats: Significantly increase the intensity of blood flow and the circulation of the skin. They also accelerated cell metabolism and reduced inflammation of the muscles and joints. People also reported elimination or a dramatic reduction in pain.
The second study showed that after 30 days of daily use, these mats improved the oxygenation of tissues, improved muscle tone, increased cell metabolism, and improved physical and emotional health.
Other benefits include:
Decreased Cellulite
Fewer Migraines
Better Sleep
Reduced Anxiety
Reduced Inflammation
Decreased Lower Back Pain
Decreased Overall Back Pain
Increased Energy
Here’s What Happened When I Used An Acupressure Mat Every Day For 2 Weeks
When I heard of all of these benefits I decided to go all-in and use my mat every day, setting aside 20 minutes before bedtime every night to use my mat. I laid it out on top of the sheets on my bed and laid on it trying to have it cover my whole back without a shirt so I could get maximum benefits. I set a timer and lay in the dark, quietly trying to get in a good mindset and meditate for a few minutes.
At first, it’s kind of painful. Not to the point that I was wincing or wanted to stop, just uncomfortable pain. After a few minutes, I would literally feel the blood start to rush to my back. I could feel my back start to heat up, and in some areas, I could even feel my pulse.
Once the initial discomfort wears off (maybe after 4-5 minutes) it’s not so bad. After a few days I actually really enjoyed laying on it and looked forward to my daily session. Here are the things that I personally noticed happened:
My back pain was almost completely gone after a few days and didn’t come back (at all) until I stopped using it. I’ve since noticed that I can’t go more than 3 days of not using my mat before my back pain starts to be an issue again. Ideally, I think that daily use is best, but right now I’m aiming for every other night at the very least for my back pain.
I fell asleep faster. This is one thing that this mat touts, but it’s true. I noticed that I did fall asleep faster and slept better after using the mat.
I felt instantly calm and relaxed after my 20-minute session every night.
Final Thoughts
I think that an Acupressure Mat is an amazing tool for back pain. I haven’t tried it on other areas (other than my feet while I’m working) so I can’t attest to reduced cellulite or anything else for legs or arms etc. But I think I found a good relief from my chorionic pain that nags at me every day. It’s affordable and only needs to be purchased one time to get years of relief.
If you liked this post, you may also like:
5 BENEFITS OF MAGNESIUM AND HOW YOU SHOULD BE USING IT
11 REASONS WHY YOU CAN’T SLEEP, AND HOW TO FIX IT
5 BENEFITS OF CASTOR OIL PACKS
xo,
Winky Pink
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