Looking for an affordable and effective way to relieve pain and tension from the comfort of your own home? Acupuncture mats may just be the answer. Read on for the benefits of acupuncture mats.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which views the body as a whole system that is interconnected and interdependent. By stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture can help to restore balance and harmony to the body’s energy systems, which can help to promote health and well-being. Typically acupuncture is done by a professional in a doctor’s office, however there are acupuncture mats that can provide many of the same benefits you would get from a provider. In this blog post, we will explore 21 benefits of incorporating either an acupuncture mat or treatments from a professional into your daily/weekly or monthly routine as well as my own personal review of acupuncture treatments.
21 Surprisingly Helpful Benefits Of Acupuncture Mats
1) Acupuncture Relieves Chronic Neck and Back Pain
Chronic neck and back pain can be debilitating, affecting everything from sleep to productivity. Acupuncture can help by stimulating the body’s natural healing mechanisms, releasing endorphins that help to alleviate pain, and reducing inflammation in the affected areas. By using an acupuncture mat regularly, you can help to relieve the tension and pain in your neck and back, leading to increased mobility and flexibility, and improved overall quality of life.
Woman Tired From Doing Yoga (Photo by Tim Samuel)
2) Eases Foot & Leg Pain
Foot pain is a common problem that affects millions of people worldwide. Whether it’s due to standing for long periods or wearing bad shoes, foot pain can be a frustrating experience. Acupuncture mats can help alleviate foot pain by targeting pressure points in the feet, promoting better circulation, and reducing inflammation. By using an acupuncture mat regularly, you can help to relieve the tension and pain in your feet, leading to increased mobility and a more comfortable overall experience.
3) Increases Relaxation
Using acupuncture mats can help increase relaxation in the body by stimulating pressure points. Pressure from the mat spikes helps to activate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system. This system is responsible for relaxing the body and reducing stress. As a result, the benefits of using acupuncture mats can include reducing tension in the muscles and promoting a sense of calm and relaxation.
4) Improves Sleep Quality
Stress and anxiety can greatly impact sleep quality, making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. Using an acupuncture mat before bed can help promote relaxation and reduce stress, allowing for a more restful night’s sleep. The stimulation of mat pressure points can help increase circulation and release endorphins, which can also contribute to better sleep.
5) Stimulates Endorphins
To add on the endorphins mentioned above, these are the body’s natural painkillers and mood enhancers. They are neurotransmitters released in response to pain and stress. They help to reduce the perception of pain and promote feelings of pleasure and well-being. By stimulating these feel-good chemicals, using an acupuncture mat can help to boost your energy and mood.
6) Enhances Overall Well-being
In addition to stimulating endorphins, using acupuncture mats regularly can help to enhance your overall well-being. By stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture can help to restore balance and harmony to the body’s energy systems, which can help to promote health and well-being.
7) Improves Circulation & Blood Flow
Acupressure mats are known to have many health benefits, and one of the most significant benefits is improved circulation. Poor circulation can lead to a host of health problems, including muscle pain, headaches, fatigue, cold extremities like hands and feet, etc.
Similar to increased circulation, using an acupressure mat can help enhance blood flow throughout the body. The spikes on the mat stimulate the pressure points on your skin, which causes the blood vessels to dilate. This allows more blood to flow through your body, increasing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and organs. Increased blood flow can also help reduce inflammation and swelling, which can lead to pain and discomfort.
8) Increases Oxygen Delivery
Other benefits of acupuncture mats is they can improve circulation is by increasing oxygen delivery to your body’s tissues. Oxygen is essential for the proper functioning of your muscles and organs, and poor circulation can decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches your body’s tissues. By stimulating the pressure points on your skin, the acupuncture mat increases blood flow and, as a result, oxygen delivery to your body’s tissues. This can help reduce muscle fatigue, improve physical endurance, and enhance overall energy levels.
9) Convenient and Cost-Effective
Getting conventional acupuncture treatments can be inconvenient and costly to visit an acupuncture practitioner regularly. Fortunately, the use of acupuncture mats has become increasingly popular as a convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional acupuncture treatment. Prices can vary, there are some under $30 like this one, or others a little more between $60 and $80.
10) Easy to Use at Home
Acupuncture mats are designed to be used at home, making it easy for individuals to use them on their own time. The mats are simple to use and do not require any special skills or training to operate. Users simply lay down on the mat for a specified amount of time and let the mat’s acupressure points work their magic. This convenience allows individuals to use the mat as frequently as they desire, without having to worry about scheduling appointments or traveling to an acupuncture clinic.
11) Affordable Alternative to Traditional Acupuncture Treatment
Adding to #9 above, in addition to be affordable, they are definitely when compared to traditional acupuncture treatments, which can run upwards of $150/session. This cost-effectiveness allows individuals to experience the benefits of acupuncture without breaking the bank.
12) Reduces Stress & Anxiety
I’ve talked about the importance of managing stress in your life as it affects so many areas. There is some research showing that acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural feel-good hormones and reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol,” says Mathew Kulas, MA, RAc, an acupuncturist at Henry Ford Health. Studies show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for anxiety, with fewer side effects than medications.
13) Good for Stiff Muscles
This is really no different than the pain mentioned above, however with stiff muscles and my0fascial pain, sometimes our muscles develop trigger points and acupuncture can definitely help loosen those muscles.
14) Can Mitigate Migraines
In 22 clinical trials including close to 5,000 patients, there was evidence that acupuncture reduced the frequency of migraine in patients
15) Labor Pain
While the evidence may be limited for this, there is some research that shows a small benefit for women doing acupuncture in the weeks leading up to birth to help alleviate the intense pain from the labor bearing process.
16) Acupuncture for Sciatica
Sciatica is a painful condition that affects many people. The sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down to the legs, can become compressed or inflamed, causing symptoms such as low back pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the affected areas. Acupuncture offers a natural and effective way to relieve sciatica symptoms. When the needles are inserted into the skin, they activate nerve fibers that send signals to the brain to release endorphins, which are natural painkillers.
17) Acupuncture for Tennis Elbow
While the benefits may not be permanent or long lasting, there is evidence that suggests it can be beneficial for those suffering from tennis elbow.
18) Relieves Dental Pain
Some dentists believe there is a benefit to treating dental pain is another benefit of acupuncture mats.
19) Fibromyalgia Relief
Some research shows acupuncture can have benefits as it relates to fibromyalgia. In a 2014 review article in Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, researchers analyzed the results of nine studies on acupuncture for fibromyalgia. A few studies found acupuncture worked better than drugs to manage the condition, but most of the studies in this case didn’t appear to be well designed.
20) Asthma
This one admittedly surprised me. I didn’t know asthma could be treated with it, but it is possible!
21) Nausea from chemotherapy
Finally, there is a belief that acupuncture and using pressure points can help with nausea and vomiting, particularly for those undergoing hemotherapy for cancer treatment.
My Experience With Acupuncture
After doing research on this, I was surprised by the amount of benefits of acupuncture mats. I was first introduced to it by a naturopathic doctor I had been working with regarding several of my symptoms including dealing with my vestibular migraine, along with complex regional pain syndrome of my lower left foot and leg. I decided to get a series of 4 acupuncture sessions done on my lower left leg.
Overall, it wasn’t bad at all. The needles felt like little pin pricks, similar to when you get blood drawn, but honestly not even that bad. Overall, I feel like the acupuncture helped me. I think it helped relieve stress and my sharp shooting pains weren’t as bad for a few weeks after each treatment.
Acupuncture vs dry needling
I’ve also had a few dry needling sessions done. Overall, I felt the dry needling to be more uncomfortable. This to me was more invasive because the needles go in and out and in multiple places, and that was a little painful. The acupuncture on the other hand leaves the needles in, so most of the time you don’t even know they are there. Unless you move suddenly, then you know they are they and then they can be uncomfortable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are numerous benefits of acupuncture mats, or getting acupuncture treatments. These benefits include pain relief, improved sleep, reduced stress, increased circulation, and a boost in overall well-being. By incorporating this simple tool into your daily routine, you can experience a significant improvement in your quality of life. So, why not give it a try? Invest in an acupuncture mat and reap the rewards of better health and wellness.
If you’ve tried a mat or done treatments and seen success, leave a comment below, I’d love to hear it!
