![]() It’s recommended to ease into the practice by laying the mat on a soft surface like your bed with a thin barrier like a blanket or wearing a t-shirt to lessen the initial shock and work up to 15-20 minutes at a time. A study here: /pmc/articles/PMC3446809/ concluded that “mechanical needle stimulation pads” was an “effective treatment” for participants with neck and low back pain.One main difference is that an acupuncturist targets certain meridians (energy channels in Chinese medicine) to stimulate whereas the mats attack their surface area indiscriminately. Naturally, barring life-threatening danger, we’ll operate more efficiently physically and mentally in the parasympathetic, because the body and mind talk to each other.ĭesigned to mimic the effects of acupuncture at home, touted benefits of acupressure mats include decreased anxiety, heightened sense of well-being, and relief from chronic pain or muscle tension. Your nervous system has two modes: sympathetic (aka “fight-or-flight”) or parasympathetic (relaxation). Mark Hyman (“Food: What the Heck Should I Eat”) says using an acupressure mat helps to “increase your parasympathetic nervous system and get you into deep relaxation before sleep.” Some corporations will fund acupressure mats through their health-saving-plan accounts, according to a 2021 USA Today story.Īuthor and physician Dr. It looks like I’m not the only one trying this technique. I’ve achieved three nights with a sleep score over 90 (Excellent) while using it, so I’m hooked, pun intended. I can also say that my Fitbit Charge HR shows excellent levels of deep sleep – averaging an extra half-hour per night– after using my bed of training nails. I have fallen asleep on it on several occasions. At any rate, I pick up my bedside book, and forget all the spikes. Whether this is now a conditioned response from me because I’ve been doing it regularly for about a week, or causality, I can’t be sure. ![]() It’s probably blood rushing to the area ready to form blisters as needed, but it feels great. The other reason, the one that keeps me coming back, is because immediately after that little pinch, I get a full dose of Ahhhh. Loss of sleep can impair your cognition, reaction time, and even make you crave extra carbs! Mainly to improve my sleep, because all the wellness experts agree that sleep is probably the biggest needle-mover in terms of your readiness for the day. ![]() So why am I subjecting myself to low-level pain? Like a Lego block, if you step on it unexpectedly, it hurts like heck. When I lower myself down, gently, without a trace of shimmy, I may feel some pinching. It’s a mat covered in a grid of sharp silicone spikes every inch or so. If I lay on my back with the top at my shoulders, it goes to just above my knees. It has 6210 spikes, is made with hypoallergenic, organic materials, and is free of flame retardants. Shakti is a little more expensive, so I went with a Spoonk cotton mat for my experiment. ![]() Not to sound like an internet ad – “After Doing This One Weird Thing, Seattle Woman Sleeps Like a Baby” – but it is weird, at least in the U.S., and it does help me sleep. The mat’s directions caution against any sudden movements – something you won’t forget after your first mistake. It’s an acupressure mat, and while the spikes are made of plastic, they are plenty pointy. I don’t sleep all night on a bed of spikes, but I do lie on one for about a half an hour before I turn out the light. ![]()
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