When you’re looking for ways to manage anxiety at home, you may have read about the amazing things that acupressure can do.
Acupressure is an ancient Chinese therapy shown to help with pain relief, your mental health and even weight management.
An acupressure mat means you can take advantage of all these health benefits in the comfort of your own home.
Our Top Acupressure Mats
In this article:
Acupressure Mat Reviews
We’ve taken a look at the products on the market and put together a list of the 7 best acupressure mats for you to choose from:
1. Best for Back Pain: Aku Mat
Don’t settle for plastic spikes, when you can have copper, iron, nickel, silver and zinc
If you’re looking for the world’s best acupressure mat, then look no further.
We tested this mat for months, and can conclude that it is a sensation like no other!
Akuspike takes acupressure mats to the next level, as instead of plastic spikes like the competitors, the spikes on their mat are metal.
Surely it’s painful?…
We did a Q&A with the founder of Akuspike, Paul de Jersey, and we’ve tested the products extensively ourselves, and the answer is, at first, yes!
But don’t worry, if you follow their how-to advice, you quickly get used to the sensation and the results are totally worth it.
After all, no pain, no gain.
In our experience, it’s almost like for a few minutes your body resists the mat. Like your brain is sending a message to warn you — “this is sharp!”.
However once your body and mind surrender, the feeling becomes very pleasurable.
The Aku Mat is a premium product that commands a higher price and is smaller than the competitors, however it’s a seriously good piece of kit that makes other mats look a little cheap.
Akuspike have also developed the Aku Ball, an acupressure ball that can be rolled on any area of your body and which they claim can help to combat Raynaud’s syndrome.
After a long time playing around with this spiky little tool, we wrote about our experience.
We also asked someone with rheumatoid arthritis in her hands to test out the ball.
She found it helped to reduce swelling in the short term and delivered a satisfying sensation that made her hands feel “alive” after a busy day when her pain is generally worse.
2. Best for Coverage: Pranamat ECO Massage Set (Mat+Pillow)
A high-quality mat made from natural materials
When you’re choosing a product covered in sharp spikes, that’s going to make contact with your skin, you want to know it’s great quality!
Pranamat pride themselves on setting the gold standard.
We love how their ECO Massage Set, with a mat and pillow, is made from natural linen and untreated cotton.
Their ECO Massage Set, with a mat and pillow, is made from natural linen and untreated cotton.
Inside the mat you’ll find 100% coconut fiber, with natural buckwheat hulls in the pillow for added comfort.
Covered in points made from eco-friendly HIPS plastic, you can lie back (or stand if you’re hoping the therapy will ease your foot pain) and enjoy the full acupressure experience.
When we compared it to other mats with plastic spikes, such as the Nayoya Acupressure Mat, we found it’s significantly longer (10 inches longer in fact!).
It is a little more expensive than the competition, however you can treat more of your body and be safe in the knowledge that you’re choosing a product that’s kinder to the planet.
3. Best for Neck Pain: Nayoya Acupressure Mat
A great mid-priced mat that also ships with an acupressure pillow
In our opinion, a good mid-priced product is the Nayoya Acupressure Mat…
Nayoya’s offering doesn’t just include a mat for your back, covered in over 6,000 high quality spikes.
It also ships with an acupressure pillow to support your neck with 1,782 points, making it real bang for your buck!
Some found the quality not quite as good as they expected, and that the pillow quickly got misshapen.
However those with lower back pain were so grateful for their new treatment option!
They felt that both the mat and the pillow helped to release the tension in their back and provide pain relief.
4. Best for the Planet: Bed of Nails ECO Mat
An eco-friendly acupressure mat from a trusted industry brand
Another acupressure mat that is kind to your body and to the planet, is the Bed of Nails Eco Mat.
Bed of Nails has been a trusted brand in the acupressure market for many years.
Taking their name from the origins of the acupressure mat, they’ve built their reputation on supplying great quality products.
We had to add this new eco version of their mat to our shortlist, as it has 8,820 nails (spikes), much more coverage than the competition.
Nails on this mat are also made from recyclable plastic and secured with a melting process to improve the impact on the environment.
It doesn’t ship with a pillow, however you can easily purchase a matching one from the Eco range, to complement your mat perfectly.
5. Best for Charitable Giving: The Shakti Mat
A simple, handcrafted acupressure mat covered in 6,000 spikes
The Shakti Mat is perfect if you just want a simple and affordable acupressure mat.
With 6,000 spikes you get good coverage, and though you don’t get a separate pillow, you can easily roll the mat up and use it as one.
Ethically handcrafted in India, each Shakti mat supports the empowerment of local people with 10% of the profits going to charity.
If you love the length of the Pranamat, but want to spend a little less, then the Shakti mat could be worth considering.
We found that though you don’t get the same width, or the same cushioning as the Pranamat, you still get real bang for the buck.
6. Best for Travel: Spoonk Organic Hemp – Combo
Ships with a standard mat, plus a travel sized one to use on the go!
We love that we can travel with the Spoonk Organic Hemp Combo and use it at home.
In the smartly packaged set you get a regular sized mat as well as a travel sized one, both made from their high quality organic hemp fabric.
The hemp used in their products is grown without any pesticides or nasty chemicals, so it’s better for the planet.
With 6,120 acupressure points it might have less points than some of the competition, however the different sizes made its versatility appreciated by users.
The fact it can also be rolled up and stored neatly in a bag was an extra bonus for us!
7. Best for Price: ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set
Perfect entry price mat for beginners!
If you’re new to acupressure and don’t want to spend too much initially, then the ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set is a great choice.
With 6,210 spikes on the mat and 1,782 on the neck pillow, you’re not shortchanged on being able to hit your acupressure points.
Plus compared to other acupressure mats, such as the Aku mat, it’s bigger, so you get really good body coverage.
Through our use of the product we discovered that it is still effective at treating pain, especially for such a low price.
Choose from a range of different colors, making it ideal if you’re looking for a healthy gift for someone special.
How We Review & Rate
Here at The Good Body we’ve spent years rating and reviewing health products, including acupressure mats.
In this article we’ve shortlisted seven of the best products on the market, highlighting key features so you can make the right decision for you.
Some of the products on the list we’ve spent hours testing, including the Aku Mat, so we know their strengths and limitations.
Others are similar to products we’ve used in the past, or have features that research has shown to be successful for a range of different health conditions.
To come up with a rating we consider a number of different factors, including the size, quality, materials used and any additional accessories, such as travel bags or pillows.
We also take into consideration consumer reviews analyzed from a range of different websites.
Taking all this information, plus our industry knowledge, allows us to come up with a rating that gives you the best overall view of the product.
Buying Guide
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the products out there, then take a look at our acupressure mat buying guide below.
We’ve explained each of the functions and features you can consider, to help you make the right decision!
Features of Acupressure Mats
If you’re unsure which mat is right for you then we’ve created a handy buying guide to help you make your decision.
Below we’ve explained some of the features you’ll come across when shopping for an acupressure mat:
Acupressure points
Manufacturers will often use the number of acupressure points on a mat to promote their product. Normally quoted in thousands, it relates to the number of individual spikes on the mat.
With more spikes you should technically be able to hit more pressure points, of course this depends on the quality.
Generally acupressure points are plastic, however you can get metal spikes, like the Aku Mat. Their mat has less points in total, but in our opinion the fact that they’re metal makes them much more effective.
Material
Mats can be made from a range of different materials, and typically contain a filling such as foam.
Some acupressure mat brands (such as Pranamat) will concentrate on the environmental benefits of the material, while others will focus purely on comfort.
Size
Acupressure mats can vary in length and width so look closely at the measurements to make sure you’ll get the coverage you need. Travel sized acupressure mats are also available, ideal for throwing in your bag for use in the yoga studio or at the office.
Added extras
Some mats come with an acupressure pillow or neck wrap which can be useful if you’re looking to treat pain in the neck and shoulders.
Don’t immediately rule out mats that don’t have this added extra, as certain ones can easily be rolled up and positioned under the neck.
Carrying bag
Mats can ship with a carrying bag, useful if you’re always on the go and want to take your new-found treatment with you!
Price
Prices range from around $20 and can go up to $100. Spending more doesn’t always mean better quality, so use our buying guide to help you judge the features.
Customer reviews
When deciding if a mat is right for you, it’s worth taking a close look at the reviews. It will help you get a feel for the quality and the different ways it can be used.
FAQs
Below we’ve answered a number of frequently asked questions about acupressure mats:
What is an acupressure mat?
Do acupressure mats really work?
What are acupressure mats good for?
How long should you lay on an acupressure mat?
Are all acupressure mats the same?
Which is the best acupressure mat?
Can acupressure mats be dangerous?
Do acupressure mats hurt?
Can you sleep on an acupressure mat?
Is it safe to use an acupressure mat during pregnancy?
How much do acupressure mats cost?
Where can I buy an acupressure mat?
Now you’ve found the perfect mat, you’ll want to know the best way to use it!
Learn about 10 ways to use an acupressure mat to get the most from your new tool.
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