Research into the benefits of an acupressure mat shows that the spiky surface can improve your sleep.
One such study that proved its effectiveness was published in the Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences.[1]
Researchers looked closely at the sleep quality of 120 menopausal women, instructing them to self-administer acupressure two hours before bed.
The results showed significant improvements, leading experts to conclude:
Acupressure can be used as a complementary treatment to relieve sleep disorders in menopausal women; and is offered as an efficient method to manage sleep quality.
Another project conducted in Taiwan looked at the sleep of patients with end-stage renal disease.[2]
Participants were asked to keep a log, noting down their sleep quality and efficiency.
At the end of the trial they summarised the positive findings:
Sleep log data showed that the acupressure group significantly decreased awake time and improved quality of sleep over time more than the control group. The improvement could be seen as soon as the acupoints massage was implemented, and it was maintained through the post intervention.
According to the latest insomnia statistics, up to 70 million Americans are impacted by the condition.
If you’re one of them, there is evidence to show that a mat could be a low-cost alternative treatment for the condition.[3]
Dr. Michael Breus, better known as The Sleep Doctor, explains how the therapy works:
… treatment using acupressure is based on the ancient art of using pressure points to align “chakras” in the body, thought to release the body’s natural healing powers.
According to this theory, the human body contains a life energy (also called chi or qi), which flows through meridians in the body.
When this energy is flowing properly, a person can be healthy and the body can heal, but when the energy is not flowing properly, disease—and disturbances like insomnia—can occur. In essence, acupressure aims to “re-flow” the energy to support health.[4]
For better slumber, the pressure points associated with relaxation and stress relief need to be stimulated. That’s why acupressure mats are so useful as they hit all of these points at once.
It’s great news that acupressure can be so powerful when we consider the shocking number of people that struggle to get a good night’s rest.
Recently published sleep statistics reveal that a massive 35% of Americans don’t get the recommended amount of sleep each night.
If you’re one of them, it might be time to make an acupressure mat part of your bedtime routine!
Ready to feel the sensation?
Our team has tested so many mats over the years, enabling us to reveal the best acupressure mat in the world.
Agree with our choice? Pick your favorite and start reaping all the incredible benefits, starting with a good night’s sleep!
References
- Abedian, Z. et al. (2015). The Effect of Acupressure on Sleep Quality in Menopausal Women: A Randomized Control Trial [Online]. Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4487458/ [Accessed 4 July 2023]. ↩
- Tsay, S. and Chen, M. (2001). Acupressure and quality of sleep in patients with end-stage renal disease—a randomized controlled trial [Online]. International Journal of Nursing Studies. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020748902000196 [Accessed 4 July 2023]. ↩
- Yeung, W. et al. (2018). Self-administered acupressure for insomnia disorder: a pilot randomized controlled trial [Online]. Journal of Sleep Research. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28884877/ [Accessed 4 July 2023]. ↩
- Hoffman, A. (2023). Insomnia [Online]. Sleep Doctor. Available from: https://thesleepdoctor.com/insomnia/ [Accessed 4 July 2023]. ↩
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