How to Choose an Acupressure Mat

Over the past few years, acupressure mats (also known as spike mats, nail mats or Swedish mats) have become an increasingly popular device to self-treat a whole series of conditions, ranging from back pain to poor blood circulation.

What Is Acupressure?

Acupressure (not to be confused with acupuncture) is an ancient, non-invasive, healing technique based on the application of physical pressure on specific points along the body. The acupressure mat (first invented in the former Soviet Union in the late 1970s) allows its users to harness the beneficial properties of acupressure in a cheap and effective manner. Lying on it for just 25-30 minutes, in fact, boosts peripheral blood circulation and encourages the body to release endorphins and oxytocin, which in turn helps relieve pain, muscle tension, stress and fatigue.

It is for this reason that acupressure mats have become more and more popular over the past decade. Such popularity, however, has led to a huge proliferation of brands and models, which can engender confusion in the potential buyer. One only has to perform a basic search on the web to be deluged with a multitude of products (some good, some not so good) that can all look the same to the untrained eye.

How do you then select an acupressure mat? How do you separate the wheat from the chaff and make sure you only choose the best one? Well, in a nutshell, the secret is to look closer and to look inside.

Look Closer

The plastic discs covering the mat (known as flowers or florets) should not contain fewer than 30 or more than 40 tips. In the former case, acupressure may result too uncomfortable whereas in the latter, it may be too "bland" and, consequently, ineffective. The ideal number of tips in each disc should range between 32 and 36. Also, such tips should not conjure up esoteric symbols or images, but should be pyramidal.

Look Inside

Avoid at all costs any padding made of cheap foam rubber, which harms both your back and the environment. Opt, instead, for a padding made of vegetable fibres (coir, spelt chaff, etc.). Unlike foam rubber, in fact, vegetable fibres are breathable, do not allow sweat and dust to accumulate, do not attract mites, do not lose their shape over time and, more importantly, ensure perfectly uniform acupressure, improving its effectiveness. Moreover, vegetable fibres are completely natural and fully recyclable, resulting in minimal environmental impact.

Practice buying here:  Acupressure Mat Store and choose the best buy

Learn more: 

• Tools and Acupuncture Maps for Sciatica
• How To Use Acupuncture Pen