Is it time to try the spikes?

Acupressure is an ancient Chinese therapy that is practiced by health professionals all around the world. However with rising stress levels & chronic pain statistics, many choose to enjoy the treatment from the comfort of their own home!

Unlike acupuncture, acupressure does not puncture the skin & is a non-invasive manual tool, used to massage the acupoints around the body, relieving pressure.

I wanted to try my acupressure mat before sharing this with you so that I could understand how acupressure can really benefit your life.

I have been using the Yoke Wellness Acupressure Mat for 2 months now, you may have seen me using it over on my Instagram at @lovinglifelillie, I use it first thing in the morning to energise my day and last thing before I go to bed to wind down and relax. I can only report great things!

So let me share with you 8 reasons why you should hit the spikes:

1 ) NATURAL PAIN RELIEF

One of the key benefits of Acupressure, is that it is a natural form of pain relief!

I know, laying on a bed of small spikes hardly sounds like it would be relaxing & elevating for pain but in my experience, it is most certainly true! You'll have to try it for yourself if your sceptical & see how your body reacts to acupressure. It is worth remembering that we all have varying tolerances to pain and depending on where you hold tension in your body, it may be more comfortable for you to lie on your spikes acupressure mat or stand or place an extra cushion underneath the mat while using it.

2 ) LOWERS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Clinical trials have been conducted, looking at the impact of acupressure on patients with hypertension. These trials found that acupressure lowered blood pressure in patients for at least, 30 minutes. More research is needed to see the extent to which acupressure can reduce blood pressure on a long term basis, however the project proved it to be effective as a short term solution with the recommendation of using acupressure safely at home, 5 - 7 times a week for 20 - 30 minutes each time.

3 ) RELEASES ENDORPHINS

Some health professionals recommend using acupressure to their clients, as the process is found to release endorphins. Endorphins work in a similar way to opioids. Often referred to as ‘the body’s natural painkillers’, they help to reduce pain and produce a feeling of euphoria. Acupressure can stimulate the production of endorphins which helps to block the pain signals reaching the brain!

4 ) USEFUL FOR SPORTS INJURIES

Studies have been conducted in relation to those suffering from sports injuries and found that acupressure decreased the reported pain scores in athletes with acute injuries but not anxiety levels. The conclusion of the study was that acupressure could be effective in a sports setting, especially if there is limited access to medical & mental health care. Acupressure treatments are proven to improve both physical and mental wellbeing.

5 ) MUSCLE RELAXATION

Acupressure mat users, including myself, have reported having more relaxed muscles following regular use of their acupressure mat. Those suffering from neck and back pain in particular reported that their muscles felt relaxed after sessions. There is currently little research to back this up scientifically, however look at reviews of many acupressure mats and you’ll see this feedback time and time again plus claims of eased. fibromyalgia after the first use.

6 ) IMPROVES SLEEP

The number of people suffering from insomnia has risen rapidly in the last 10 years but research shows that acupressure can help! A study in 2015 looked at the sleep of menopausal women and found that sleep was improved significantly following acupressure treatments, an amazing benefit!

Another more recent study focussed particularly on self-administered acupressure for symptoms of insomnia. Participants in the study were shown how to administer acupressure then monitored and asked to keep a diary to record the quality of their sleep each night.

It found that if individuals were shown how to apply the treatment regularly, this could be used as a tool for treating the symptoms of insomnia.

7 ) INCREASES FLOW OF ENERGY (PRANA)

Acupressure has proven to help with fatigue and to increase energy levels in the body.

A study at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan focused on patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer. Findings proved that acupressure can improve fatigue, and it was recommended that educational guides should be created to help patients take advantage of the therapy.

For others with a decline in their energy but not to the degree of fatigue, acupressure has been reported to significantly improve the flow of energy in the body, within 30 minutes of the treatment.

8 ) IMPROVES MENTAL HEALTH

Through a major study in 2015 it was found that depression, anxiety and stress can be positively impacted by acupressure. Participants were given treatment three times a week for four weeks and the results were all positive. It was found to significantly reduce depression, stress and anxiety, in this case for patients with end stage renal disease on hemodialysis.

The Yoke Wellness Ambassador,

Sabina Ahmadov

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