Relieve sleep disorders with the acupressure mat

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Acpressure mat tips sleep disorders sleep problems Shakti Mat_-6
Counting sheep, singing songs and getting up in the middle of the night for a hot drink - the number of home remedies for insomnia seems endless and yet they usually help more badly than good. Acupressure, on the other hand, ensures better sleep in the long term and, with a few tricks of the trade, is quite easy to learn for home use.
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Acupressure against insomnia - With these tips you can fall asleep again well

 In this article, you'll learn how an acupressure mat can help with insomnia and restless sleep, and which acupressure points are right for falling asleep.

Table of contents
1 Sleep disorders and acupressure
2 Practical exercises and acupressure points
3 Experiences of a sufferer

Sleep disorders and acupressure - healing effect with natural means

Normally, a person sleeps regularly for four to eight hours without interruption. If this no longer works, we speak of a sleep disorder. Almost everyone is afflicted by insomnia at some point in their lives. Stress, tension, and pain in particular repeatedly rob people of a good night's rest. In a study conducted by the Techniker Krankenkasse health insurance company in 2017, one in three adults stated that they often had poor sleep. A 2016 Statista survey of 493 women even found that half suffered from regular problems falling asleep.

So anyone who tosses and turns restlessly in bed with their eyes open is definitely not alone. Stress, constant tension caused by sitting at the computer and increased use of smartphones before going to bed are repeatedly cited as causes of sleep disorders. An ominous cycle begins, because those who sleep poorly do not regenerate properly at night and are in turn much more susceptible to becoming ill under pressure and stress.

In modern medicine, sleeping pills that chemically intervene in the body's natural cycle and force it to sleep are used to alleviate sleep disorders, even in young people. The problem with this is that when the body is artificially forced to rest, the natural regeneration for which our sleep is actually intended does not occur to its full extent. Therefore, the drugs are not a permanent solution to cure the person with the sleep problem. Chinese medicine, on the other hand, has been successfully approaching the sleep problem from a holistic point of view for thousands of years:

In order to restore the natural sleep rhythm, the underlying imbalance of the body that triggers the disturbance must be eliminated. Blocked or overloaded energy pathways, known as meridians, are brought back into balance for this purpose by applying pressure to specific points on the body. To be able to help yourself with sleep disorders using this healing knowledge, you need to learn two things: how to find the blocked areas and what kind of pressure to apply.

Acpressure mat tips sleep disorders sleep problems Shakti Mat_

Acupressure to fall asleep: practical exercises and tips against sleep disorders

Intuitively, most people naturally press on certain points on the body when they feel pain, for example in the neck or at the temples. Pressing on these parts of the body, called acupressure points, releases the blockages, most of which can also be physically felt as painful tension. In most cases, the point hurts significantly as soon as pressure is applied or feels tight and hardened. There are also acupressure points for sleep disorders. However, the knowledge of where the most helpful points are has unfortunately been lost or never known in many places in the Western world and is only now slowly finding its way into medical treatments for sleep disorders and other problems.

We have gathered for you some exercises that can be very effective for sleep disorders. Consider them as a guide to help your body and always remember to listen to your own feelings, because no one knows you as well as you do. A balanced diet is also very important in addition to acupressure to prevent sleep problems. If you are pregnant, have physical limitations or questions, don't forget to talk to your doctor about acupressure beforehand.

The easiest way to use acupressure against sleep disorders is the acupressure mat Shakti Mat. This is a pressure point mat with tips made of high quality ABS plastic, on which you lie with your back in case of sleep disorders. The advantage is obvious: acupressure with the Shakti Mat can be applied without the need for prior knowledge. In addition, no own strength is necessary to stimulate the pressure points, because those who sleep poorly often also suffer from weakness and find it difficult to persistently apply the force to press the acupressure points.

Helpful points for acupressure against sleep disorders we show you on the following pictures and explain in the description what you have to do to stimulate them. For many of the points, the Shakti Mat can be used as a wonderful tool to get the body through a restful and healthy night. How does it work? In addition to pressing the acupressure points, Shakti Mat stimulates blood flow and stimulates natural hormone production, which in turn ensures that the body's own self-healing powers can be put to full use, because when tissue fluid and blood are well distributed, the body can also successfully transport its healing messengers to where they are needed.

Acupressure Mat Tips Sleep Disorders Sleep Problems Shakti Mat Green

H 7 Gate of the mind - acupressure point for mental over-excitement & night sweats.

You will find the point at the crease of your wrist on the inside of your hand in extension of the inner side of your little finger. Press H7 firmly for about a minute or massage it in stroking movements from the bottom to the top of the hand towards the palm, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Then switch arms and do the exercise on the other side. The point is excellent for alleviating sleep disturbances caused by mental overstimulation, i.e. for all those who have problems with stress. It is also said to be very helpful against cold night sweats.

Acupressure mat tips sleep disorders sleep problems Shakti Mat_ LG 16 Windvilla (GV 16) and B 10 Heavenly Pillar - acupressure points for sleep disorders

LG 16 Windvilla (GV 16) and B 10 Heavenly Pillar - Acupressure Points for Sleep Disorders

The acupressure point LG 16 is located in the depression on the back of the head directly under the base of the skull. The easiest way to press it with your hands is to press both middle fingers of your hands firmly into the depression and tilt your head back slightly, i.e. lean on your fingers to increase the pressure. You may have to yawn while doing this.

Acupressure mat tips sleep disorders sleep problems Shakti Mat

Points B 10 are located approximately 1 centimeter below the base of the skull on the two muscle cords to the left and right of the spine. They can be pressed firmly with the fingers. Alternatively, it can also be pleasant to massage upwards over the points towards the skull. Stimulating the points with the Shakti Mat is easier than applying pressure with your hands: Roll up the mat and lie on it so that the spines stimulate the points. The Windvilla point is used in Chinese medicine for various sleep disorders and mental overload. The Heavenly Pillar helps with insomnia, stress and exhaustion.

Acupressure mat tips sleep disorders sleep problems Shakti Mat B 38 Vital diaphragm - acupressure point against insomnia, anxiety & worrying thoughts.

B 38 Vital diaphragm - acupressure point against insomnia, anxiety & worrying thoughts.

Acupressure point B 38 can be stimulated particularly well with an evening round on the Shakti Mat. The point is located between the spine and shoulder blade at heart level and is traditionally used to treat insomnia and emotional tension that hinders sleep. The acupressure mat does a great job here and makes the point suitable for anyone who is unable to reach this part of the body themselves. If you place a firm Pillow under the lower head area so that the mat presses firmly into the skin, B 38, B 19 and LG 16 can also be pressed wonderfully at the same time as the acupressure mat, as long as it feels pleasant.

Acupressure mat tips sleep disorders sleep problems Shakti Mat

EG 17 Sea of calm (CV 17) - acupressure point for nervousness and congestion in the thoracic cavity.

While the mat in the supine position applies pressure to the points on the back of the body, you can stimulate EG 17 in the middle of the breastbone with your hands. The point is about 3 thumb widths above the base of the bone centered between the nipples. Again, a minute full of deep breaths is a good timing guide. If the point is very sensitive and it feels uncomfortable to press it hard, you can also simply place the ball of your thumb on the spot and use the weight of your hand as a lighter pressure. If the pressure is still uncomfortable, you can also perform upward massaging movements with the thumb or ball of the hand over the point.

Another tip from us: If you are very sensitive, you can simply keep a thin shirt on or place a cloth on the mat to relieve the pressure from the tips. The acupressure mat against sleep disorders can be used directly in bed or on the floor.

Acupressure mat tips sleep disorders sleep problems Shakti Mat

Shakti Mat acupressure mat for sleep disorders - Experiences

To find out exactly what the users themselves are saying, we at Shakti Mat asked our customers about their sleep and found out how they help themselves with the acupressure mat for sleep disorders:



Michaela - ShaktiMat helps with sleep disorders, migraines & headaches

 

 

Can you briefly describe what your sleep problems were before you discovered the acupressure mat and what has changed since you started using it?

"I woke up at least once a night between 3 and 5. Actually, every night. I also often woke up with a slight headache. Now I lie on the ShaktiMat every night before going to sleep and actually sleep through it. It is very rare that I wake up again during the night. I also very rarely wake up with a headache anymore." 

What tips can you give people with problems falling asleep and migraines regarding the use of the Shakti Mat? How do you apply it?

"I lie on the mat every day, sometimes even several times a day. I usually meditate (e.g. with the Headspace app). It's very relaxing. I make sure that I lie with my neck on the tips, so I put a Pillow underneath so that the tips can also work on my neck. If I feel a migraine coming on, I lie down on the mat for at least 15 minutes as soon as I can. When the migraine once announced itself with an aura, I went to the mat immediately after the aura and the attack didn't get as bad as I would normally have expected. I also put my feet up on the mat. This also seems to have a positive effect.
Overall, I have the impression that my migraine attacks are not as intense as before. The combination of mat, meditation and regular use seems to be a good formula for prevention. I am glad that with a one-time investment I have found something with which I can actively prevent my migraines myself, without having to regularly pay a lot of money for outside treatments (like osteopathy, acupuncture, massage, which are also great, but unfortunately also very expensive)." 

 



Susanne - After initial skepticism the ShaktiMat convinced

 

 

You told us in your review that the ShaktiMat acupressure mat surprised you positively after initial skepticism and has since become a helpful companion for better sleep. Can you tell us how that came about?

"I sit in front of the computer a lot and in the evenings I like to use my smartphone on the couch to surf the web, which means I have to deal with tension and shoulder problems more often. And also my quite stressful job sometimes doesn't let me fall asleep as quickly as I would like. I have treated myself to a massage every now and then and also worked in the gym with the Black Roll, but you do not do that every day. I then saw ads on Facebook from the Shakti Mat and at first thought it was some "esoteric bells and whistles". I believe neither in acupuncture nor in homeopathy, etc., but the fact that mechanical action on the body can have an effect, somehow made sense to me. Nevertheless, I was ambivalent about whether a "trial" was worth the money. I didn't think about the better sleep at all, but I wanted to have something that I can use spontaneously to get my tensions under control. The better sleep came as a positive side effect.
I did a little research beforehand and looked at all the red backs on Instagram - and also read reports from people for whom the Shakti Mat was nothing, because it simply hurts too much. Of course, that was another issue. What if I buy one of those "prickly mats" and then I can't use it because it pokes me too much? But I thought, try makes wise and you can certainly send them back.
I had only once carefully laid on it with a T-shirt. That didn't hurt, so I put it on right away. The first few times I only did it for 5 minutes. I noticed that it felt pleasantly warm afterwards. But it wasn't like all my pain and stress were blown away right away. Since I had read that some even fall asleep on it, I thought it would be a good opportunity to do it in the evening before going to bed and I was totally surprised the first time. I laid on it for about 15 minutes in bed. And after that I actually felt wonderfully light. My back was all red, which was also a sign to me that something had happened. After I put the mat away (just don't put it on the floor, so you don't accidentally step on it in the dark ;) ) I laid back down in bed, and was actually asleep in no time - and I didn't wake up at night, which is usually more often the case. Since then I use the Shakti Mat regularly before falling asleep. Not every time, but every 2nd-3rd evening - and every time I sleep great. In fact, I have fallen asleep on it twice. Since I have the Shakti Mat and use it regularly, I also feel that my shoulder problems have become less. I used to have shoulder pain every night - it has decreased significantly." 

You compare the effect of the Shakti Mat with a professional massage. For those who are curious, can you describe how it feels for you to use the acupressure mat?

"It's always a bit of a struggle to lie down on it. I bend my legs and try to roll my back well on the mat. It also puts good pressure on the mat, which intensifies the effect. The first moment is always painful, but it's not a sickening pain, it's a good pain - like getting into a bathtub that's too hot. You know it's going to wear off soon. In that first moment, I'm usually breathing really fast. My heart beats faster, the body has to cope with it first. I then concentrate on my breathing, try to breathe into the pain. When I do that, I forget all about my stressful everyday life, because I'm forced to concentrate only on myself. This takes a few minutes. At the same time, I feel that the prick "wanders". Sometimes it stings more strongly in one place, then less strongly in another. I imagine that something is "loosened" in the place where it stings more strongly and I enjoy it. If it hurts, something happens ;). After what feels like 5 minutes, I stretch my legs slowly to be able to fully relax. The "pain" is then somehow no longer a pain, but pleasant. Hard to describe. But I notice how everything gets warm and how I relax more and more. Now and then I fall asleep on it. Then comes another moment that takes some effort - getting up. I try to do that as fast as possible. It's a bit like ripping off a band-aid. Afterwards my back is bright red, but it doesn't burn. It's a pleasantly warm and ultra-light feeling, as if all the weight is gone. I usually only feel this light and relaxed after 30 minutes of massage. The back and shoulders feel more flexible. The advantage over massage is that it is much more time saving and cheaper. And it's much more pleasant than always rolling around on the Black Roll, especially since with the Shakti Mat you also don't have that annoying fascia hangover that often makes your back feel worse than before.
My mother also has neck and sleep problems. I gave her one and she is also super happy. Now I'll probably treat myself to the black luxury model. I don't dare go for "advanced" yet."

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The acupressure mat is particularly easy to use and solves many sleep problems, but it alone cannot work miracles. Because the imbalance of energies that one treats with acupressure has a cause that is mostly not immediately eliminated, it is important to observe one's own everyday life with open eyes in addition to acupressure: Where does stress arise? Does my diet benefit or harm me? Do I breathe deeply and get fresh air regularly?

Every body is different and individual. It is important to really get involved in acupressure and - as with sports - to create good conditions and practice regularly. This way, one day you will master the exercises so well that you won't even have to think about them anymore and can slumber blissfully towards the morning.

We wish you a good night.

 

If you would like to exchange ideas about acupressure and acupressure mats for sleep disorders, please leave us a comment and join our Facebook group. There is a lively exchange on the topic of acupressure mat and you can ask questions about the application.

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Antje Wickboldt is a freelance writer from Berlin. She has been working with the body's self-healing powers for over 10 years and, as a lecturer, explains in interactive presentations for companies and offices how tension can be released with the help of acupressure and massage.

 

 

Sources for this article:

Andrews, Synthia and Dempsey, Bobbi: Acupressure & Reflexology for Dummies. Wiley Publishing, Indianapolis 2007. p. 58 ff.

Dr. Stein, Aaron: Acupressure Guide. Alleviate Headaches, Neck and Joint Pain, Anxiety Attacks and Other Ailments. Mobile Reference, 2nd edition, Canada 2009. p. 80 ff.

Reed Gach, Michael: Healing Points. Acupressure for the self-treatment of diseases. Knaur, Munich 1992. p 297 ff.

Statista: Problems falling asleep or staying asleep in Germany by gender, 2016 (Insight: 04.07.2018).

Techniker Krankenkasse: TK-Schlafstudie 2017, 2017 (Viewed: 04.07.2018). 

 

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