The 7 Best Acupressure Tools For Healing
Acupressure is a natural therapy used to release tension, pain and promote relaxation.
Stemming from Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupressure follows the same principles as acupuncture and is based on the idea that invisible channels (also called meridian pathways) run through the body, connecting your brain to each one of your organs and forming a communication network. The meridians’ function is to carry vital energy (or ch'i). As a result, a blocked meridian pathway can lead to tension, discomfort, or pain. To relieve the pain, practitioners apply pressure on specific acupressure points, restoring energy, balance, and helping the body heal.
While practitioners are well-versed in finding acupressure points and can help alleviate your pain, there are now easy to use, powerful tools you can use at home. Are you wondering what they are?
To assist you, we’ve listed seven top acupressure tools available for self-healing below.
1. Acupressure Guide
Using an acupressure guide (or chart) is an easy way to better understand how your body is connected and what reflex points to use based on your pain or ailment. Illustrated acupressure guides clearly show acupressure points with meridian pathways. You can use your guide to learn more about the human body and perform reflexology at home.
2. Acupressure Mat and Pillow
Acupressure mats and pillows have numerous health benefits and can be powerful tools to use in order to relax your muscles and mind at the end of a long day.
Research has shown that lying down or standing up on an acupressure mat can help relieve tension and pain, including back pain, sciatica pain, or headaches, and can improve your sleep quality. A mat and pillow set typically have thousands of acupuncture points designed to apply gentle pressure on your back, neck, hands, or feet. This, in turn, helps to increase the blood circulation in your body, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles.
To avoid any discomfort or pain, it’s important that you lay flat, use your whole body weight on the acupressure points, and avoid placing more pressure on a particular body area.
3. Back and Neck Trigger Point Massager
The ultimate acupressure tool for self-healing, a back and neck trigger point massager, can help relieve muscle tension and knots. Muscle knots, or trigger points, develop when we perform a repetitive activity, such as sitting at a desk, prompting the muscles to contract and tighten even though we’re at rest.
However, massaging the muscle knots with the right tools can help relieve muscle tension and stress. The great thing about this simple tool is its ease of use; apply gentle pressure to your trigger points (painful areas) using the therapy node (make sure you apply a comfortable amount of pressure). You should repeat this motion until you feel your muscles start to ease.
4. Acupuncture Pen
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20% of Americans experience chronic pain. Fortunately, there are some very efficient and non-medicated ways to relieve pain available. One of the best tools to relieve muscle tension and pain is the acupuncture pen. This low-voltage pen, based on electric stimulation therapy, is gaining in popularity as it has shown promising results when it comes to alleviating pain. It works by sending electrical impulses into muscle tissue and joints in order to block the pain signals sent by the body to the brain.
Note that this painless device can also be used to promote better quality sleep, improve blood circulation, and increase energy levels.
5. Foot Massager Roller
Based on the principles of foot reflexology, foot massage rollers are designed to apply gentle pressure to your feet. The great news is, foot reflexology has been shown to help alleviate stress and tension, reduce depression, relieve headaches and migraines, and attenuate pain due to plantar fasciitis.
For optimum results, use your foot massage roller for 10 minutes every day at the end of the day. Move your foot back and forth to allow the spikes to apply pressure on the whole foot, from the heel to the tip of your toes. While 10 minutes every day might seem tedious, this simple tool can be used while watching TV, sitting down for dinner, or even when you’re on the phone ;)
6. Acupressure Foot Massage Shoe
Still on the subject of foot reflexology, wearing acupressure massage shoes is another great idea that you can easily implement in order to improve foot and back pain, alleviate headaches, and promote relaxation. This type of shoe features many acupressure points and massage buttons strategically located on the shoe insole to apply pressure to specific reflex points, helping your body release tension and stress.
For optimum results, wear them for up to 15 minutes every day while walking around the house or doing some chores.
Note that foot massage shoes can be uncomfortable to wear at first, so make sure you wear socks when you first start using them to attenuate the discomfort.
7. Aculief Wearable Acupressure
Hand reflexology is an efficient natural way to relieve stress, tension, and headaches or migraines. There are multiple pressure points on your hands, but one of the most popular to release stress and headaches is the Ll4, or Hand Valley reflex point.
Applying gentle pressure on this reflex point using acupressure tools, such as the Aculief Wearable Acupressure, can help you manage your migraines, headaches, reduce anxiety, and relieve tension. All you’ll need to do is locate the Ll4 acupressure point and place the wearable acupressure clip on it. The pressure will instantly increase blood circulation and release endorphins, helping you to relax.
The great thing about this acupressure tool is that it can be conveniently worn anywhere and at any time, whether you're driving your car, having dinner at home, or sitting at your desk at work.
We hope this article has shed some light on the best acupressure tools available to promote relaxation and improve your health and well-being! Have you been using other tools? If so, we’d love to read about them in the comment section below!