Swedish Acupressure Mat

Are you in pain? Are you tense? The Acupressure mat gives pain relief, relaxation and helps you to fall asleep. It gives comfort to aching, tired muscles.

The Acupressure mat can help the following: lumbago, slipped discs, stiffness, sciatica, stress, chronic aches, "frozen shoulder", headaches, sleeping problems,whiplash, fibromyalgia etc.

Pain
Pain is one of the body’s important warning systems. It is a signal that something is wrong. Sometimes we do not find the time to listen to these signals or we have few options in our lives to change or influence the cause of the pain. Pain may then become a chronic ache. If you have continuous pain for more than three months, you are considered to have a chronic ache. Do you often have pain? Unfortunately you are not alone. According to SCB (Statistics Sweden) over 63% of the adult population have aches in their necks, shoulders, backs and joints.

Aches and pains stress your body
Pain and psychological, physical or inflammatory stress increases the body’s production of adrenalin, cortisol and noradrenalin – the body’s stress hormones. A long-term increase in the level of cortisol (more than four hours) impairs the immune response, raises blood pressure and blood sugar level, as well as making us more sensitive to pain. High levels of cortisol also influence metabolism; stomach fat is laid down.

Everybody knows that people often put on weight in periods of stress, and that it often collects around the stomach. High levels of noradrenalin result in muscle tension and aching muscles and joints. The body is in high tension. In addition, the level of oxytocin decreases, causing sexual desire to decline or disappear altogether. When oxytocin levels are reduced, levels of the harmful stress hormones are raised and the vicious circle starts. Pain-stress – pain/stress.

Oxytocin is the body’s own ”happy pill”! Oxytocin is our peace and calm hormone. It is secreted during breast-feeding, caresses, massage, meditation, when people listen to pleasant music, go for an enjoyable walk, exercise, dancing, riding, a good dinner and so on. When levels of oxytocin rise, the levels of stress hormones in the body fall. Oxytocin makes us socially open, improves our working memory and our self-esteem expressed through the body. Damaged or worn tissues are repaired and new cells grow where they are needed. Our pain threshold is raised, blood pressure falls and worries and anxieties decrease. Sexual desire increases. Large doses of oxytocin make us drowsy. Oxytocin is the body’s own ”happy pill”. (Kerstin Uvnäs-Moberg, Swedish researcher in the subject).

By increasing the body’s production of oxytocin, you optimise your body’s performance and durability instead of manipulating it.

Pain and stiffness in your back, neck or shoulders? Your muscles can repair and rebuild damaged muscle fibres when at rest. But if you always tense a muscle or area by heavy lifting, computer work, repetitive movements or just during periods of stress and anxiety, the muscles will never get a chance to rest and relax, or the intervals of rest are too few and too far between. This may lead to chronic aches and pain.

The Acupressure mat provides pain relief
There are many factors that indicate the body produces endorphines and oxytocin when you use the Acupressure mat. The endorphins are the body’s natural "painkillers" which are released during e.g. exercise. When the body releases endorphins, you become more relaxed and your pain threshold is raised. Use the Acupressure mat whenever your muscles ache or when your joints feel stiff. When your body is relaxed it is better able to heal and recover.