The Best Acupressure Mats to Relieve Your Pain

Related to the ancient practice of traditional Chinese medicine of acupuncture that involves thin needles to activate acupoints on the body, acupressure entails applying firm pressure to massage acupoints. With an acupressure mat, you can replicate the feeling of acupuncture without leaving your home. Just place the mat in a comfortable space and lie down on the thousands of sharp, plastic points to help with your body pain.

Purchasing an Acupressure Mat

When shopping for an acupressure mat to help heal your body, consider these factors:

• Personal Style: Many acupressure mats share common qualities, such as relatively similar acupressure points and quality material. But practically every company has its own mat design, color options, and accessories. Colors like blue and green are naturally calming, but bright colors can make you more excited to break out the mat.
• Dimensions: Size matters. Some mats are long enough to cover the back of the average body, but just barely. Other mats are quite large, so you can treat your upper and lower body.
• Unique Qualities: Many mats will have some special attribute that draws your attention. Some offer accessories like massage balls or gel packs, while others reveal more details on the source of the outer fabric and interior.

Best Overall: ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set

The ProsourceFit acupressure mat and pillow incorporate the relaxing needles with 100% thick cotton outer material and plant-based eco foam interior. The mat is covered in plastic dots that resemble flowers, but instead of petals, each dot has 27 small spikes to activate meridian lines. Altogether, there are 6,210 acupressure points, while the pillow has 1,782. The mat measures 25 by 15 inches, making it long and wide enough to cover the back. Bonus: it’s available in seven fun colors!

Best Travel Mat: NAYOYA Acupressure Mat and Neck Pillow Set

The NAYOYA acupressure mat and pillow set come packaged in a durable box with a handle for easy travel. The 9- by 7- by 15-inch mat has 6,210 acupoints, and the neck pillow has 1,782. If you are a beginner, NAYOYA recommends that you lay down on the mat for 10 to 15 minutes, and even in that short amount of time, you might begin to relax and even experience pain relief. Practice daily, and soon you will be lying on the needles for 45 minutes or longer.

Best for Insomnia: DoSensePro Acupressure Mat

This rich purple acupressure mat and pillow by DoSensePro functions doubly as a serenity sleep induction mat. Lying on the mat for just a few seconds might improve circulation and release tension. Eventually, you can work up to 20 minutes or more, allowing you to reap the health benefits of regular use. Try lying or sitting in various positions, even stand on the mat, to stimulate as many acupoints as possible. This pillow and mat set come with a purple carrying sack and a gel pack for muscle pain.

Most Acupressure Points: Bodhi Mat and Pillow Set

With the Bodhi extra-long acupressure mat and pillow set, you get a bag and a ton of acupressure tips. It makes sense given that this 51- by 19.7-inch full-body mat has no less than 13,860 needles while most mats have roughly 2,000. Perhaps for that reason, it is recommended that you begin with 3 to 5 minutes. The mat cover is made of 100% cotton, and the acupressure tips are ABS plastic.

Best Accessories: Lixada Acupressure Mat with Spiky Massage Balls

This is not a simple mat and pillow purchase! With Lixada, you also get two spiky massage balls and a carrying bag. Now, that’s a good deal. Using 100% cotton, hypoallergenic fabric material for the cover, and environmentally friendly high-density foam for the interior, Lixada created a holistic product. The mat is designed with 6,210 massage points and the pillow with 1,593 massage points to best activate pressure points. The massage balls work similarly to the mat but allow you to reach other areas, such as feet soles and the tops of the legs.