Acupressure Slippers Benefits To Your Health and Wellbeing

If you are looking for a simple way to improve your health and wellbeing you might want to try one of the latest wellness trends which are acupressure sandals and slippers. Acupressure slipper’s benefits are numerous which is why this style of footwear is becoming increasingly popular as a way of helping everything from foot pain to sleep.

Now before you rush out and buy a pair to replace your comfy bedroom slippers there are a few things that you need to know first. Acupressure massage sandals are not initially designed to be worn for hours on end. This is because it takes time for your feet to get used to the nodes or stones on the sandals which can seem painful at first. These should always be considered as an add-on to your traditional slippers.

Instead, think of these as acupressure shoes or slippers as being a foot care product that is worn for short periods of time to give other health benefits that a pair of felt or foam slippers won’t give you. Let’s explain how they work.

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What is Acupressure?

Acupressure is actually a form of bodywork therapy that comes from Asia and is over 2000 years old. The belief is that your body has a series of energy channels that flow through you creating a life force called Qi. When these are energy channels are working well along the pathways in your body (meridians) you are healthy and well however when they are blocked they can create illness and ill health.

Along these channels in your body are specific acupressure points that related to various organs in the body. These are the areas that can cause energy blockages. The belief is that stimulating these points to allow energy to flow again can create big health benefits.

Acupressure is actually a way of stimulating certain points along the both to help remove blockages and relax the muscles. This stimulation can be done with needles such as with acupuncture, by hand through firm massage, or in the case of acupressure slippers through nodes in the sandals. Acupressure slipper’s benefits are that they are a form of self-help method to create the pressure needed to unblock the meridians and relax muscles which can be done at home.

Depending on the brand of acupressure slipper you buy you will see that they have rubber or plastic nodes that massage the foot. Some of these brands actually write on the node what part of the body is being stimulated by the pressure.

Acupressure footwear promotes sleep, relieves muscle tension, helps pain, mood swings, multiple sclerosis fatigue and can improve your emotional health.

How Do Acupressure Slippers Work?

Our feet have a large number of nerve endings within them and most of them link back to some of the major organs in the body. The idea behind acupressure slippers is that the nodes or nodules on them are placed in specific positions so that they can stimulate specific nerve endings to help remove blockages that might be impacting your health or wellbeing. Simply slip the acupressure sandals on your feet and walk around in them for a short period of time to get the benefits.

How Long Should I Wear Acupressure Slippers?

Unlike traditional slippers, acupressure slippers should not be worn for long periods of time especially when you first get them. This is because the nodes on the shoes can feel harsh on feet unused to wearing them instead it is recommended that you start by wearing the acupressure massage slippers for only five or ten minutes at a time to start with and preferably with a pair of socks on. Over time you can build up to wearing them for around half an hour a day. This should be enough to give you the well-being results that you want.

Do Acupressure Slippers Help Weight Loss?

There are no conclusive clinical trials to indicate whether acupressure slippers help with weight loss. There have however been studies related to auricular acupressure which show that when this was used in conjunction with a smartphone app there were positive results. Using the two methods combined led to more positive outcomes than just with auricular acupressure alone.

The Benefits of Acupressure Slippers

Wearing acupressure slippers is supposed to create a number of benefits for your feet. Here are just some of the claims that the manufacturers make about their acupressure massage slippers

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome is a problematic condition that creates an urge to move your legs constantly especially at bedtime. This condition can impact your sleep and create exhaustion and pain. If you have already been checked to make sure that you don’t have an underlying health condition then wearing acupressure slippers may have a benefit with restless leg syndrome.

Wearing massage slippers can help to stimulate the nerve endings in your feet and improve blood circulation to your legs. Studies have shown that combining reflexology with stretching created improvements to restless leg syndrome. Whilst acupressure slippers may not have been tested directly they do work in a similar way by stimulating pressure points on the feet.

Foot Massage

Acupressure slipper’s benefits also can be relatively simple. Many of us are on our feet all day and that can cause tiredness and also tight muscles in the feet. Wearing acupressure slippers can help to massage and relax the foot alleviating any discomfort.

Just wearing them for a short period during the day can have knock-on benefits to foot tension and plantar fasciitis plus they can help to reduce swelling.

Blood Circulation

A very typical problem that many people suffer from is a lack of good blood circulation flowing through the lower part of the legs and feet. Problems with blood circulation can create issues with varicose veins, restless leg syndrome, swelling and even cold feet. Helping better blood circulation so that it moves more effectively around the body can help to alleviate some of these problems.

Acupressure sandals can help to stimulate certain pressure points to encourage better blood circulation. They are a simpler and easier solution to minor health problems with circulation than paying for reflexology or paying for a foot massage. As acupressure footwear is relatively cheap it means they are accessible for most people.

Multiple Sclerosis

Whilst acupressure slippers’ benefits won’t go so far as curing a condition such as multiple sclerosis they have been regularly used to deal with some of the symptoms, particularly fatigue. Foot massage on certain reflexology points has been used to positive effect to help with fatigue. Studies have shown that fatigue related to multiple sclerosis can be helped with acupressure and may offer an alternative means of helping the symptoms.

Massage Slippers and Premenstrual Syndrome

Acupressure footwear has also been used to help with premenstrual syndrome as well as problems relating to menopause. In particular, when the foot massage slippers hit the right nerve endings they can help with emotional health such as mood swings or depression. They are also said to help with relieving aches and pains.

Acupressure Slippers and Sleep

The benefits of acupressure have also been linked to better sleep. The bubbling spring point on the bottom of your feet is one of the main areas that you can massage with your hands in order to promote better sleep and help you to beat insomnia. Just use a suitable massage or essential oil to help you do this if you want to try this manually.

Not everyone however has good mobility which is why acupressure sandals can be a great substitute. Just make sure the acupressure slippers that you purchase have the node that relates to this area before you purchase them.

Wearing Acupressure Sandals for Stress

If you suffer from stress then you may get a benefit from the slippers as they can help to not only relax the foot with massage and reflexology but the pressure point relating to stress is on the bottom of your feet. This is called the surge pressure point and it is on the sole of the foot between your second toe and big toe. Regular wearing of acupressure slippers can help to remove muscle tension and prevent tightness.

Acupressure Slippers Side Effects and Disadvantages

As with most footwear there can be problems that you need to look out for that could cause problems. In particular:

Time of Wear – Acupressure slippers work best when worn for short periods of time only. Extended time of use could cause foot pain instead of relaxation.

Shape of Foot– If you have an unusually shaped foot with bunions or calluses they may cause you pain. Try and find a pair of slippers that suit your needs.

Diabetes – Acupressure slippers are not recommended for diabetics.

Support – Choose a pair of acupressure sandals that give you the right support you need to prevent foot pain.

Cost and Make – Buying a cheap pair of reflexology slippers might not be a great investment. Make sure the pair that you are buying is built to last and won’t hurt your feet.

Best Acupressure Sandals

So what brands and makes are the best that you can buy so that you get the benefits of acupressure without the slippers falling apart? There are a few brands that are the market leaders that we recommend you consider before thinking about buying any cheaper alternatives.

Revs Acupressure and Reflexology Massage Sandals

Revs sandals are lightweight, durable, and flexible and come with a cushion comfort rubber sole which makes them easier to wear initially. We love these sandals because they are more stylish than other pairs and come in a range of colours.

Revs believe their sandals help with swelling in the legs and feet, help with plantar fasciitis and Morton’s neuroma and even help arthritis and fallen arches. They are also 100% vegan-friendly.

BYRIVER Acupuncture Massage Slippers

BYRIVER Massage Slippers are another hugely popular brand that has a very different look to the Revs. These particular slip-on sandals have much more pronounced nodes that are marked with the section of the body they correspond to.

There are 39 massage buttons on the sandals but they also include 5 additional buttons as replacements plus you get 3 months free replacement for damage. These sandals are suitable for men and women and are easily adjusted due to the strap.

CLORIS Deep Tissue Circulation Massage Slippers with Jade Stones

Finally, CLORIS Shiatsu massage shoes offer the benefits of acupressure with stones that include 5 pieces of real jade stone. Their belief is that the jade has trace elements that are good for the body. To help you to adjust to wearing the slippers they also include a pair of socks with every pair of sandals.