When we set out for our family beach vacation a few weeks ago, I was all set for a week of rest and relaxation. About half way through the week, I woke up with a painful knot behind my ear. It hurt when I touched it, was red, seemed swollen and left me unable to sleep, because the pain was so dreadful! My brother-in-law told me that it looked (and sounded like) a stress knot, which he often got, himself. I spent the rest of the week using muscle rub and taking pain reliever, which isn't something I like to do. I wished there were a way to ease the pain, and get some good sleep, without having to turn to medicines.

I recently came to know about Bed of Nails, a holistic approach to self-treatment, and the ridding of toxins in the body. This practice works similarly to accupuncture, but is instead accupressure. This is an age old practice, which has been around for thousands of years, but has been reinvented and is being used by all types of people from celebrities to stay at home moms, to release endorphins (the happy drug), and create a sense of calm relaxation.

I am continually stressed, and suffer from weird aches and pains occasionally, too, so I couldn't wait to see how the Bed of Nails would work for me. I connected with Ciara, and she promptly sent me my very own Bed of Nails in Green to try out.

My Bed of Nails, in its box, which told me what the product could potentially ease and/or treat.

The Bed of Nails was nicely packed in a box, wrapped in plastic and came with some informational cards on how to use the product, etc.

I was quite eager to unfold the Bed of Nails accupressure mat and take a closer look at what I would be up against. I'll admit, I was a little intimidated as I started at all of those tiny plastic 'nails' on the mat. Did I really want those things pressing against my skin? Even though the mat looked like it might be painful, I still wanted to try it. The aches and pains that had been plaguing me needed to go!

Bed of Nails, laid out on the floor...

The Bed of Nails accupressure mat is amazingly cool! It features 210 accupressure plates (yes- those circle things), and each plate is covered with 42 rounded plastic nails. This equals out to 8,820 nails covering the mat. Whoa, that's a lot of nails! 

Here's a closer look at the actual plates and the 'nails.

I was all mentally prepared for my first go at the Bed of Nails, but before I could get to it, my husband comandered it! He carefully laid down on the nail bed, sans shirt, to see what it felt like. He immediately told me that it didn't hurt, actually felt nice, but he wished that he'd left his shirt on. I did tel him that it's recommened that people wear a shirt the first few times they use the Bed of Nails, and work up to using it on bare skin. Basically- do what works for you, and if doing without a shirt on makes you uncomfortable, wear a shirt.

Sacha, trying the mat out for the first time...

Sach could only stand to lay on the mat for a few minutes. I, however, was determined to use it for ten minutes. I drank some water before I laid down on the mat, and I did wear yoga pants and a tank top while I used the Bed of Nails the first few times.

My first time using the Bed of Nails...

I laid my back over the plates on the mat, letting them gently push into the skin. They don't actually puncture the skin, all you feel is pressure. After the first couple of minutes, I didn't even feel the nails anymore. I took the opportunity to close my eyes, and drift off, while I let the mat work its magic. I did last for the full ten minutes the first time, and gradually increased the length of time I stayed on the mat after that.

The day after I first used Bed of Nails, that knot that I mentioned earlier, was almost completely gone, and so was the pain. I like to think that the accupressure mat had something to do with that. It definitely helped me to relax, and probably got some of the toxins out of my body, too!

Love this little saying!

A Bit More About Bed of Nails...

If Bed of Nails is used regularly for a long enough period of time it may alleviate:

Stress

Headache

Constipation

Tiredness

Insomnia

Tension

Back pain

Muscle aches

Malaise

Bed of Nails may also reduce the appearance of cellulite. The nails will create more blood flow to the area on which Bed of Nails is used and this can help break down the fat groupings which causes the cellulite's plumpish display. Since Bed of Nails helps the body rid itself of toxins this might also help reduce cellulite.

This is definitely my idea of 'mommy time.'