Six Healing Benefits of Weighted Blankets

“Everything you do can be done better from a place of relaxation.” -  Stephen C. Paul

 

Weighted blankets have become a trendy solution for anxiety and sleeplessness. Research confirms that their benefits go beyond the simple comfort of an ordinary quilt. There is a special calming effect yet to be matched by any other implement. In this blog, Energy Matters, LLC. explores six amazing ways a weighted blanket may encourage a greater sense of physical health and emotional wellness. You’ll also discover a few brief tips to assist in choosing the right one.

Brief History of Weighted Blankets

Though their popularity has exploded over the past few years, weighted blankets have actually been around since the early 1990s. They were originally used by doctors seeking a way to calm patients through the principle of deep touch pressure (DTP). This kind of pressure triggers the release of serotonin—a hormone that makes us feel good. Because the agitation and anxiety associated with many mental health disorders can be attributed to reduced serotonin levels, a weighted blanket is a quick and simple short-term solution.

In the beginning, weighted blankets were primarily used to treat children with autism, extreme anxiousness, or post-traumatic stress disorder. As the availability of weighted blankets has spread, a wide range of applications and benefits have been discovered for people of all ages.

Six Healing Benefits

 

Improves Your Mood: Our life journeys can be full of stress and challenges that make it difficult to maintain a positive attitude. The good news is that a weighted blanket can help boost your mood instantly. When you are feeling worn out or irritable, the boost of serotonin and melatonin offered by a weighted blanket may allow you to feel better about yourself and those around you.

 

Calms Anxiety: If you experience anxiety, you may find significant relief during the day, simply by sleeping or relaxing with a weighted blanket at night. One study found a significant 33% reduction of anxiety for adults who used a weighted blanket.(Mullen, 2006). This was due in part to the blankets’ effectiveness in reducing the stress-hormone known as cortisol.

Eases Restless Leg Syndrome: Restless leg syndrome can cause uncomfortable leg sensations. The steady, even weight of the blanket can ease this sensation while boosting the presence of oxytocin. As a result, most people report feeling calmer, experiencing less pain, and having fewer sleep interruptions.

Reduces Insomnia: Continuing the topic of sleep, most people are not getting the quantity or quality needed to support good health. One reason is that 1 out of 3 adults experience insomnia—or the inability to fall asleep and stay asleep. The deep touch pressure offered by a weighted blanket may provide the calm and peacefulness needed to reverse the condition. A study found that 78% of the participants experienced improvement of their insomnia (ResearchGate, 2015).

Soothes Fibromyalgia Pain: One of the more interesting applications of a weighted blanket is to reduce the pain and sensitivity associated with fibromyalgia. The blanket can mimic the same firm but gentle pressure of the myofascial release therapy used to alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms.

Encourages Grounding: One quick way to achieve sanity quickly is through grounding. Sleeping with a weighted blanket essentially presses your body downward, towards the earth. There is something deeply calming about this sensation, which allows your body to relax and your mind to settle as you connect with the Universe. This reduction of tension allows you to shift your energy to what matters most.

Choosing Well

With all these healthy benefits, it’s easy to see why weighted blankets have become so popular. As the market has been flooded with weighted blankets of varying quality, it is important to look for a few important features to ensure a good choice. You’ll want to evaluate both the external fabric and the filler. Ideally, you’ll want materials that are hypoallergenic and toxin-free. Though some blankets are filled with sand, poly pellets and glass microbeads are the most effective fillers as they provide the most ideal weight distribution. For safe use, a blanket should weigh no more than 5-10% of your body weight. Click this affiliate link to discover one of Energy Matter’s, LLC’s favorite weighted blankets for adults. For specific care instructions, check out this guide on how to wash a weighted blanket.

 

For more personalized guidance, you are invited to schedule a consultation with Rose.

 

*This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. The owner of this site may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase a recommended product.

 

What To Remember:

Weighted blankets may encourage energetic healing through grounding and reducing anxiety.

Not all weighted blankets are the same, choose one with toxin-free fabrics and fillers.

The best way to find out if a weighted blanket will benefit you is to try it for yourself.

 

Sources:

• Doheny, Kathleen. (April, 2018). Seeking Better Sleep Under a Weighted Blanket. Retrieved from WebMD.com.
• Heiser, Christina. (May, 2018). I tried using a weighted blanket to stress less. Here's what happened. Retrieved from NBCNews.com