Have you ever wondered why it feels so great to have a little weight on your eyelids? If you have used an eye pillow, you know the feeling! It turns out that the weight of an eye pillow has many benefits that go beyond just blocking out light when you’re trying to catch a few zzz’s.
These luxurious little pillows help with getting better sleep, ease anxiety and stress, and can even alleviate some health issues. Beyond these benefits, studies have shown that eye pillows affect certain nerves and your brain in positive ways.
1. The Vagus Nerve
The Vagus Nerve oversees numerous bodily functions including: control of mood, digestion, heart rate, and immune response. This nerve makes a connection between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract and sends information about the internal organs to the brain (YogaDirect). The Vagus Nerve responds to pressure on the eyelids and sends the message to your body that it’s time to rest. By using a lightly weighted eye pillow at night, or while napping, you are signaling to your brain that it’s time to sleep while effortlessly regulating many aspects of your nervous system.
2. Oculocardiac Reflex
Once the Vagus Nerve is stimulated through pressure on your eyelids, the Oculocardiac Reflex takes effect. This reflex, when triggered, lowers your heart rate and regulates your mood (Greenlove Wellness). Putting your mind and body at rest, the stimulation of the Oculocardiac Reflex allows you to slow your body down and truly combat stress. Many people utilize an eye pillow, coupled with breathwork, to get a better night’s sleep, nap, or even enhance a yoga class.
3. Facial Relaxation
By eliminating visual stimulus, the use of an eye pillow signals to your body that it’s time to relax. This level of relaxation is enabled by adding a light amount of pressure to the eyelids, as the message is then sent to the rest of the face that it can soften (YogaDirect). When you need to relax tense facial muscles pull out your Crystal-Infused Lavender Eye Pillow, as the weight and scent of lavender will relieve tension, headaches, and migraines.
