The use case behind a microcurrent sleep aid and microcurrent stimulation for sleep is that these devices generate what is called “Cranial Electrical Stimulation”, or electronically synchronizing the brainwaves to create an “electrosleep” experience. Microcurrent sleep aids can work well to help someone who is struggling to fall asleep. Read on to learn more.
Microcurrent Sleep Aids: A Brief History
Microcurrent sleep aids have been used for years with patients who experience chronic insomnia and other sleeping disorders. They’ve helped countless people fall asleep faster while improving their quality of sleep over time.
While microcurrent stimulation was originally developed in 1949 as a potential solution for a variety of sleep disorders, “electro-stimulation” has also been tested for a variety of ailments ranging from muscle pain, anxiety, and even depression.
Now that I’ve personally used electronic stimulation for sleep, let’s dive in to understand the difference in devices and discover what the potential benefits can be, for someone looking for an alternative sleep aid solution without any negative side effects.
TENS Versus MENS E-Stimulation; What Is The Difference?
Specifically, TENS devices deliver milli amp current, while MENS devices deliver sub-sensory micro amperage current, which is 1000 times less than milli-amperage current.
In short, the microcurrent electronic stimulation used for sleep is a significantly weaker electric signal or “pulse” than the TENS signal, which is typically used for muscle stimulation or injury recovery.
Most people have heard of muscle stimulation or “e-stim” for sports or physical therapy, but most people don’t think of electronic stimulation as a potential sleep aid. These days there are a wide variety of different types of devices and they are growing in popularity as people are looking for solutions and realizing the important role of sleep quality in their daily lives.
Microcurrent Sleep Aids Are A New Concept To Me. Are They Effective?
The list of sleep aids that people use can be endless, from calming sleep apps to white noise sound machines, weighted sleep blankets, sleep masks, expensive mattresses or custom pillows, or an endless list of supplements ranging from prescription medications to holistic and herbal remedies. What is clear is that there is no one size fits all and different people will take different approaches to find what works best for them.
There are several benefits to using a microcurrent sleep aid and the first and primary benefit is that you aren’t putting anything inside your body. Many people will opt to use supplements or prescription medication, but they can come with side effects and can potentially be harmful or addictive.
While I’ve tested many products to find what works for me, I was surprised by how much I like microcurrent stimulation for sleep. I don’t use it every night, but if I am having a bit of anxiety, it allows me to shut off my overactive brain from going around in circles and preventing me from falling asleep.
I’ve never been a big fan of taking supplements or prescription medication, but there were times when I felt they were the only option. I didn’t like the slow, groggy feeling I would get in the morning after taking a prescription medication and there simply weren’t any holistic “healthy” supplements like melatonin, that would knock me out when I was really struggling to fall asleep. While a prescription medication might be the only option for some, in general, I try to avoid them and find other solutions.
What surprised me was how effective the microcurrent sleep aid was. I don’t suffer from insomnia, so my experience will be different from someone who struggles more than I do to fall asleep. I found the gentle stimulation was just enough to shift my focus and allow my overactive brain to disconnect and allow me to drift off to sleep.
The Different Types Of Microcurrent Sleep Aid Devices
As wearable sleep technology evolves, there are a number of different types of devices you can use. When I was researching which device to get, I was really struggling to find something that I would be comfortable wearing, that would still allow me to fall asleep.
The devices used for microcurrent stimulation for sleep range from watches that deliver the gentle electric pulse, to handheld devices you hold while you sleep, and even ear clips that you apply directly to your ears to receive the electric pulse frequency.
When I was researching which device to purchase, I thought that pinning an electronic “clip” to my ear was ridiculous and would never allow me to fall asleep, so I ruled that out right away. It also didn’t seem logical to me that I would be able to hold a device in my hand, but I figured if I actually did fall asleep, I would just drop whatever I was holding in my hand. Most of these come with a leash you wrap around your wrist, which I didn’t think would be comfortable either.
I really like some of the newer devices that allowed you to essentially place a “sticker” on your forehead, but I was worried they would leave a mark or I would potentially get some kind of skin irritation. The only downside I could see with this type of device was that I didn’t like the idea of sticking something on my face or forehead each night.
Which Microcurrent Sleep Aid Device Is Best
Given all microcurrent sleep devices deliver roughly the same amount of sub-sensory micro amperage, for me it was a matter of which device did I feel would be the most comfortable to wear. I decided to go with the watch, since I’m already comfortable wearing one and didn’t think it would feel uncomfortable.
I must admit, several of the head-mounted devices seem cool and high tech, but I just wasn’t ready to attach something to my head, so I started wearing the watch. I really like the watch and it was fascinating how subtle the electric microcurrent pulses were. It was just enough for me to barely feel on my wrist, without being bothersome. It seemed to strangely have an effect on my brainwaves that I wasn’t expecting.
My time to fall asleep was faster than usual and while I don’t wear it every night, I’m finding that the microcurrent pulse for this sleeping aid watch is something I really like on nights when it’s really hard for me to stop my brain from working overtime.
Final Thoughts
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect and the experience of wearing the microcurrent sleep watch was very calming for me. It tends to disconnect my overactive brain waves with a soothing feeling that allows me to fall asleep faster.
Even better, the price range for my watch was surprisingly affordable. For all of these products, I’ve found there are a ton of options and you can purchase them on Amazon at really affordable prices. The quality for some of these less expensive products might not be that great, but I’ve found my watch to be just fine and haven’t had any issues.
Finding the right product that you feel will be comfortable to wear and won’t interfere with your normal sleeping style is important. I mentioned I don’t use my microcurrent sleep watch every night, but it is a pretty consistent part of my sleeping ritual, whenever I’m feeling stressed or overly tired.
I don’t have insomnia, but I do get anxiety and it can definitely prevent me from getting a good night of sleep. Over time, I’ve learned that it is more beneficial and I much prefer to create a good sleep environment, versus using medication or supplements. I find that I can condition myself to sleep with the right habits and rituals, along with a few simple and affordable devices, and I don’t end up feeling groggy or sleepy in the morning. A microcurrent sleep aid is definitely one of my go-to devices on nights when I’m really struggling to get to sleep and I hope one can help you as well.
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