Benefits of grounding
Grounding, also known as earthing, has been something that humans naturally used to do every day. Due to wearing shoes, our shoe structure and design (insulated), building structures like high-rises, and bed designs (elevated) as well as spending less time in nature, we are losing our ability to ground and connect with nature and Earth.
Grounding is a wellness practice that involves connecting with the Earth's surface, generally through direct skin contact, like walking barefoot. This connection allows the body to absorb electrons from the Earth, potentially reducing inflammation, stress, and improving sleep. Some studies suggest potential benefits like pain reduction, improved sleep, and enhanced mood.
What is grounding?
Direct contact with the Earth:
Grounding involves making direct physical contact with the Earth's surface, like walking barefoot on grass, sand, or dirt.
The theory behind grounding is that the Earth has a natural electrical charge, and when you connect with it, you absorb electrons that can neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation in the body.
For those who can't go outside easily, grounding can also be achieved through the use of grounding mats, sheets, or other conductive systems connected to a grounded electrical outlet.
Antioxidants are electron donors, and the best electron donor is the surface of the Earth, with its unlimited storehouse of accessible electrons.
Electrons from the Earth may be the best antioxidants, with zero negative secondary effects, because our body evolved to use them over eons of physical contact with the ground.
Our modern lifestyle has shocked the body and the immune system by suddenly depriving it of its primordial electron source. This planetary separation began accelerating in the early 1950s with the advent of shoes made with insulating soles. The disconnection from the Earth may be an important and overlooked contribution to physiological dysfunction and to the alarming global rise in non-communicable, inflammatory-related chronic diseases. A lack of electrons can also de-saturate the electron transport chains in mitochondria, leading to chronic fatigue and slowing the cellular migrations and other essential activities of the cells of the immune system.
Multi-disciplinary research has revealed that electrically conductive contact of the human body with the surface of the Earth (grounding or earthing) produces intriguing effects on physiology and health. Connecting the body to the Earth enables free electrons from the Earth’s surface to spread over and into the body, where they can have antioxidant effects. Such effects relate to inflammation, immune responses, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases”.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4378297/
Potential benefits of grounding:
Reduced inflammation: Some studies suggest that grounding may help reduce inflammation in the body.
Stress reduction: Grounding may also have a positive impact on mood and stress levels.
Improved sleep: There are anecdotal reports and some research indicating that grounding may help improve sleep quality.
Pain reduction: Some individuals report experiencing pain relief after grounding.
Improved circulation: Grounding may also help improve blood flow and circulation.
What are some grounding techniques?
Walking barefoot on grass, sand, or dirt is a simple and effective way to ground yourself.
These are conductive mats that can be used indoors to simulate the effects of grounding.
Similar to mats, grounding sheets can be used on beds to provide grounding while sleeping.
Some specialized footwear is designed to provide grounding. For the footwear applications, a conductive plug is positioned in the shoe sole at the ball of the foot, under the metatarsals, at the acupuncture point known as Kidney 1.
