The Healing Power of Grounding: Reconnecting to the Earth

Walking barefoot on the beach or lying in the grass may seem like simple pleasures, but reconnecting directly with the earth has profound health benefits backed by science. Known as “grounding” or “earthing,” this primal practice of touching the earth with bare skin helps reduce inflammation, improves sleep, supports heart health, and more.

Grounding’s anti-inflammatory effects stem from the influx of free electrons absorbed from the ground. These negatively charged particles neutralize cell-damaging free radicals in the body, acting as potent antioxidants (1). In multiple studies, grounding has been shown to reduce key markers of inflammation like cortisol and help alleviate pain (2, 3). This may explain why simply walking barefoot on the earth elicits feelings of calm.

The connection with the earth’s gentle, ambient electrical charge also thins blood by improving zeta potential, allowing blood cells to repel each other and flow more freely (4). One study found that grounding for 40 minutes significantly reduced blood viscosity, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (5). By supporting healthy circulation, grounding may provide heart benefits on par with exercise.

Furthermore, bathing tissues in extra electrons encourages parasympathetic nervous system activity to dominate over the overdriven sympathetic “fight-or-flight” response. This activates the body’s self-healing mechanisms, reduces stress hormones like cortisol, and harmonizes circadian rhythms (6, 7). In one study, simply sleeping grounded attenuated inflammation and stress while normalizing the sleep-wake cycle (8). Grounding the body during sleep has even been found to lower and resynchronize cortisol levels (9).

While the concept sounds esoteric, it’s simply a long-overlooked lifestyle factor critical for wellness. Emerging research reveals how fundamentally our health depends on connecting to the planet that sustains us. Earthing may help restore balance in bodies burdened by modern stresses and the “dirty electricity” from an increasingly wireless world (10). Normal EMF exposure encountered indoors is not harmful while grounded, as studies show grounding reduces AC body voltage dramatically (11). As a powerful support for self-healing, grounding belongs among first-line lifestyle recommendations for staying healthy. And it’s as easy as taking off your shoes.

To learn more, visit the Greenmedinfo.com database on GROUNDING here.

References

1. Applewhite, R. (2005). Electrons move from the Earth to the body when the body is grounded and grounding powerfully reduces EMFs on the body. European Biology and Bioelectromagnetics, 1, 23-40.

2. Ghaly M. & Teplitz D. (2004). The biological effects of grounding the human body during sleep. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 10(5), 767-776.

3. Brown R. et al. (2010). Grounding the human body reduces blood viscosity–a major factor in cardiovascular disease. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(2), 185-192.

4. Chevalier G. et al. (2012). Earthing increases the surface charge of red blood cells and decreases aggregation. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(3) 258-265.

5. Chevalier G. et al. (2010). Changes in pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygenation, perfusion index, skin conductance, and their variability induced during and after grounding human subjects for 40 minutes. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 1(16), 81-87.

6. Chevalier G. & Sinatra S. T. (2011). Emotional stress, heart rate variability, grounding, and improved autonomic tone: Clinical applications. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 10(3), 16-21.

7. Ghaly M. & Teplitz D. (2004). The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 10(5), 767-776.

8. Chevalier G. (2015). The effect of grounding the human body on mood. Psychology Reports, 116(2), 534-542.

9. Brown R. (2016). Effects of grounding on body voltage and current in the presence of electromagnetic fields. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 22(9), 757-759.

10. Ober A.C. & Sinatra S.T. (2005). Earthing the human body influences physiologic processes. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 11(1), 171-177.

11. Chevalier G. & Sinatra S. T. Emotional stress, heart rate variability, grounding, and improved autonomic tone: Clinical applications. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal. 2011;10(3): 16-21.

12. Oschman JL. Can electrons act as antioxidants? A review and commentary. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2007;13(9):955-967. doi:10.1089/acm.2007.7048.

Source: The Healing Power of Grounding: Reconnecting to the Earth