The Benefits of Earthing/Grounding
So when I first heard of grounding I kind of brushed it off. I didn’t really look into it, because quite honest it seemed a little out there and too easy to have any real impact on my health. (Judgmental me…haven’t I learned that the most beneficial and health impacting therapies are usually those that are the most simple and basic).
So as I was out in the mountains of Georgia I found myself thinking about the idea of grounding. We were all out in the river fishing with water shoes on, then every time my kids went outside one of the adults reminded them to put their shoes on. So I thought wait a minute, let’s see if there is something to this thing called “Grounding.”
Following are some of the questions and answers I found while researching this, and then my own experience. I hope you find it intriguing and try your own grounding experiment.
So What is Grounding anyway?
Grounding is simply coming in contact with the earth via your skin, no rubber shoes allowed. This can mean to lean up against a tree, lay out on the ground, or simply kicking off your shoes and stand in the grass. Adding water to the mix is even better and more conductive. Standing in a little water in dirt or going to a river or beach.
How does it work?
The earth’s surface is full of negative charged electrons. Us humans are full of positively charged free radicals. You may have heard the term free radicals when it comes to anti-aging trends or other health trends. Free radicals wreak havoc on our body. Causing inflammation and damage resulting in accelerated aging and disease. But when our positively charged free radicals come into contact with the earth’s negatively charged electrons, the earth grabs hold of these free radicals and absorbs them. It’s a match made in heaven.
You can think of the earth as our very own docking station to reboot and recharge.
Does it work/ is there any research backing it up?
Indeed it does. I have found numerous studies to show the positive effects Grounding has on the body’s bioelectrical charges even down to your bones, organs, and tissues being affected.
The following are just some of the positive effects these studies have shown that Grounding produces:
Improved quality of sleep- feeling more rested upon waking
Less pain, especially night time pain or muscle pain
Reduction in PMS symptoms
Regulation of cortisol (your stress hormone), keeping you more calm, less anxious and stressed
Reduced inflammation
Reduction in hypertension
Regulation in Respiratory Conditions such as asthma
Improved recovery rate important for athletes, cancer patients, even everyday work/life stress.
And the list goes on.
How long do you have to do it to get any benefit?
These studies ranged from direct contact with the ground, to minutes a day, to over night sleeping on the ground. It seems whether you get a moment to touch a tree, to minutes each day everyday you’ll benefit from contact.
Researchers even came out with grounding mats for the floor. This helps you ground yourself while your working on your computer or around other electrical charges, to sleeping mats for your bed, and even braclets etc. its really amazing and something I suggest we all look more closely toward and take more seriously.
In conclusion
At the end of our 10-day grounding experiment in Georgia my kids were calming down, taking longer naps, I was waking up feeling more rested even though I was sleeping less hours a night (up talking and catching up with other family members who came along), I even found myself less reactive and well, less stressed. Now that we’re back home to our hustle and bustle we’re keeping the tradition to ground ourselves every night by simply kicking off our shoes sitting on the grass and looking up at the moon.
I hope this was helpful and made you think. But thinking versus doing is a big difference. Enjoy!
Love,
Dr. Caroline
