Earthing: A Complete Guide to Grounding

We are biolelectrical beings, living on an electric planet. As humans evolved, the maintained constant physical contact with the earth. This sacred connection allows our bodies to absorb the earth’s electrons, which balances our own electrically charged bodies. Our ancestors slept on the earth’s surface, swam in natural bodies of water, and walked barefoot/in natural shoes. But over time, this connection has been severed.

In this blog, I share everything you need to know about earthing (also known as grounding). This simple and effective practice is something I try to do daily for my overall wellness.

What is Earthing / Grounding?

Earthing, also known as grounding, is a naturopathic practice that electrically reconnects the body to the earth through direct physical contact. The Earth gives off electrical impulses that benefits our own electrically charged bodies. One of the best parts? It’s free and available to everyone.

Ways to Ground Yourself

There are many different ways to ground yourself and reconnect to the earth.

Walking barefoot – This is a simple and highly effective way to receive the benefits of grounding. Whether walking on grass or on the beach- as long as you have direct physical contact with the earth, you’re absorbing grounding energy.

Immersing yourself in water – Swimming in a body of water such as the ocean or a lake is another way to receive the benefits of earthing. Just make sure to stay safe whenever doing so.

Sleeping / Lying on the ground – Spending a night sleeping under the stars or simply lying on your back to watch the clouds allows you to reconnect with the earth.

Earthing equipment – Grounding mats, blankets, socks, and more are alternatives to grounding. Although I’ve never tried this type of equipment myself, the benefits are similar to direct grounding. These alternatives work well for those who don’t have access to going outside to ground themselves.

The Benefits of Earthing

A growing body of research reveals many benefits this technique has on our physiology.

Improved cardiovascular health: One study found cardiovascular benefits from grounding. “Emerging research is revealing that direct physical contact of the human body with the surface of the earth (grounding or earthing) has intriguing effects on human physiology and health, including beneficial effects on various cardiovascular factors”. “Grounding appears to be one of the simplest and yet most profound interventions for helping reduce cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular events”.
Improved mood: This double-blind randomized control trial on massage therapists revealed significant increases in physical function, while decreases in pain, fatigue and depressed moods after practicing grounding daily. A similar study conducted on 40 adults found increases in mood after grounding as well.
Reduces inflammation: According to multi-disciplinary research, grounding reduces or even prevents inflammation symptoms after an injury including redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function.
Improves sleep: The results of this study are exciting because it hopefully encourages further, more in depth studies on it in the future. They indicate sleeping on the earth like our ancestors once did can reduce nighttime levels of cortisol while also resynchronizing cortisol secretion with the circadian rhythm, resulting in improved sleep quality and a reduction in stress and pain.
Improved blood pressure: According to this case study conducted on 10 hypertensive patients in the same cardiology practice, all 10 patient measurements improved after 10 hours of grounding a day for several months.

While further research is still needed on the benefits of grounding, many recent studies reveal compelling evidence for the potential benefits of this wellness practice.

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