Our bodies are naturally adapted for direct contact with the Earth, however, the modern world has steered us in a direction where we have minimal contact with the ground. We have transcended the old primitive ways with regards to fashion, yet our bodies are still aligned to our primitive nature. Thus, this has created a disparity in our relationship with our own bodies. Through grounding, we can begin to get back to connecting our body with the earth's natural energy.

Grounding, also known as earthing, involves connecting the body to the earth's natural energy by walking barefoot on grass, sand, or soil or using grounding products such as grounding mats or sheets. The concept is based on the idea that the Earth's surface is charged with a negative electrical potential, which can be transferred to the body when it comes into direct contact with the Earth. By tuning into this frequency, it is thought that we can begin to harness the healing powers of this energy.

Advocates of grounding claim that it can provide a variety of health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, improving sleep, reducing stress, and improving mood. Some studies have suggested that grounding may help to reduce the level of the stress hormone cortisol in the body, improve heart rate variability, and improve sleep quality (Oschman et al., 2015).

For Mental Wellbeing & Stress

Popular studies on grounding practices have shown improvements in sleep quality, pain and cortisol levels (Ghaly and Teplitz, 2004). As we know good sleep quality is highly important for influencing positive improvements in both our physical and mental wellbeing including improved mood and greater recovery and so anything we can do to improve our sleep quality is great!

The stresses of the modern day world has caused such a large number of people to be living in a constant state of heightened stress with minimal time for relaxation. As we know, these high levels of stress result in chronic overactivation of the autonomic nervous system. Studies have shown that grounding practices can result in a positive balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system which ultimately results in attenuation of the stress response. For those who suffer with feelings of stress, anxiety and panic, grounding practices can therefore positively impact their emotional wellbeing.

For Physical Wellbeing

Practising grounding has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body (Chevalier et al., 2012), and as we know, inflammation is often associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases. So ultimately, by incorporating grounding practices into our daily routine, we may be able to reduce the risk of some chronic diseases that are caused by inflammation.

From a physical activity perspective, grounding practices have shown that there can be improvements associated with fitness ability. Through beginning to walk barefoot and beginning to get your feet back into their natural alignment, you can expect to experience improvements in balance and stability. These improvements can be beneficial for participation in activities such as yoga, weightlifting and sports (Oschman and Chevalier, 2015). Grounding has also been shown to increase oxygenation in the body, which can improve endurance and aerobic capacity during exercise (Brown, 2008).

The best and simplest way to begin grounding is by walking barefoot on the grass or even on the sand. Doing so will allow you to have direct contact with the earth, allowing the flow of negative electrons to come into your body. Swimming in natural bodies of water such as the ocean, lake or river is a great way to help ground yourself too. For those who enjoy meditation and yoga, you can try taking your practice outdoors into a natural setting to help you feel more grounded and connected to the earth.

For anyone who wants to begin with practicing this first in their home, grounding mats and sheets are specifically designed to connect you to the earth's energy. You can use these mats while you are sleeping, working, or sitting. Another more recent method is the use of “barefoot” shoes which aim to mimic the foot's natural connection with the ground and so can be a great way for someone to begin working towards going barefoot.

It is important to note that the effectiveness of grounding techniques may vary from person to person. It is best to experiment with different methods and see what works best for you.

It seems the benefits of grounding are holistic and can positively impact the lives of those who incorporate it into their routine. So if you want to begin tapping into the healing vibrations of our Earth’s frequency, then start by taking off your socks and shoes and embracing the feeling of the ground beneath you.

References

1. Oschman, J.L., Chevalier, G. and Brown, R. (2015) “The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases,” Journal of Inflammation Research.
2. Ghaly, M. and Teplitz, D. (2004) “The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress,” The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 10(5), pp. 767–776. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2004.10.767. 
3. Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S. T., Oschman, J. L., Sokal, K., & Sokal, P. (2012). Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity—a major factor in cardiovascular disease. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(3), 229-234. doi: 10.1089/acm.2011.0820.
4. Oschman, J. L., & Chevalier, G. (2015). The history and future of grounding research. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2015, 1-12.
5. Brown, D. E. (2008). Human universals. McGraw-Hill Education