Reconnect with Nature - How Grounding (Earthing) Can Boost Your Health & Well-being
🌍 🌱 Grounding. Earthing. Connecting with Nature. Barefoot Walking.
Over the weekend I came across a post by
on how standing barefoot on the grass makes him feel better, which prompted me to offer to write a post about grounding. And so, I spent the past couple of days researching about it and here is what I found!🌱 What is Grounding?
Grounding, or earthing, simply is direct physical contact with the Earth’s surface, this can be walking barefoot on grass, or sand, and even contact with water. The concept is rooted in the idea that the Earth has a natural electrical charge, and connecting with this charge can have beneficial effects on our bodies. I know it sounds very woo-woo and hippie like - I thought the same when I first heard about it, but apparently there is a lot of science behind grounding which backs it up.
🔬 The Science Behind
Research shows that there is both physical and mental health benefits to doing so:
Reduced Inflammation and Pain: a study suggest that grounding improves your immune response, helps with wound healing, prevents chronic inflammation and helps in autoimmune disease management, and so reducing inflammation and pain. Don’t forget inflammation is the root cause of most diseases.1
Improved Sleep: another study showed that grounding can improve sleep quality. Participants who slept grounded reported better sleep and reduced levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.2
Enhanced Mood and Reduced Stress: grounding has also been shown to positively affect mood and reduce stress. A study comparing 40 adults who were either grounded or not reported that pleasant and positive moods statistically significantly improved among the grounded ones. The 1 hr contact with the Earth improved mood more than expected by relaxation alone.3
Cardiovascular Health: grounding can also benefit cardiovascular health by improving heart rate variability and by reducing blood viscosity by increasing the surface charge on red blood cells. This can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.4
🌍 How Does Grounding Work?
The Earth’s surface has a negative charge, and when we make direct contact with it, free electrons are transferred into our bodies. It’s hypothesised that these free / mobile electrons act as antioxidants, neutralising harmful free radicals that contribute to inflammation and chronic disease. 5
🧘🏻♀️ Simple & Practical Ways to Ground Yourself
Walking Barefoot: probably the simplest way is by walking barefoot on grass or sand. Even gardening with bare hands counts as grounding, apparently.
Grounding Mats and Sheets: if you can’t get outside, grounding mats and sheets are available, and they aim to mimic the Earth’s electric charge.
Swimming in Natural Waters: as summer is here, swimming in the ocean or a lake is another effective way to ground yourself, as water is a natural conductor of electricity.
I’ll be honest, I’ve never purposely grounded, but being barefoot in the garden or in a park does count, and so does all the beach time. So, technically yes, I have indeed experienced grounding a lot over the years - but to me it was just a normal thing to do.
Grounding is a simple, natural practice with a growing body of scientific evidence supporting its health benefits. It’s a unique way to reconnect with the Earth's natural energy, with additional benefits. You may be sceptical, but even if you spend 30 mins or even an hour outside in nature, whether that’s a park or the beach, you will feel more relaxed regardless of the grounding. There will always be at least one positive aspect coming out of it, even if you think that grounding does not work for your well-being.
As
pointed out, June is National Great Outdoors Month (which I was completely unaware of), so use the warm summer days to enjoy some more nature and even give grounding a go! 🌱🧘🏻♀️If you have any experiences with grounding, feel free to share them in the comments. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences! 🌞🌍🌱
I hope you enjoyed, and thank you for taking some time out of your day to read / listen to my post! See you next week! :)
Other posts you might like:
Oschman, J. L., Chevalier, G., & Brown, R. L. (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, 83. https://doi.org/10.2147/jir.s69656
Menigoz, W. et al. (2020). Integrative and lifestyle medicine strategies should include earthing (grounding): review of research evidence and clinical observations. Explore, 16(3), 152-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2019.10.005
Chevalier G. (2015). The effect of grounding the human body on mood. Psychological reports, 116(2), 534–542. https://doi.org/10.2466/06.PR0.116k21w5
Chevalier, G., et al. (2013). Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity-a major factor in cardiovascular disease. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 19(2), 102–110. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2011.0820
Oschman J. L. (2007). Can electrons act as antioxidants? A review and commentary. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 13(9), 955–967. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2007.7048
Cool to hear about research backup on something that I've already been experiencing. Every time I put my feet in the sand on the beach I feel so much calmer. The physical connection with the earth adds another layer of connecting to nature. 🌿
Grounding…