Stay Grounded, Stay Healthy

Empty yourself and let the universe fill you. -Yogi Tea

Nature is pretty incredible, and yet so are we.

I would be doing humans a disservice if I were to credit nature and the universe with being so amazing without giving some credit to us as well.

In reality, we are all from the same source, intimately connected by all the same microscopic parts and pieces.

I listened to Neil Degrassi Tyson explain that the most common elements in the human body are carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.

He followed that up by saying the most common elements found in space are carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.

So when he looks up at the sky it doesn’t make him feel small, it makes him feel big, because he is made up of all the same things.

The universe is just as much a part of him as he is a part of the universe.

“You are not a drop in the ocean, you are the entire ocean in a drop” -Rumi

It’s a simple idea on the surface but it really goes much deeper.

Today we have evidence from both the scientific and spiritual communities that prove how connecting with nature has a powerfully therapeutic effect on our bodies and spirit.

It’s amazing how the best practices for a healthy life are free; drink water, move your body, take conscious breaths, and connect with nature.

Just by putting our hands, feet, and body on the ground, we can absorb a natural healing energy from earth that has the ability to decrease stress and inflammation, improve our sleep, and increase the effectiveness of our immune system.

The science of grounding

When it comes to the flow of energy the natural world runs on DC current and the industrialized world runs on AC.

The main difference between the two is that DC current only flows in one direction while AC can switch directions and move back and forth.

As crazy as it may seem the same kind of electrical charge that turns on the TV and keeps the lights on is not any different than the nerve impulse that is ignited by a thought, which then travels to your muscles and allows you to move your body.

Every cell of our body runs on DC, from our beating heart, thinking brain, and contracting muscles.

Now think of the earth as being surrounded by a flow of energy that’s continuously moving in one direction. When we make direct contact with the earth’s surface our bodies become part of this current and absorb its energy.

Just as an electric fence will transfer an electrical charge through anything it touches so will the earth’s crust when we connect with it.

Our bodies are highly conductive because every cell is powered by an electrical charge.

We also need to factor in the fact that water which is also highly conductive comprises over 60% of our total mass and is involved in every reaction.

One of the proposed mechanisms for the health benefits we receive is that by connecting with this current we absorb negative ions that are emitted from the earth’s surface.

This unloads the positive ions that accumulate as byproducts from all the metabolic reactions that take place every second.

Antioxidants have been recognized for their effect on reducing free radicals (positive ions) that have damaging effects on every internal system and contribute to various disease states.

One article referenced grounding as a “universal regulating factor in nature” that will balance our electromagnetic state and thereby decrease chronic inflammation and stress.

This concept is nothing new and has been around for many years, researchers have been doing experiments on this interaction between nature and living organisms since the 1860’s.

There were multiple books written about these findings in the 1890’s with the most recent article I’ve found being published in 2022 (Sinatra ST).

As science and technology continue to advance it’s easy to become short-sighted in our pursuit of the next big discovery or innovation in medicine and physiology.

It’s important to recognize that there are treatments and therapeutic approaches to a healthy life that have been around for thousands of years.

Take meditation and exercise as an example, two things that have been proven to be more effective than medications to maintain a higher quality of life.

Most often the best treatments for longevity and a healthy lifestyle are the safest, cheapest, and easiest to perform.

Benefits

Grounding has been shown to affect the entire body by reducing stress and inflammation by creating a more calm and regenerative state.

There are numerous studies that have confirmed the physiologic changes observed when subjects are grounded vs ungrounded.

They include lowered blood pressure and viscosity, decreased anxiety and depression, increased sleep quality, improved digestion, less joint pain, and more.

In one study, 58 subjects spent 28 minutes in an ungrounded state followed by 28 minutes grounded using an adhesive patch placed on the sole of the foot.

The researchers measured immediate changes in brain wave activity along with decreased tone in upper trapezius muscles, suggesting a decrease in psychological and physiological stress.

Another study was performed with the intention of improving upon previous findings that involved 28 subjects along with a sham treatment to address the possibility of a placebo.

Upon being grounded subjects showed again an immediate response, in this case, a decrease in skin conductance, an increase in respiratory rate, a slight increase in heart rate, and a decrease in blood oxygen fluctuations that were not present during the shame treatment.

These responses are indicative of a switch to a “rest and digest” healing state in which more oxygen is being consumed and carried in the blood while the heart pushes the excess to all our tissues.

Previous studies have seen an increase in wound healing capability involving an 84 year old female subject who possessed a diabetic foot ulcer that remained open for eight months prior to the study.

After two weeks of treatment with 30 minute grounding session daily, the subject reported no pain or impairments in mobility.

Research using thermal imaging found that when using grounding mats in bed inflammation and pain was reduced in subjects after four nights.

More findings on the beneficial effects of grounding during sleep have shown large differences in cortisol after 8 weeks. The subjects also reported improvements in sleep quality, stress levels, and reduced pain.

The list of studies supporting the growing amount of evidence in support of grounding is overwhelming.

In short, connecting with nature through direct or indirect contact will result in a reduction in physical and psychological stress resulting in an increase in the regenerative process.

Ways to incorporate grounding

You can tap into the natural healing properties of nature simply by touching it.

We have detached ourselves from Earth’s natural currents by wearing shoes, living indoors, and using transportation in the form of bikes, cars, and planes.

In some countries, it’s very normal to walk around barefoot in public, but it’s not often we see many people walking around without shoes on sidewalks or even parks.

Most of the time when we do it’s viewed as socially unacceptable, we’ve all seen the signs that read “no shoes, no shirt, no service.” I will admit I have often been that guy with no shirt and no shoes walking circles around the park barefoot to get some sun and nature.

With a little awareness and planning, we can be intentional about making an effort to come into skin-to-earth contact on a more regular basis.

It can be as easy as performing your usual exercise or daily walk in an area where it’s safe and comfortable to take off your shoes.

This may mean more trips to the lake, beach, or park to sit in the grass and enjoy a nice sunny day. If you live in a house and have your own yard then it’s much easier to do this in privacy.

For those who do not have the luxury of having their own yard or public areas nearby there are options. Some of the most popular products are called earthing mats which you can buy as bed covers or in smaller sizes to stand or lay on.

These mats come with adapters that allow them to be plugged into a wall outlet so that the negative ions that are emitted from the earth can flow into the mat.

Sizes can vary and there are options to get pillow covers and blankets as well. I’ve even seen shoes that have been designed and tested to allow for the greatest conductivity to your feet.

There are also options to buy patches that can be applied to specific body parts for the purpose of reducing inflammation and healing wounds. This was the method used in the previous studies mentioned for non-healing wounds.

While I believe the best way to stay grounded is to be outdoors in nature you can now get the same benefits in the comfort of your own home or office.

Take advantage of the healing properties of nature any way you can.

• Summary of main points

  1. Connecting with nature is connecting with the same creative force that made you and with the power to heal you.
  2. Everything in our body has an electrical charge and so does the earth. By making direct contact with the ground we can tap into this therapeutic energy.
  3. The advancement of technology and societal norms has made direct contact with the earth less instinctual than it has been in the past.
  4. We will naturally sync up with a frequency that creates a decrease in stress while increasing our bodies’ healing mechanisms.
  5. Touch the ground as often as possible, there are products you can buy that make it even easier if you have a hard time getting out or live in a crowded city.

• Call to action

The next time you walk outside, make a conscious effort to make direct contact with the ground for at least twenty minutes.

You can do this by sitting, laying down, or kicking off your shoes to allow your skin to feel the earth beneath you.

Take your time and notice how you feel afterward. Let the natural rhythm and frequency of nature resonate with you, your spirit is always receptive to it.

Add some conscious breathing and you have a recipe for peace of mind.

Resources:

Chevalier G, Sinatra ST, Oschman JL, Sokal K, Sokal P. Earthing: health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth’s surface electrons. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:291541. doi: 10.1155/2012/291541. Epub 2012 Jan 12. PMID: 22291721; PMCID: PMC3265077.

Isaac A. Jamieson, Grounding (earthing) as related to electromagnetic hygiene: An integrative review, Biomedical Journal, Volume 46, Issue 1, 2023, Pages 30-40, ISSN 2319-4170, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2022.11.005.

Laura Koniver. Practical applications of grounding to support health, Biomedical Journal, Volume 46, Issue 1, 2023, Pages 41-47, ISSN 2319-4170, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2022.12.001.

Oschman JL, Chevalier G, Brown R. The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. J Inflamm Res. 2015 Mar 24;8:83-96. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S69656. PMID: 25848315; PMCID: PMC4378297.

Sinatra ST, Sinatra DS, Sinatra SW, Chevalier G. Grounding - The universal anti-inflammatory remedy. Biomed J. 2023 Feb;46(1):11-16. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2022.12.002. Epub 2022 Dec 15. PMID: 36528336; PMCID: PMC10105021.

Sinatra ST, Oschman JL, Chevalier G, Sinatra D. Electric Nutrition: The Surprising Health and Healing Benefits of Biological Grounding (Earthing). Altern Ther Health Med. 2017 Sep;23(5):8-16. PMID: 28987038.

Wendy Menigoz, Tracy T. Latz, Robin A. Ely, Cimone Kamei, Gregory Melvin, Drew Sinatra, Integrative and lifestyle medicine strategies should include Earthing (grounding): Review of research evidence and clinical observations, EXPLORE, Volume 16, Issue 3, 2020, Pages 152-160, ISSN 1550-8307, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2019.10.005.