Earthing: 7 Benefits Of Connecting To The Ground

Earthing is a practice that's rooted in ancient traditions. However, advocates and recent scientific inquiry suggest direct contact with the Earth can promote physical and mental well-being and influence several health outcomes. In this article, we explore what earthing is, its potential benefits, and how to incorporate this primal practice into your life. Read on to discover if earthing is something that may benefit you. 

What is earthing?

Earthing, also called grounding, refers to the practice of physically connecting to the Earth to harness its natural electrical energy. This connection is typically made by walking barefoot outdoors, touching the soil, sand, water, or natural surfaces. 

The concept behind this practice lies in the belief that the Earth's surface carries a negative charge, which can balance the positive charge in the human body believed to be accumulated from modern lifestyles and technologies.  

Advocates of earthing believe it could be the most important health discovery in current times, suggesting that this practice can help neutralize reactive oxygen species (free radicals), reduce inflammation, and improve overall well-being. The idea is that direct contact with the Earth can transfer free electrons from the ground into the body, promoting physiological changes and offering potential health benefits. Grounding the human body has roots in ancient traditions but has gained contemporary interest as a simple, natural way to reconnect with the environment, reduce stress, and improve physical health. 

History of grounding

The practice of earthing has historical roots that trace back to ancient civilizations, though the terminology and scientific exploration are relatively recent developments. Ancient cultures, including indigenous peoples around the world, have long recognized the importance of living in harmony with nature and often emphasized the physical connection to the Earth in their practices and beliefs. Walking barefoot, engaging in ceremonies on natural ground, and using natural materials for bedding and footwear weare common practices that inherently facilitated grounding. 

According to a study published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health, in the late 19th century, a movement in Germany encouraged people to get back into nature. It claimed many benefits from being barefoot outdoors. In the 1920s, one doctor investigated the practice of sleeping on the ground after several people told him they couldn't sleep properly if they weren't connected to the ground in some fashion. However, these movements never caught mainstream attention. 

In the modern context, grounding as a health practice began to gain attraction in the late 20th century. Clint Ober, a prominent figure in the grounding movement, is credited with pioneering the modern concept of earthing in the late 1990s. His experience in the telecommunications industry led him to question the effects of electrical charges on the human body and the potential grounding effects of the Earth. His subsequent research and experiments laid the foundation for the contemporary understanding of grounding as a practice with potential health benefits. 

Since then, scientific research into grounding has grown, exploring how reconnecting with the Earth's electrical charge can impact various health conditions. While it remains a topic of ongoing research and debate within the scientific community, its historical roots and current resurgence highlight a growing interest in natural wellness practices. 

Earthing techniques

There are several earthing techniques that aim to help you reconnect your body with the Earth. These techniques can be done via direct or indirect contact with the Earth. Experts generally recommend earthing for at least 10-20 minutes a day and longer if possible. 

Traditional grounding exercises allow your bare feet, body, or hands to make contact with the Earth, including walking, standing, or lying barefoot on the ground, pressing your hands into the grass or dirt, or spending time in natural bodies of water. 

However, many people in modern society can't walk or be outside for long periods or lack access to nature. Grounding tools have been developed to offer the same electrical conduction as natural earthing. Earthing equipment includes things like:

• Mats 
• Sheets 
• Footwear
• Adhesive patches 
• Wrist or ankle bands 

In these setups, these tools are generally connected to the ground by a cord attached to a metal rod pressed directly into the Earth. If the tool doesn't use a ground rod, it is often attached to a grounded electrical wall outlet instead. 

7 potential benefits of earthing

While research is limited, several studies have been done on the potential impacts of earthing on inflammation, the immune system, and mental and physical health.  

1. Reduce inflammation 

Several small studies have shown that grounding can reduce inflammation. Some of them used infrared images, and others used measurements of blood chemistry and white blood cell counts. Still, in all cases, earthing was shown to improve the severity of inflammation in participants. Chronic inflammation is involved in the disease process of several illnesses, including asthma, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune diseases, and many others. As a result, many earthing advocates believe it may be helpful for an array of mental and physical conditions.  

2. Improve sleep 

Studies have found that grounding may decrease fatigue and tiredness and improve sleep quality. In one study, participants slept grounded (using grounding equipment) for eight weeks. During the study, their cortisol profiles were regulated, and the majority of participants reported improved sleep as well as reduced stress and pain. 

3. Improve heart health

Studies have shown that earthing can reduce blood pressure, result in less red blood cell clumping, and improve blood flow. One study also found that a two-hour grounding session improved participants' HRV levels.   

4. Faster wound healing

Research has found that wounds heal much faster when the person is grounding, whether naturally or with grounding equipment. 

5. Autonomic nervous system regulation 

One study found that grounding activated the participants' parasympathetic nervous system and deactivated their sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system controls the "fight or flight" response and prepares the body for strenuous activity. On the contrary, when the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, heart and breathing rates slow, blood pressure decreases, and digestion improves. In other words, this study found that grounding moved people from a stressed state into one of relaxation.  

6. Improved mood 

Research has shown that one hour of contact with the Earth can improve mood more than simple relaxation alone. Earthing haIt's also been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, decrease cortisol levels, and improve overall mental well-being for some people. 

7. Reduced muscle damage 

One study looked at earthing's effect on post-exercise muscle damage and pain. They measured white blood cell count, creatine kinase, and pain levels before and after grounding. They found that it reduced participants' post-workout muscle damage, delayed onset muscle soreness, and reduced pain. 

Why consider grounding? 

The research into earthing is limited, but current studies have shown that it has the potential to improve many conditions, including: 

• Chronic pain
• Chronic fatigue 
• Sleep disorders
• Anxiety and depression
• Heart disease
• Chronic stress 
• Slow wound healing
• And others

As mentioned, many of the studies into earthing are small and limited, and more research is required. Earthing is a relatively low-risk modality to try, but conditions like pain, chronic fatigue, and depression may have underlying causes that need to be addressed by a professional. That's why it can be important to visit your doctor or therapist before trying earthing.  

Feeling disconnected and ungrounded?

A therapist can help

When to reach out to an expert 

If you have physical or mental health concerns, it's important to visit a doctor or therapist for professional insight and treatment. While grounding can be a supplemental treatment option for people, seeking guidance from an expert before trying anything new can be important. For example, if you're currently living with chronic stress, anxiety, or depression, it may be helpfula good idea to reach out to a therapist. They can help you find proven methods and treatment options that work for your life, including grounding if it makes sense for your situation. 

If attending in-person sessions doesn't appeal to you, online therapy may be an option worth considering. With online therapy, you can choose an environment that works best for you. You can even attend sessions in your backyard or at a local park – as long as you have internet access so you can ground while you attend therapy sessions. 

Unlike grounding, there's a significant body of research supporting the use of therapy for the improvement of mental health conditions. Additionally, research shows that online therapy is just as effective as traditional, in-person therapy for treating mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. 

Takeaway 

While scientific research on earthing is still evolving, many people report feeling more grounded, calm, and physically balanced after incorporating this practice into their daily routine. Early evidence shows improved health benefits as well. Whether it's a walk on the beach, gardening without gloves, or simply standing barefoot on grass, earthing is an important health discovery that may offer a way to disconnect from the artificial and reconnect with the natural world. For more support, consider reaching out to a therapist for help.