I was reminded this morning of the significant potential health benefits of earthing/grounding while watching a program on GAIA.
If you are not familiar with GAIA, it is similar to Netflix but with more of an emphasis on topics such as integrative health, spirituality etc.
In fact I enjoy the content available on GAIA that I rarely watch Netflix any more.
Here is a link to the episode that I watched this morning on earthing/grounding which you can watch for free
Here is an example of what the published research has to say about the potential health benefits of earthing/grounding:
Environ Public Health. 2012; 2012: 291541.
Published online 2012 Jan 12. doi: 10.1155/2012/291541
PMCID: PMC3265077PMID: 22291721
Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons
Gaétan Chevalier, 1, 2 ,*Stephen T. Sinatra, 3 James L. Oschman, 4 Karol Sokal, 5 and Pawel Sokal 6
Abstract
Environmental medicine generally addresses environmental factors with a negative impact on human health. However, emerging scientific research has revealed a surprisingly positive and overlooked environmental factor on health: direct physical contact with the vast supply of electrons on the surface of the Earth.
Modern lifestyle separates humans from such contact. The research suggests that this disconnect may be a major contributor to physiological dysfunction and unwellness. Reconnection with the Earth’s electrons has been found to promote intriguing physiological changes and subjective reports of well-being. Earthing (or grounding) refers to the discovery of benefits—including better sleep and reduced pain—from walking barefoot outside or sitting, working, or sleeping indoors connected to conductive systems that transfer the Earth’s electrons from the ground into the body. This paper reviews the earthing research and the potential of earthing as a simple and easily accessed global modality of significant clinical importance.
2.1. Sleep and Chronic Pain
2.3. Earthing Reduces Electric Fields Induced on the Body
2.4. Physiological and Electrophysiological Effects
4.4. Heart Rate Variability
4.5. Reduction of Primary Indicators of Osteoporosis, Improvement of Glucose Regulation, and Immune Response
4.6. Altered Blood Electrodynamics
Table 1
Subjective sleep, pain, and well-being feedback.
| Categories | Test subjects* | Control subjects** | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Same | Improved | Same | Improved | |
| Time to fall asleep | 4 = 15% | 23 = 85% | 20 = 87% | 3 = 13% |
| Quality of sleep | 2 = 7% | 25 = 93% | 20 = 87% | 3 = 13% |
| Wake feeling rested | 0 = 0% | 27 = 100% | 20 = 87% | 3 = 13% |
| Muscles stiffness and pain | 5 = 18% | 22 = 82% | 23 = 100% | 0 = 0% |
| Chronic back and/or joint pain | 7 = 26% | 20 = 74% | 23 = 100% | 0 = 0% |
| General well-being | 6 = 22% | 21 = 78% | 20 = 87% | 3 = 13% |
*Reports not received from three participants.
**Reports not received from seven participants.
4. Conclusion
De Flora et al. wrote the following: “Since the late 20th century, chronic degenerative diseases have overcome infectious disease as the major causes of death in the 21st century, so an increase in human longevity will depend on finding an intervention that inhibits the development of these diseases and slows their progress” [33].
Could such an intervention be located right beneath our feet? Earthing research, observations, and related theories raise an intriguing possibility about the Earth’s surface electrons as an untapped health resource—the Earth as a “global treatment table.” Emerging evidence shows that contact with the Earth—whether being outside barefoot or indoors connected to grounded conductive systems—may be a simple, natural, and yet profoundly effective environmental strategy against chronic stress, ANS dysfunction, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, disturbed HRV, hypercoagulable blood, and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease. The research done to date supports the concept that grounding or earthing the human body may be an essential element in the health equation along with sunshine, clean air and water, nutritious food, and physical activity.
This simple behavioral change has the potential to initiate powerful improvements in health conditions and is something that may warrant consideration for everyone.
