Grounding: Our electrical connection to mother nature

Grounding, also known as earthing, is one of the simplest and effective method to achieve optimal health. The concept is based on the idea that the Earth’s surface carries a negative electrical charge, which can have a beneficial effects on the human body. Research shown that reconnecting with this energy can improve physical and mental well-being.

How Does Grounding Work?

The theory is rooted in physics and biology and backed by scientific research:

• The Earth has a surplus of electrons that are negatively charged.
• Direct contact with the Earth allows these electrons to transfer into the body.
• This exchange may help stabilize electrical imbalances in the body, reduce oxidative stress, and restore natural biological rhythms.

Why to reconnect to the earth?

Humans disconnected from the Earth’s natural electric field due to the ways modern lifestyles and environments have evolved. This disconnect can limit our exposure to the Earth’s beneficial negative electric charge, which plays a role in our overall health and well-being. The primary reasons why we are not naturally connected to the Earth’s electric field are as follows:

1. Modern footwear: Most shoes today are made with synthetic soles (rubber or plastic), which are insulators. These materials block the direct flow of electrons from the Earth to the body.
2. Urban living and artificial surfaces: Many people live in cities or urban environments where natural surfaces like grass, soil, and sand are covered with concrete, asphalt, or other materials that act as barriers to grounding.
3. Technological advancements: The widespread use of electronics, Wi-Fi, and other devices exposes us to artificial electromagnetic fields and radio frequencies, which can disrupt the body’s natural electrical balance.
4. Reduced time in nature: Modern lifestyles often lack direct interaction with natural environments. Activities like gardening, walking barefoot outdoors, or swimming in natural water have decreased in favor of indoor or technology-driven leisure. Transportation methods (cars, buses, trains) also limit direct contact with the Earth’s surface.

What are the consequences of this disconnection?

1. Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: Without grounding, the body may accumulate excess free radicals, which can cause inflammation and cellular damage.
2. Impaired Sleep and Stress Regulation: Disconnection from the Earth’s electric field can interfere with natural biological rhythms, contributing to poor sleep and stress.
3. Increased Susceptibility to electromagnetic fields: Without grounding, the body is more exposed to the potential adverse effects of electromagnetic radiation from technology.

How to reconnect?

1. Walk barefoot on grass, sand, or soil whenever possible. Spend at least 20–30 minutes barefoot outdoors daily, if possible.
2. Use earthing products like grounding mats or sheets indoors.
3. Spend more time in nature or swim in natural bodies of water.
4. Replace insulating footwear with conductive options like leather-soled shoes.
5. Create a balance between time indoors and outdoors to reconnect with Earth’s natural electric field.

Although the concept of earthing is intriguing and skepticism about it exist, there are MANY studies that supports the use of earthing and the beneficial effect for different chronic diseases has been shown. Unfortunately not enough people are talking or even knowing about it. These are few examples for earthing’s benefits:

1. Reduction of Inflammation and Pain

This study reviews the effects of grounding on inflammation, pain, and stress. The researchers found that grounding reduces inflammation and pain by influencing the electrical activity in the body, which can neutralize free radicals. Participants experienced significant improvements in pain levels and inflammatory markers (1).

2. Improvement in Sleep and Stress Reduction

This study measured cortisol levels and sleep patterns in participants who slept on grounded mats. Results showed that grounding during sleep reduced night-time levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, leading to better sleep quality and a more normalized circadian rhythm (2).

3. Cardiovascular Health

Grounding was shown to improve heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of autonomic nervous system function. Improved HRV is associated with reduced stress and better cardiovascular health (3).

4. Blood Viscosity and Circulation

Grounding significantly reduced blood viscosity, which can improve circulation and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Lower blood viscosity means less strain on the heart and better overall cardiovascular function (4).

5. Immune System Function

Grounding was found to have a beneficial effect on immune system function. Participants who were grounded showed increased levels of immunoglobulin, suggesting a stronger immune response (5).

6. Psychological Benefits

In addition to physiological benefits, participants reported significant reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression after grounding. These psychological improvements were likely due to the balancing effect on the body’s electrical activity and hormone levels.

7. Wound Healing

Participants who were grounded showed faster recovery from muscle soreness and injuries. Grounding enhanced the speed of wound healing and reduced muscle damage and inflammation after exercise.

More sources from the media about grounding:

1. The book entitled The body electric by Robert Becker M.D.
2. The documentary movie below:

What’s the next step?

The easiest way to start with this method is to walk barefoot everyday for 20-30 minutes. As well, there are many products available to purchase such as Grounding rod, bed sheets, yoga mat, and even shoes. There are more products to consider to use but it’s not the propose of this post. It’s important to note however that the lifespan of grounding products can last for many years and it’s a very cheap and good investment.

If you’re locating in The Netherlands, please check out this company’s website for products that are designed for European outlet power.

Important Safety Guidelines for Grounding

When practicing grounding and especially when using electrical outlets for grounding mats, sheets, or other devices, it’s crucial to ensure safety and proper connection. Here are the essential safety guidelines:

1. Check the Integrity of the Grounding System

• Professional Verification: Always have an electrician check the integrity of your grounding system if you are not connecting directly to the ground with a dedicated grounding rod. The electrician should verify the grounding in the designated outlet and the electrical panel to ensure it meets safety standards.
• Appropriate Equipment: Use appropriate testing equipment to measure the grounding effectiveness and to ensure there are no electrical faults that could pose a safety hazard.

2. Use a Grounding Adapter

• Grounding Outlets: If you are using grounding devices in Holland or elsewhere, always use a grounding adapter specifically designed for your country’s outlets. This ensures that the grounding connection is safe and compatible with local electrical systems.
• Avoid Direct Connection: Never connect grounding devices directly to an outlet without using the appropriate grounding adapter. Direct connections without an adapter can be unsafe and may not provide a proper grounding connection.

Steps to safely implement grounding:

1. Consult an Electrician: Before starting grounding practices using electrical outlets, consult with a licensed electrician to inspect and verify the grounding system in your home or office.
2. Use Grounding Adapters: Purchase and use grounding adapters that are certified and specifically designed for your country’s electrical outlets.
3. Test Grounding Regularly: Regularly test the grounding connection using a grounding tester or multimeter to ensure it remains effective and safe over time.
4. Direct Grounding Options: Whenever possible, consider using direct grounding methods such as grounding rods or conductive surfaces that are in direct contact with the Earth, which can often provide a more straightforward and reliable grounding method.

By following these safety guidelines, you can practice grounding effectively while minimizing any potential risks associated with improper grounding connections.

Special thanks to Mr. Ran Kalif who promotes & advocates this topic and from whom I got to learn more about it.

Sources:

1. Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S.T., Oschman, J.L., Delany, R.M. (2015). Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons. Journal of Environmental and Public Health.
2. Ghaly, M., 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. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
3. Chevalier, G., Mori, K. (2013). The Effect of Earthing on Human Physiology. European Biology and Bioelectromagnetics.
4. Chevalier, G. (2013). The Effects of Grounding (Earthing) on Blood Viscosity: A Major Factor in Cardiovascular Disease. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
5. Sokal, K., Sokal, P. (2011). Earthing the Human Body Influences Physiologic Processes. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
6. Ghaly, M., 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. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
7. Brown, R., Chevalier, G., Hill, M. (2010). Pilot Study on the Effect of Grounding on Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.