Benefits of Grounding

Have you noticed that you sleep better on a beach or after walking on the sand? Just allowing the sand and ocean waters touch your feet provides you calmness and stability. Why is that? One theory is that the sand and ocean water are naturally conductive materials and both help ground the body and remove excess positive electrons.

Grounding or earthing refers to connecting directly with the earth such as with bare feet or hands, or with other grounding systems. This means that any part of the body needs to touch the soil, sand, water, or a conductive surface that is in contact with the earth.

In today’s world most of us have lost contact with the earth surface. Some experts believe that this disconnect is a contributor to the many rising health problems we face today. A growing body of research is now finding numerous health benefits as a result of the physical body being grounded. Reports indicate that sustained contact with the earth enhances health and provides feelings of well-being.

Regular grounding may improve immune function, digestion, cognition, sleep, blood circulation, inflammation and chronic pain. Grounding can stabilize the body’s basic biological rhythms, aid in the healing process, and reduce stress, anxiety, and irritability. While most benefits of grounding come from anecdotal reports, recent evidence-based studies show that grounding helps to reduce pain and inflammation. The results from several pilot studies have been so astounding that researchers are encouraging the public to be in direct contact with the earth as much as possible.

During the normal metabolic process, the body generates free radicals. Excess free radicals trigger chronic inflammation, chronic pain, muscle and joint atrophy and other chronic diseases including heart disease, type-2 diabetes and neurodegeneration. In short, while it is good to have low levels of free radicals, the excess amounts can be dangerous and need to be removed from the body. One way to quell the excess free radicals is getting grounded. If the body has excess free radicals, direct contact with the earth facilitates the absorption and neutralization of the free radicals thus limiting their damage to the body systems.

To experience the benefits of grounding, try walking barefoot on the beach, lawn, grass or yard. If you happen to be doing some gardening, do so without gloves, so your hands are directly contacting the soil. You may be surprised at the natural health benefits of simple activities that involve grounding.