The Healing Power of Earthing

In our modern lives, we are increasingly disconnected from the Earth's natural energy. Our days are filled with synthetic materials, artificial lighting, and constant exposure to electronic devices. Yet, emerging research suggests that something as simple as connecting with the Earth's surface could hold profound benefits for our health and well-being. This practice, known as "earthing" or "grounding," involves direct skin contact with the Earth's surface, whether it's through walking barefoot on grass, sand, or even concrete.

But how exactly does earthing work, and how does it relate to inflammation reduction, cardiac health, mood improvement, and hormonal balance? Let's delve into the science behind this fascinating phenomenon.

The Science of Earthing

At the heart of earthing's potential lies the exchange of electrons between the Earth's surface and our bodies. The Earth carries a negative charge, and when we make direct contact with it, we absorb electrons. This process is believed to neutralize positively charged free radicals in our bodies, which are implicated in inflammation and various health issues.

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that can damage cells and contribute to chronic inflammation, a root cause of many diseases, including cardiovascular issues, mood disorders, and hormonal imbalances. By scavenging these free radicals, earthing may help mitigate inflammation and its associated health risks.

Electrons and Inflammation

When we're disconnected from the Earth's surface, whether by wearing shoes with insulating soles or spending most of our time indoors, we build up a positive charge in our bodies. This positive charge can lead to oxidative stress, a state characterized by an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. Oxidative stress is a key driver of inflammation and is implicated in numerous health conditions, from arthritis to heart disease.

Earthing provides a pathway for electrons to flow into our bodies, effectively reducing this positive charge and neutralizing free radicals. Studies have shown that earthing can lead to a decrease in markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, suggesting its potential as a natural anti-inflammatory therapy.

Cardiac Health Benefits

One area where earthing shows promise is in improving cardiac health. Chronic inflammation plays a significant role in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertension. By reducing inflammation, earthing may help protect against these conditions and promote heart health.

A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that grounding significantly improved blood viscosity, a measure of blood thickness and clotting potential. Improved blood viscosity can enhance circulation, reduce the risk of blood clots, and support overall cardiovascular function.

Mood Enhancement

Beyond its physical benefits, earthing has been linked to improvements in mood and emotional well-being. Spending time outdoors in nature has long been associated with feelings of calmness and relaxation, but earthing may offer additional therapeutic effects.

Research suggests that earthing may influence neurotransmitter levels and the body's stress response systems. By reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, earthing could help regulate mood-related neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, leading to a more balanced emotional state.

Hormonal Balance

Hormonal imbalances can wreak havoc on our health, affecting everything from fertility and metabolism to mood and sleep. Emerging evidence suggests that earthing may play a role in restoring hormonal balance by modulating the body's stress response and inflammation levels.

A pilot study published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health explored the effects of earthing on cortisol levels, a hormone involved in the body's stress response. The study found that participants who slept grounded experienced significant decreases in nighttime cortisol levels, suggesting that earthing may help regulate the stress hormone and promote better sleep quality.

Conclusion

While the concept of earthing may seem unconventional, the science behind it is compelling. By reconnecting with the Earth's natural energy, we may unlock a myriad of health benefits, from reducing inflammation and improving cardiac health to enhancing mood and restoring hormonal balance.

As research in this field continues to evolve, incorporating earthing into our daily routines could offer a simple yet powerful way to support overall health and well-being. So, kick off your shoes, step outside, and let the Earth's healing energy work its magic.

References:

1. Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S. T., Oschman, J. L., Sokal, K., & Sokal, P. (2012). Earthing: Health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth's surface electrons. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012, 291541.

2. Sokal, K., & Sokal, P. (2011). Earthing the human body influences physiologic processes. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 17(4), 301–308.

3. 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, 10(5), 767–776.

This post was written by ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI, from a detailed prompt written by me.

Notes from me:

When I wrote this prompt for ChatGPT, I specifically asked for elaboration on how earthing benefits cardiac health, mood, and hormonal balances.

I first learned about earthing from the free YouTube documentary, “The Earthing Movie: The Remarkable Science of Grounding”. 

Shortly thereafter, I ordered an indoor earthing mat, which came with a copy of Clint Ober’s book, "Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever!" 

I was blown away by the amount of research that has been done in this field. Now, this was in 2021. Earthing, or grounding, has certainly become mainstream these past few years, but at the time, it was brand new to me.

So, my fascination with earthing as it applies to cardiac health, mood, and hormonal balance.

Cardiac Health

This study impressed me the most and has SO much potential in preventative medicine.

Image and text in quotations source: https://www.groundedwellness.co.uk/earthing-and-blood-circulation/

“One of the most dramatic demonstrations of the benefits of grounding is the effect it has on the blood. When our bodies are unable to balance the positive charge that results from things like electron-deficient free radicals, the effect on the blood can be seen very clearly by the way in which the cells are attracted to clump together.

The images on the left show blood cells before grounding and the images on the right show blood cells after grounding for 40 mins.

Darkfield microscope images of blood taken from three individuals just before and after forty minutes of grounding. The pictures clearly show blood viscosity changes dramatically after relatively short periods of earthing/grounding. There is much less clumping and clotting of the red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs have a much greater negative charge when the body is Earthed and will tend to repel each other more readily (Like charges repel and opposite charges attract) and therefore will not clump together.

Less viscous blood flows much better and will enhance oxygen and nutrient delivery to the cells. Thinner blood benefits anyone with cardiovascular disease and diabetes ,and greatly reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. The blood samples were taken during research into grounding by Dr Stephen Sinatra MD.”

Mood

I wanted to highlight the effect on mood for two reasons: anxiety, depression, and other mood-related disorders are so prevalent, and my own experiences with earthing greatly impacted my mood.

I began sleeping grounded in early 2021 with a mat I ordered from Clint Ober’s company, Ultimate Longevity. Around the same time, I started to spend time outside barefoot (or even lying on the ground), whenever the weather would permit it.

I’d say in a typical week, I was outside barefoot for 30-40 minutes 3x per week. I started to feel more calm and sleep more deeply pretty quickly.

While I am not as consistent with getting outside these days, I still sleep grounded every night, and when possible, sit on my earthing mat during the day. I still have moments of anxiety, sadness, overstimulation, etc…all of the challenging emotions we experience as humans…but they are less intense and easier to shift out of.

Hormone Balance

This was the biggest shift for me! I had experienced irregular periods up until then. Over the past 3 years, they have become like clockwork. My PMS symptoms are reduced, too.

We had started trying to get pregnant for the second time right before I purchased the mat. The first time took about a year and a half to conceive.

To my surprise, we conceived immediately. The first month I slept on it.

I will never know for sure if this was related, but in my gut, I believe that it was. Clint Ober’s book contains similar anecdotes.

So, has Earthing solved all of my health quirks? No. I still have days when I ruminate or have mild digestive issues. I still get tension in my neck and back that is at times amplified by what I do at work. I still get overstimulated more easily than I would like.

However, there has been an extremely valuable effort-to-result ratio. (In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever made a health shift that has required as LITTLE effort as this.)

I also strongly believe that spending hours per day on my earthing mat after my second child was born helped me recover physically from childbirth in record time.

As I state in many of my articles and Pinterest pins, I am not an expert, simply a curious seeker of information and tools. There are places to find information about earthing with FAR more detail than what I have shared here. If you’re curious, I highly recommend starting with Clint Ober’s documentary and book.

While you’re at it, get outside, get those toes in the grass, feel the breeze on your skin, and soak up some sun.

I promise your headspace will shift at least a little bit in the right direction!