Are you well grounded?

Grounding or earthing is basically coupling parts of your body against the earth’s surface by sitting, walking, sleeping or other outdoor activities. Sand and wet grass or dirt areas have proven to be more effective mediums although unfinished concrete and other surfaces can still provide benefits. Unfortunately, wood, glazed tile, stained concrete and most of the surfaces used in typical homes and offices do not provide adequate conductivity.

When direct contact with the earth is established a plethora of benefits can potentially be achieved. The Groundology website provides a comprehensive list of studies accomplished over the last decade or so below:

• Grounding after moderate eccentric contractions reduces muscle damage(2015)
• One-Hour Contact with the Earth’s Surface (Grounding) Improves Inflammation and Blood Flow—A Randomized, Double-Blind, Pilot Study(2015)
• The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases(2015)
• The Effect of Grounding the Human Body on Mood(2015)
• Grounding the Human Body during Yoga Exercise with a Grounded Yoga Mat Reduces Blood Viscosity(2015)
• Grounding the Human Body Improves Facial Blood Flow(2014)
• Differences in Blood Urea and Creatinine Concentrations in Earthed and Unearthed Subjects during Cycling Exercise and Recovery(2013)
• Earthing (Grounding) the Human Body Reduces Blood Viscosity—a Major Factor in Cardiovascular Disease(2012)
• Earthing the Human Organism Influences Bioelectrical Processes(2012)
• Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons(2012)
• The neuromodulative role of earthing(2011)
• Emotional Stress, Heart Rate Variability, Grounding, and Improved Autonomic Tone: Clinical Applications(2011)
• Earthing the Human Body Influences Physiologic Processes(2011)
• Chronic Disease: Are We Missing Something? (Editorial)(2011)
• Pilot Study on the Effect of Grounding on Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness(2010)
• Changes in Pulse Rate, Respiratory Rate, Blood Oxygenation, Perfusion Index, Skin Conductance, and Their Variability Induced During and After Grounding Human Subjects for 40 Minutes(2009)
• The Effect of Earthing on Human Physiology, Part 2: Electrodermal Measurements(2007)
• The Effect of Earthing on Human Physiology, Part 1(2006)
• The Effectiveness of a Conductive Patch and a Conductive Bed Pad in Reducing Induced Human Body Voltage Via the Application of Earth Ground(2005)
• The Biologic Effects of Grounding the Human Body During Sleep as Measured by Cortisol Levels and Subjective Reporting of Sleep, Pain, and Stress(2004)
• Medical Thermography: Clinical Earthing Application in 20 Case Studies(2004)
• Grounding the human body to earth reduces chronic inflammation and related chronic pain(2003)
• Grounding the Human Body to Neutralize Bioelectrical Stress from Static Electricity and EMFs(2000) Source

More detailed scientific analysis and trials can be found on the National Health Institutes website related to the growing movement. It’s quite remarkable that something this simple can have such a profound impact on overall health.

“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.” Source

Source

“One of the most dramatic demonstrations of the benefits of grounding is the effect it has on the blood. On the right are darkfield microscope images of blood taken from three individuals just before and after forty minutes of grounding. The before images are on the left, the after on the right. The pictures clearly show a dramatic thinning and decoupling of the blood cells. The blood samples were taken during research into grounding by Dr Stephen Sinatra MD.” Source

Many companies are providing silver threaded products that harness to the grounding plug on an outlet to provide the benefits anytime you need it. I have bought and used sheets and shoes from the Groundology website and can attest to the good quality and effectiveness. I did find the shoes a bit heavy and uncomfortable so I rarely wear them but I’ve been using the sheet for past year. The only problem with the sheet is the wire will break if put under too much stress, this is easily correctable. I just bought a couple of sleeping bags for Christmas and can’t wait to begin testing soon. Does anyone have experience with other products or similar concepts?