Grounding, or ‘earthing,’ is a practice of walking barefoot on the ground, without any shoes or socks that serve as a barrier. It is founded on the power of the intense negative charge carried by the Earth, high in electrons, which provides high amounts of antioxidants and free-radical destroying electrons.

Namely, when one walks barefoot, he makes contact with the Earth’s surface and the body uptakes natural and subtle energy which could be referred to as vitamin G – G for ground.

This might be the difference between high and low energy levels, a strong and a weak immune system, feeling good and not so good, sleeping well or not so well, looking vibrant or looking tired and old.  Throughout history, people walked, sat and slept on the ground, so they spent much time naturally grounded.

Yet, nowadays, we are living disconnected from nature, and we replaced the conductive leather-soled shoes of our ancestors with insulated rubber and plastics, we sleep in beds off the ground, and use materials like plastics, synthetic fabrics, asphalt, tar, carpets, and vinyl, that block the natural connection to the Earth.

Moreover, we cannot imagine a single hour spend without using our household appliances, mobile phones, wi-fi, microwaves, and cell towers, which bombard us with excess free radical damage to the tissues and cells. 

Therefore, in order to improve health and prevent the damaging effects of our modern lifestyles, we all need to reconnect with nature and naturally repair our body.

Dr. James Oschman, a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Pittsburgh and an expert in the field of energy medicine, maintains that walking barefoot on the Earth improves health and provides feelings of well-being, and these effects can be found documented in the literature and practices of diverse cultures from around the world.

Placing the feet on the ground helps the body to absorb high amounts of negative electrons through the soles, and thus maintains the body at the same negatively charged electrical potential as the Earth.

The findings of a study published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health titled “Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons” show that earthing is a potential treatment/solution to various chronic degenerative diseases.

This contact with the Earth could serve as a natural and “profoundly effective environmental strategy” against chronic stress, pain, cardiovascular disease, ANS dysfunction, inflammation, poor sleep, disturbed HRV.

The study concludes 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.

The Department of Neurosurgery from the Military Clinical Hospital in Powstancow Warszawy conducted another study along with other affiliates like the Poland Medical University, which showed that participants who are earthed during physical exercise have lower blood urea concentrations, and earthing during exercise led to improved exercise recovery.

According to this study, earthing during exercise inhibits hepatic protein catabolism or increases renal urea excretion,  affects protein metabolism, leading to a positive nitrogen balance, which is of fundamental importance for understanding human metabolic processes and may have implications in training programs for athletes.

A study published by the Developmental and Cell Biology Department at the University of California at Irvine showed that the practice of grounding the human body boosts facial blood flow regulation.

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a study which found that earthing may be the main factor regulating the endocrine and nervous system.

The review published in the Journal of Inflammation Research said that grounding reduces or prevents the cardinal signs of inflammation following injury, such as heat, pain, swelling, redness, and loss of function.

Twenty studies using medical infrared imaging have confirmed the rapid resolution of painful chronic inflammation, so researchers believe that connecting the body to the Earth enables free electrons from the Earth’s surface to spread over and into the body, where they exhibit antioxidant effects.

Moreover, they claim that electrons from the Earth can prevent so-called “silent” or “smoldering” inflammation, and the mobile electrons create an antioxidant microenvironment around the injury repair field.

There, they slow or prevent reactive oxygen species (ROS) delivered by the oxidative burst from causing “collateral damage” to healthy tissue, and reduce the formation of the so-called “inflammatory barricade”.

Numerous studies confirm the physiological effects of grounding, from anti-aging, improved sleep, blood sugar control, stress-relief, regulated metabolism, memory formulation, to heart health benefits and much, much more.

This simple process of grounding is one of the most potent antioxidants we know of, but sadly, many people living in developed countries are rarely grounded anymore.

Therefore, next time you go outside in nature, take off your shoes, as they act as insulators and disconnect you from the Earth’s electron flow. Then, just walk on the soil, grass, sand, concrete, or ceramic tiles. Remember, you will not be grounded if you walk on asphalt, tar, rubber, wood, plastic, vinyl, or tarmac.

Sources:
www.collective-evolution.com
www.barefoothealing.com.au
articles.mercola.com