The Earth is an amazing
yet subtle healing and harmonizing tool. In fact it’s possibly one of the most
amazingly beneficial tools we have access to, and all we have to do is touch it
to experience it powerful effects. Your body actually needs to be
connected to the earth in order to operate optimally. “Earthing” or “Grounding” is the act of connecting your body
to the natural vibration of the earth. Throughout history humans have walked barefoot/slept/sat/eaten connected
to the ground. These days the widespread use of insulative rubber- or
plastic-soled shoes, raised beds, and the modern lifestyle has disconnected us
from that connection to Earth’s energy. New research has raised the possibility
that this disconnect may actually contribute to chronic pain, fatigue, and poor
sleep that plague so many people.
Thankfully the remedy for the disconnect is simple and easy. Just take the time walk barefoot outdoors whenever possible. Make sure you sleep, work, or relax in contact with conductive sheets or mats that earth’s energy to your body, and that is it. In fact people who do this on a regular basis say they sleep better, feel better, and have more energy during the day. This simple practice is called Earthing, also known as grounding.
Thankfully the remedy for the disconnect is simple and easy. Just take the time walk barefoot outdoors whenever possible. Make sure you sleep, work, or relax in contact with conductive sheets or mats that earth’s energy to your body, and that is it. In fact people who do this on a regular basis say they sleep better, feel better, and have more energy during the day. This simple practice is called Earthing, also known as grounding.
Earthing is safe and natural, for people of all ages, young and old, but it is not medicine or a substitute for medical treatment. So if you have a medical condition, just make sure you see your physician or other healthcare provider.
Earthing is even more important now, as we are
almost constantly exposed to high-frequency-man-made electromagnetic
frequencies (EMF) from computers, cell phones, etc etc which reap havoc on our
human biology. When the human body
is disconnected from the natural low frequency EMF’s that are found on the
Earth’s surface, our body’s tune into foreign man made EMF frequencies. These
man made EMF’s interfere with our body’s natural internal clock and it’s
ability to tell time and coordinate nanoscopic biochemical reactions that are
crucial for optimal health. If you want to be a truly optimized human, your
body needs you to be grounded.
Many people believe that the circadian clock in
your brain is controlled exclusively by the light and dark cycles of the day,
as it turns out this is not the case. Light and dark do play a role in the
timing of your circadian clock, but there are also magnetic cells in our suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) which is a tiny region on the brain's midline, that
is situated directly above the optic chiasm. It is
responsible for controlling circadian rhythms and is
designed to coordinate with the
electromagnetic resonance of the Earth and its ionosphere. The electrical
exchange between the earth and the ionosphere are constantly excited by
lightning discharges, creating a global electromagnetic resonance called the
Schumann resonance frequency. As
life has evolved on Earth it ingrained the frequency of the Schumann resonance
into our biology. The brain uses this natural resonance along with light and
dark to tell time. When our internal timing is off it can be incredibly
detrimental to our biology, in fact it results in a myriad of missed
biochemical reactions which result in creating inflammation and stress on the
human body.
One of the
primary health benefits of grounding is its antioxidant effect. It helps alleviate
inflammation throughout the body. Studies have shown dramatic reduction in
inflammation, demonstrated via thermography.
This powerful ability to reduce
inflammation is in itself a groundbreaking discovery. Many medical practitioners
are finding that inflammation in the human body is at the root of most
diseases. According to Dr. Stephen Sinatra a prominent cardiologist, inflammation
thrives when your blood is thick, you have a lot of free radical stress, and a
lot of positive charges in your body. Grounding is an incredibly easy way to
alleviate inflammation because it thins your blood and infuses you with
negatively charged ions through your skin. Reseach shows that grounding helps
thin your by improving the energy between your red blood cells. Research has
demonstrated it takes about 80 minutes for the free electrons from the earth to
reach your bloodstream and transform your blood.
Even plants are
drastically impacted when they are taken away from the Earth’s natural energy.
Yet, the act of grounding, isn’t really an unusual phenomenon at all.
It’s actually a natural act that virtually every living creature does.
Unfortunately its very likely it has been awhile since you’ve truly experienced
the benefits of being connected to the earth and grounding. Most Americans
spend the majority of their days wearing shoes with rubber or plastic soles. These
materials are very powerful insulators, they effectively disconnect you from
the Earth’s natural electron flow. This disconnect can cause havoc on our
health.
The Following Surfaces WILL ground you:
•
Sand (beach)
•
Grass (preferably
moist)
•
soil
•
Concrete and
brick (as long as it is not sealed or painted)
•
Ceramic tile (as
long as it is not sealed)
The following
surfaces will NOT ground you:
•
Asphalt
•
Wood
•
Rubber and
plastic
•
Vinyl
•
Tar or tarmac
There are other
benefits to grounding, connecting to earths EMF calms your sympathetic nervous
system, which supports your heart rate variability. When your heart rate variability is healthy, your body is in
a more balance state. Anytime you improve your heart rate variability, you' are
improving your overall health and improving your human optimization.
Dr. Sinatra
explains this as "{being} in a health mode, as opposed to disease
mode. Grounding does that"
Grounding is not
a "treatment" or a "cure" for any disease or disorder.
Instead, it can be said without any equivocation that the human body evolved in
contact with the Earth and needs to maintain this natural contact in order to
function properly. Like eating right, exercising and sleeping, grounding can be
described as yet another lifestyle habit that supports optimal health.
Exercising
barefoot outdoors is one of the most wonderful, and inexpensive (free) and powerful ways
of incorporating earthing into your daily life. You can also just take your shoes off and let your feet touch the earth as much as you can when you’re outdoors to take advantage of these
natural grounding opportunities.
When indoors, using a
grounding pad or sheet is an excellent way to stay grounded while you’re
working or sleeping. I typically bring a grounding pad with me when I travel, too.