The Benefits of Grounding
Grounding has been shown to provide a natural method for regulating the body’s circadian rhythm, which governs the sleep-wake cycle and other physiological processes. Exposure to natural light and darkness is the primary regulator of the circadian rhythm, but some research suggests that grounding may also play a role in synchronizing the body’s internal clock. This may be particularly relevant for individuals who spend a significant amount of time indoors or experience disruptions in their sleep patterns[ii].
Grounding is often recommended for those who suffer from insomnia, anxiety, depression, or chronic pain. It can also improve athletic performance and boost energy levels. So how do we ground ourselves? The easiest way to do this is by simply spending time outdoors on Earth’s surface. This could be walking barefoot in the grass, sitting on a park bench, or lying down on your back and connecting with the soil beneath you. Another option is using grounding tools such as earthing sheets or mats that allow for direct contact with the ground while indoors.
Additionally, some people find that simply taking deep breaths of fresh air can help them feel more grounded and connected to nature. It is an effective way to promote physical and emotional well-being by connecting with Earth’s surface and absorbing its natural electrical charges.
Grounding can be likened to electronic nourishment. This energetic phenomenon encompasses the Earth’s Schumann resonances, an electromagnetic “pulse” (with a fundamental frequency of 7.83 Hz) present in the atmosphere, along with a subtle vibration of the earth’s energetic surface. The Schumann resonances exhibit variability, influencing the movement of electrons across the earth’s surface in a rhythmic fashion. Consequently, the earth’s ground is not only electronically active but also dynamically responsive[iii]. Click here to review grounding pads.
When proper grounding occurs, our bodies absorb electrical charges from the planet that help regulate our natural rhythms and reduce stress levels. Proper grounding has been shown to;
- Improve athletic performance, and reduced muscle damage[iv], including a smaller increase in creatine kinase and improved both short-term and long-term recovery after intense workouts during training or following rigorous competitions[v].
- Boost energy levels[vi].
- Continuous grounding of the human body reduces blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. Grounding also lowers concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron, total protein, and albumin, while increasing levels of transferrin, ferritin, and globulins α1, α2, β, and γ[vii].
- Pre-term babies. Grounded premature babies showed increased relaxation. and exhibited improved vagus nerve tone, which suggested potential enhancements to regulatory mechanisms[viii].
- Improve sleep quality[ix], including alleviating symptoms of insomnia[x], which enhanced sleep was associated with the normalization of the cortisol day-night pattern[xi].
- Alleviate symptoms of anxiety[xii]–[xiii].
Grounding works quickly to directly stabilize your autonomic nervous system by enhancing your vagal tone, enabling it to regulate your heart rate and enhance your respiratory depth[xiv]. Vagal tone refers to the activity level of the vagus nerve, which regulates the parasympathetic nervous system. A proper vagal tone is associated with better stress regulation, improved heart rate variability, reduced inflammation, and enhanced emotional resilience.
Blood pressure and improved cardiovascular support[xv]–[xvi]. In one grounding study, there was no occurrence of blood clot complications among ground patients, unlike the non-grounded patients. Within 1-3 days of grounding, most patients exhibited improvement in symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, cough, weakness, headache, chest pain, body pain, and even loss of taste and smell. Out of 59 patients, 20 had severe illness, of which 17 showed improvement, two were lost to follow-up, and one passed away. Among 28 patients with moderate illness, all showed improvement, while all 11 patients with mild illness also experienced improvement, with no reported deaths[xvii]. Some researchers have proposed that a lack of contact with the earth might have a contrary effect and could potentially influence conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure[xviii]. In another study Systolic blood pressure levels decreased by 8.6%–22.7%, with an average reduction of 14.3%. The pilot study conclusively showed that grounding for at least ten to 12 hours per day led to significant reductions in blood pressure[xix].
Grounding has also been shown to reduce;
- Depression[xx]
- Chronic pain[xxi]
- Inflammation[xxii]. In one study a husband “The husband of the woman with the infection gave the following feedback “A grounding patch on her chest has helped her immensely” [xxiii]. This occurred during the covid pandemic.
- Stress and maintain a balanced mood.
- Wound healing time. Wound Healing: There is limited evidence to suggest that grounding may accelerate the healing process for wounds and injuries. Some studies have reported faster wound healing rates among individuals who are grounded compared to those who are not. It is suggested that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of grounding may contribute to this beneficial effect, although more research is needed to confirm these findings[xxiv].
When you are grounded, your body is able to better manage stress hormones like cortisol, which can have a negative impact on both physical health and emotional well-being. So why don’t we always make sure that we’re connected to the Earth? One reason may be because modern technology has made us increasingly disconnected from nature. We spend so much time indoors, staring at screens, that we forget how important it is to connect with the natural world around us. Another factor could be the widespread use of anti-static materials in our homes and workplaces, which can interfere with our ability to absorb Earth’s electrical charges. Finally, some people may simply not know what grounding is or understand its benefits. Whatever the reason, it’s time to start reconnecting with the Earth and experiencing all the amazing health benefits that come with being grounded. Click here to review grounding pads.
NEXT: Tips on Barefoot Grounding
[i] Koniver L. Practical applications of grounding to support health. Biomed J. 2023 Feb;46(1):41-47. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2022.12.001. Epub 2022 Dec 5. PMID: 36481428; PMCID: PMC10105020.
[ii] Ghaly M, Teplitz D. The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress. J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Oct;10(5):767-76. doi: 10.1089/acm.2004.10.767. PMID: 15650465.
[iii] Sinatra ST, Sinatra DS, Sinatra SW, Chevalier G. Grounding – The universal anti-inflammatory remedy. Biomed J. 2023 Feb;46(1):11-16. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2022.12.002. Epub 2022 Dec 15. PMID: 36528336; PMCID: PMC10105021.
[iv] Brown R, Chevalier G, Hill M. Grounding after moderate eccentric contractions reduces muscle damage. Open Access J Sports Med. 2015 Sep 21;6:305-17. doi: 10.2147/OAJSM.S87970. PMID: 26443876; PMCID: PMC4590684.
[v] Müller E, Pröller P, Ferreira-Briza F, Aglas L, Stöggl T. Effectiveness of Grounded Sleeping on Recovery After Intensive Eccentric Muscle Loading. Front Physiol. 2019 Jan 28;10:35. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00035. PMID: 30745882; PMCID: PMC6360250.
[vi] Koniver L. Practical applications of grounding to support health. Biomed J. 2023 Feb;46(1):41-47. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2022.12.001. Epub 2022 Dec 5. PMID: 36481428; PMCID: PMC10105020.
[vii] Sokal K, Sokal P. Earthing the human body influences physiologic processes. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Apr;17(4):301-8. doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0687. Epub 2011 Apr 6. PMID: 21469913; PMCID: PMC3154031.
[viii] Passi R., Doheny K.K., Gordin Y., Hinssen H., Palmer C. Electrical grounding improves vagal tone in preterm infants. Neonatology. 2017;112(2):187–192
[ix] Ober C. Grounding the human body to neutralize bioelectrical stress from static electricity and EMFs. ESD Journal.
[x] Lin CH, Tseng ST, Chuang YC, Kuo CE, Chen NC. Grounding the Body Improves Sleep Quality in Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease: A Pilot Study. Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Mar 20;10(3):581. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10030581. Erratum in: Healthcare (Basel). 2022 May 26;10(6): PMID: 35327058; PMCID: PMC8954071.
[xi] Ghaly M, Teplitz D. 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. 2004;10(5):767–776.[xii] Shuper Engelhard E, Pitluk M, Elboim-Gabyzon M. Grounding the Connection Between Psyche and Soma: Creating a Reliable Observation Tool for Grounding Assessment in an Adult Population. Front Psychol. 2021 Mar 8;12:621958. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.621958. PMID: 33762998; PMCID: PMC7982724.
[xiii] Park HJ, Jeong W, Yu HJ, Ye M, Hong Y, Kim M, Kim JY, Shim I. The Effect of Earthing Mat on Stress-Induced Anxiety-like Behavior and Neuroendocrine Changes in the Rat. Biomedicines. 2022 Dec 26;11(1):57. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11010057. PMID: 36672565; PMCID: PMC9855809.
[xiv] Koniver L. Practical applications of grounding to support health. Biomed J. 2023 Feb;46(1):41-47. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2022.12.001. Epub 2022 Dec 5. PMID: 36481428; PMCID: PMC10105020.
[xv] Chevalier G., Sinatra S.T., Oschman J.L., Delany R.M. Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity – a major factor in cardiovascular disease. Altern and Complemen Med. 2013;19(2):102–110.
[xvi] Brown R., Chevalier G. Grounding the human body during yoga exercise with a grounded yoga mat reduces blood viscosity. Open Prev Med. 2015;5:159–168.
[xvii] Mousa H.A. Prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection by earthing. Biomed J. 2023;46(1):60–69.
[xviii] Sokal K., Sokal P. Earthing the human body influences physiologic processes. J Alternative Compl Med. 2011;17(4):301–308.
[xix] Elkin H.K., Winter A. Grounding patients with hypertension improves blood pressure: a case history series study. Altern Ther. 2018;24(6):46–50.
[xx] Chevalier G. The effect of grounding the human body on mood. Psychol Rep. 2015 Apr;116(2):534-42. doi: 10.2466/06.PR0.116k21w5. Epub 2015 Mar 6. PMID: 25748085.
[xxi] https://earthinginstitute.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/thermographycasehistories2004.pdf
[xxii] Oschman JL, Chevalier G, Brown R. The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. J Inflamm Res. 2015 Mar 24;8:83-96. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S69656. PMID: 25848315; PMCID: PMC4378297.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4378297/
[xxiii] Ober C., Oschman J.L. Prevention and/or recovery from corona virus infections. Int J Endocrinol Metabol. 2020;6:22–24.
[xxiv] Oschman JL, Chevalier G, Brown R. The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. J Inflamm Res. 2015 Mar 24;8:83-96. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S69656. PMID: 25848315; PMCID: PMC4378297.