The practice of earthing or grounding helps to restore our natural connection to the Earth. For most of human existence, connection with the Earth had been a very normal and regular part of daily life. It is only in the last few centuries that we now go for prolonged amounts of time without being electromagnetically connected to the Earth, remaining indoors and not being able to make any contact with the ground when outside. Ongoing studies are adding to the body of evidence supporting the idea that a lack of Earthing may be a significant factor contributing to the increased burden of chronic diseases in modern day society.
Earthing, also referred to as grounding, is the process of making physical, bodily contact with the natural electric charge of the Earth. This can help stabilize processes in the body giving us a host of health benefits including reducing inflammation, pain and stress, and improving circulation, energy levels, sleep, and well-being. Research and clinical experience show that grounding has the potential to profoundly affect health and benefits may be observed more quickly than you would expect.
How might grounding work? The surface of our planet is influenced electrically by various natural phenomena including lightning strikes, solar radiation, etc. These events provide a constant supply of particles called free electrons, resulting in a natural negative electric charge which plays an important role for both animals and plants. Grounding results in a transfer of these free electrons into our body, leading to positive changes in bodily processes by maintaining an electrical environment in the body conducive to optimal health. Research shows that grounding can offer an important modulating effect in the setting of chronic disease.
One particularly important health benefit of grounding, which has been studied over the last couple decades, is a reduction or complete resolution of chronic inflammation, which is a well known contributing factor in many chronic diseases and pain. By restoring a natural internal electrical environment, negative electrons target inflamed sites in the body, allowing for more balanced immune signalling. We know that inflammation also plays a role in cancer progression and many of our natural therapies target inflammation in the setting of cancer. Earthing can be a helpful additional therapy to further reduce inflammation. Perhaps our planet should be known as the ‘original anti-inflammatory’.
Earthing is an amazingly simple practice to incorporate into your lifestyle. Walking outdoors barefoot is one of the most intuitive ways to start, in places like a grassy park, sandy beach, or your own backyard. If you enjoy gardening, you can also opt for barefoot gardening and getting your hands in the soil for additional grounding benefits.
Author: Dr. Sukriti Bhardwaj ND