Grounding: The Untapped Health Benefits
In this article, we will explore the phenomenon of grounding, the biophysics underpinning it, and its effect on our health and vitality.
What Is Grounding?
A natural DC electrical circuit permeates everything on our planet, encompassing plants, animals, humans, and the Earth’s entire surface, forming a global electrical circuit. This electrical energy flows continuously across the Earth's crust. Anything conductive that touches the earth becomes part of this circuit.
Grounding, also known as earthing, refers to physically connecting oneself directly to the Earth's electrical energy, with bare feet or hands, for example.
The practice of grounding or earthing has fascinating impacts on health and physiology. Scientific research has observed improvements in inflammation, immune function, wound healing, blood circulation, and the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.
How does grounding work?
The Earth is more negatively charged than our bodies, and direct electrical contact with the Earth's surface allows for the transfer of negatively charged electrons from the ground into the body. This helps to dissipate static electricity that has built up in your body, neutralize positive charges, and restore a natural balance.
Moistening the skin and the ground surface enhances grounding effects by reducing electrical resistance. Interestingly, our feet and hands contain a high concentration of sweat glands, which produce moisture that enhances the electrical connection between our bodies and the Earth.
Contact with the Earth transfers electrons across the skin and into the body, potentially through low-resistance acupuncture points and meridians or through mucous membranes in the respiratory and digestive systems that connect to the skin.
Ways of Grounding
We can ground our bodies through various natural materials, including grass, sand, dirt, soil, plants, living trees (especially those with wet bark), gravel, rock in contact with the earth, unsealed concrete, and bodies of water.
There are many ways to integrate ourselves into the Earth's electrical circuit:
Swimming in a lake
Yoga in the meadows
Walking on the beach
Eating meals grounded outside
Walking your dog grounded
Hugging a tree
What are the best surfaces to ground or practice earthing?
Outdoors: grass, sand, soil, rocks, unsealed tiles/brick, gravel, and concrete.
Indoors: unpainted or unsealed concrete or tile floors built directly on the Earth are best (best to test the floor for conductivity).
What surfaces do not ground you?
Outside: asphalt, vinyl, wood (such as wooden decks).
Inside: wooden floors, painted/sealed concrete or tiled floors, carpets.
Credit: BeGrounded
Walking Grounded
Walking barefoot in nature is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to ground yourself.
Walking on dewy grass first thing in the morning or wet grass after rainfall can help increase the conductive connection between the ground and the body. A study found that standing on a sandy beach with dry feet resulted in no measurable current. However, when the feet were moistened, the body's electrical resistance decreased by 94% (1).
Another great way to ground is to walk barefoot in cold water, on the waterline by the sea or a lake. Submerging your feet in cold water leads to the constriction of blood vessels in the extremities, which causes blood to gather centrally. This is followed by dilating peripheral blood vessels once removed from the cold environment, improving blood circulation. This effect can be further enhanced through grounding.
ELite athletes are grounding
The best athletes in the world are publicly showcasing and encouraging grounding. It can be used as a tool to reduce inflammation and gain energy, especially important for sports such as football and tennis. The likes of Erland Harling and Novak Djokic are famous fans of grounding and even wearing blue light-blocking glasses.
Grounding Shoes
Our disconnection from the Earth accelerated in the early 1950s, marked by the introduction of shoes with insulating soles, a departure from traditional, conductive leather soles.
Grounding footwear provides indirect contact with the ground. They have a copper plug going through the shoe’s sole, which electrically connects your foot to the ground. They will often have a natural leather sole, which is also conductive.
Although grounded shoes work best when worn without socks, an interesting tactic to optimize conductivity is to wear cotton or wool socks to build up moisture levels and improve conductivity.
The two best options I have first-hand experience with are Earth Runners, which have been a companion of mine on my feet for over the last eight years. The second option is Rhizal, a formal shoe with a style - that can be used for work. Both are great options.
Sleeping Grounded
Novel devices exist that can make grounding more convenient in modern settings. This includes grounding sheets, mats, wristbands, and ankle bands. These tools, suitable for use during sleep and computer work, establish a connection to the Earth via a cord that plugs into a grounded outlet or attaches to an external ground rod.
Research has found that using a grounded sleeping mat under your sheets can improve digestion, bowel movements, sleep quality, energy levels, and strength. (2)
Ground rod electrodes should be placed as deep as possible into the ground, especially in cold areas, as frost can impair electrical conductivity. You can also water the ground around the rod's location to improve grounding efficiency.
Now that we know how to ground, let’s take a look at the impact it can have on our health.
Health Benefits of Grounding
Oxidative Stress and Grounding
Antioxidants donate electrons to prooxidants like reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the best electron donor may be right under our feet. Our planet cares for us through this invisible helping hand; we are foolish to disconnect from it.
The Living Matrix
The human body has a system-wide collagenous, liquid–crystalline semiconductor network known as the living matrix (2). This body-wide network can deliver mobile electrons to any body part, thereby protecting cells, tissues, and organs from oxidative stress.
The living matrix includes the extracellular matrices, connective tissues, and cytoskeletons of cells. The integrins on cell surfaces may facilitate the semi-conductive transmission of electrons into the cell interior, while connections across the nuclear envelope integrate the nuclear matrix and genetic material into the network. (2)
This electronic circuit coupling the entire body may serve as a fundamental antioxidant defense mechanism.
The matrix system's extracellular component primarily consists of collagen. The cytoskeleton comprises microtubules, microfilaments, and various fibrous proteins. Meanwhile, the nuclear matrix is formed from a network of proteins, including histones. The concept that collagen acts as a semiconductor was pioneered by Albert Szent-Györgyi. Therefore, The matrix is a vast whole-body redox system capable of absorbing and donating electrons wherever needed to support immune functioning. (2)
Grounding is a primary mechanism for providing this living matrix with anti-inflammatory electrons.
Inflammation and grounding
Grounding can diminish or even eliminate the primary indicators of inflammation after an injury, such as redness, heat, swelling, pain, and reduced function (2). The image below illustrates a non-healing ulcer in a diabetic woman showing significant improvement after two weeks of daily grounding for 30 minutes.
Wound healing is much faster, and the cardinal signs of inflammation are reduced or eliminated when the body is regularly grounded.
Typically, neutrophils quickly reach an injured area to break down damaged cells and communicate via the cytokine network to oversee the repair mechanism. This process is known as the "oxidative burst" and involves neutrophils generating ROS. While ROS is crucial in eliminating pathogens and cellular waste and facilitating tissue regeneration, they may also inadvertently harm surrounding healthy cells, leading to unwanted collateral damage.
When the immune system reacts to injuries or infections, it creates an "inflammatory barrier" through the coagulation of debris. This barrier isolates the affected tissues, preventing pathogens and debris from spreading to neighboring healthy tissues. However, this protective mechanism also obstructs the entry of antioxidants and regenerative cells into the isolated region, potentially impeding the healing process. Incomplete repair can lead to a chronic inflammatory cycle.
Researchers hypothesize that electrons from the Earth enter the body and are semi-conducted through connective tissue, thus bypassing the inflammatory barricade, where they can exert their antioxidant effects (2). Dietary antioxidants cannot achieve this due to their inability to diffuse through the barricade. Lower neutrophil and lymphocyte levels in grounded subjects may help curtail chronic inflammation (2).
Grounding and COVID19
Grounding your body leads to observable changes in the levels of white blood cells, cytokines, and other molecules associated with the inflammatory process. White cell counts have been shown to decrease steadily following an injury (2).
One study hints at the possibility that grounding can improve the recovery from COVID-19, resulting in a shorter illness duration (3). However, it is important to note that this study had no control group.
“There was a spectacular response in a critically ill patient who was unable to speak due to severe dyspnea with a blood oxygen level of 38% on continuous oxygen supply. On the second day, after two sessions of 3 h daily earthing, his oxygen level rose to 95% with oxygen supply and 77% without oxygen supply.” (3)
Circadian Health and grounding
The daily fluctuations in the global electric circuit and Schumann resonance help us to maintain a healthy circadian rhythm. (4)
A study showed that people who spent a month in an underground bunker, isolated from any natural daylight, kept their internal day/night cycle synchronized despite the total lack of sunlight. However, participants who stayed in an underground bunker shielded from the Earth's DC energy experienced internal desynchronization and could not keep a stable day/night rhythm. (5).
When a 10 Hz electromagnetic field, mirroring the Earth's average heartbeat, was reintroduced to the living spaces of the previously Earth-shielded participants, they could realign with a normal day/night cycle.
This is why grounding can improve our circadian health, normalize our sleep patterns, and promote daytime wakefulness.
Image from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283006441_One-Hour_Contact_with_the_Earth's_Surface_Grounding_Improves_Inflammation_and_Blood_Flow-A_Randomized_Double-Blind_Pilot_Study
Sleep Quality and Grounding
30-minute daily grounding sessions have been shown to improve sleep quality, resulting in deeper and more restorative sleep (6).
Cortisol & Stress
Preliminary research indicates that sleeping grounded may help normalize cortisol secretion's circadian rhythm (6).
Grounding shifts the autonomic nervous system from sympathetic toward parasympathetic activation, moving the body into a relaxed state. It also improves the body's autonomic function through vagal tone support (7).
Blood circulation
In the 19th century, Monsignor Sebastian Kneipp, a pioneer in naturopathy, significantly revived barefoot walking worldwide, asserting it was a simple yet highly effective method to strengthen the body and boost circulation(8).
Since then, research has shown that grounding increases heart rate variability and improves blood flow to peripheral tissues (9). It also reduces blood viscosity, lowering the risk of blood clots (10).
Although walking barefoot enhances blood circulation, thermal imaging has shown that sleeping while grounded can further boost circulation and mitigate the issue of cold feet.
Grounding reduces Blood pressure
A study involving 53 pre-hypertensive participants found that sitting barefoot in direct contact with the ground for an hour significantly reduced diastolic, systolic, and mean blood pressure in 28 individuals. In comparison, no significant changes were observed in the 25 control participants wearing insulating footwear (11,12). Imagine the effects if they had walked barefoot outdoors in nature.
Grounding and Blood Glucose
Grounding can aid in blood glucose regulation. Earthing the human body during rest or exercise increases glucose utilization by the cells and decreases blood glucose in patients with diabetes (13).
Bone Health and Grounding
Reducing renal excretion of calcium and phosphorus and lowering serum concentrations of total calcium, ionized calcium, and phosphorus can indicate that they are stored in the skeleton (13). Earthing for a single night reduces the primary indicators of osteoporosis (14).
Grounding Effect on Metabolism
Grounding upregulates our basal metabolic activity shown by an increase in oxygen consumption pulse rate and respiratory rate (2,15). This may be related to its effect on thyroid function and mitochondrial activity. A deficiency in electrons through lack of grounding may lead to the de-saturation of electron transport chains in mitochondria, contributing to chronic fatigue syndrome from impairing mitochondria health.
Thyroid Function and Grounding
Sleeping grounded has been shown to increase free T4 and TSH whilst lowering free T3 (13). In the context of an observed increase in basal metabolic rate and body temperature, these results could be interpreted as augmented free T3 utilization. Increased thyroid function is capable of uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria resulting in the release of energy as heat.
Grounding Effects on Pain
Grounded sleeping has been shown to reduce muscle soreness and improve recovery time after intensive workouts. An attenuated increase in blood creatine kinase levels, a marker for muscle damage, was also observed. (2)
Grounding can also alleviate pain in patients suffering from autoimmune conditions due to its positive effects on inflammation.
Edema
In the grounding study conducted by Menigoz et al., Dr. Cimone Kamei discussed his approach to treating patients with edema caused by kidney failure or cancer (16). He has them sit on a beach with their lower legs buried in a hole filled with wet sand. According to Dr. Kamei, the edema often disappears after approximately 20 minutes of this treatment.
Longevity supplement = Grounding
The antioxidant properties of grounding may provide longevity benefits as aging is thought to be driven by cumulative damage done by ROS produced during metabolism or in response to toxins or inflammation (17).
Feeling Vitality
The incredible thing about grounding is that we can physically feel its effects. Activities involving direct contact with the Earth feel more rejuvenating than those that don't. Whether swimming in the sea, walking barefoot on the sand, or gardening with your hands in the soil, these moments connect you to the Earth's global electrical circuit. When we are grounded, we feel more vibrant and energetic.
Grounding is associated with no known adverse side effects, reflecting our body's evolutionary adaptation to millennia of direct contact with the Earth. This long history is evidenced by the broad spectrum of positive effects grounding has on our physiology.
Electromagnetic Hygiene
Ideally, biological grounding should be undertaken in environments with good electromagnetic hygiene that are not heavily polluted by artificial EMFs from power lines or electrical infrastructure.
If you are using grounding cords to connect to grounded power sockets, it may be useful to use a “ground checker” to ensure the electrical grounding systems are functioning correctly (8). Unfortunately, many buildings possess insufficient electrical mains ground connections despite having three-pin sockets.
There is a chance that the grounding wire may capture unwanted radio frequency signals. Direct physical contact with the ground in locations with optimal electromagnetic cleanliness offers a more effective method for body grounding.
Environmental Mismatch
Life on Earth has evolved over eons in response to selective pressures presented by Nature. Adopting an evolutionary perspective is fundamental to understanding how to optimize our health and regain our vitality.
In contrast to modern society, our ancestors evolved in vastly different environments. Throughout evolutionary history, living organisms have maintained a direct relationship with the electrical properties of the earth. Our indifference to our environment has led us to destroy the milieu in which we evolved.
We forfeit the advantages of grounding in our everyday lives due to our reluctance to walk barefoot outdoors, except for beach holidays, where, ironically, we find ourselves feeling more vital.
Our lifestyle practices, such as insulating shoes, living in high-rise buildings, and sleeping on raised beds, prevent direct physical contact between our skin and the Earth's surface. In past cultures, our connection to the Earth was maintained through the use of animal skins for both footwear and bedding. Our modern lifestyle has severed this connection, depriving our bodies of the essential source of electrons necessary for optimal functioning.
Now, you are equipped with the knowledge of how to reconnect to the Earth and why it is so important if you are interested in reclaiming your health.
In summary:
Grounding is not a biohack but one of the most primordial concepts centered around physiology and metabolism. When not grounded, we become disconnected and deficient in charge and electrons, which alters our physiology, as demonstrated in the examples above.
We need to provide our bodies with time and opportunities to practice grounding, whether in the garden or at the beach, but without our socks and shoes on. Nothing replaces grounding in nature with your bare feet. Utilizing grounding sandals, shoes, or even sleeping mats are just ways to add back what our modern environment and society have stolen from us - our right to be healthy.
The sleeping mat best suits a grounding rod and wire setup. I am a fan of Be Grounded, which is based in the UK and shares fantastic information about the healing powers of grounding. You can save 10% off Be Grounded products HERE using my discount code LIVEVITAE10.
The Grounding sandals - Earth Runners I have been wearing for over eight years are from the US, and you can receive a 10% discount off your order with 10LiveVitae using my direct link HERE. The grounding shoes are a recent addition to Rhizal Shoes - although living in the tropics, opportunities to wear them are rare- but they have style and a casual vibe. You can get 10% off them directly HERE and use my discount code LIVEVITAE10.
References:
1. Neoh SL. Exploratory study on the natural ground electric current that flows through the human body as a possible pathway for the therapeutic effects of beach going. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2018 Dec 1;41:161–8.
2. 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.
3. Mousa HAL. Prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection by earthing. Biomed J. 2023 Feb;46(1):60–9.
4. Koniver L. Practical applications of grounding to support health. Biomed J. 2023 Feb;46(1):41–7.
5. Wever R. The effects of electric fields on circadian rhythmicity in men. Life Sci Space Res. 1970;8:177–87.
6. Ghaly M, Teplitz D. The biological 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.
7. Passi R, Doheny KK, Gordin Y, Hinssen H, Palmer C. Electrical Grounding Improves Vagal Tone in Preterm Infants. Neonatology. 2017 Jun 10;112(2):187–92.
8. Jamieson IA. Grounding (earthing) as related to electromagnetic hygiene: An integrative review. Biomedical Journal. 2023 Feb 1;46(1):30–40.
9. Chevalier G, Melvin G, Barsotti T. One-Hour Contact with the Earth’s Surface (Grounding) Improves Inflammation and Blood Flow—A Randomized, Double-Blind, Pilot Study. Health. 2015 Aug 3;7(8):1022–59.
10. Chevalier G, Sinatra ST, Oschman JL, Delany RM. Earthing (Grounding) the Human Body Reduces Blood Viscosity—a Major Factor in Cardiovascular Disease. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2013 Feb;19(2):102–10.
11. Teli SS, M SV, L P, D D. An experimental Study on the immediate effect of direct barefoot contact with the earth on prehypertension. International Journal of Medical Research and Review. 2015 Sep 30;3(8):836–40.
12. Elkin HK, Winter A. Grounding patients with hypertension improves blood pressure: A case history series study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2018;24(6):46–50.
13. Sokal K, Sokal P. Earthing the Human Body Influences Physiologic Processes. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Apr;17(4):301–8.
14. Oschman JL. Chronic Disease: Are We Missing Something? J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Apr;17(4):283–5.
15. Chevalier G. 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. J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Jan;16(1):81–7.
16. Menigoz W, Latz TT, Ely RA, Kamei C, Melvin G, Sinatra D. Integrative and lifestyle medicine strategies should include Earthing (grounding): Review of research evidence and clinical observations. EXPLORE. 2020 May 1;16(3):152–60.
17. Maldonado E, Morales-Pison S, Urbina F, Solari A. Aging Hallmarks and the Role of Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants. 2023 Mar;12(3):651.