The Health Benefits of Earthing, Grounding and Walking Barefoot

The benefits of “Earthing” – also known as “grounding” – has been working for humans and animals since the beginning of time. We simply didn’t realize that our almost constant connection to the Earth helped balance our total body health until scientists began studying the phenomenon in the last few decades.

 What is the Concept of Earthing?

The concept is simple but effective.

In the late 1990s, Clinton Ober – after a lifetime in the cable industry – made the connection between poor performance with un-grounded electronics and how humans become un-grounded by wearing synthetic shoes between their bodies and the Earth. His thoughts sparked a holistic movement that is finally being confirmed in the scientific community.

When you walk on dirt, sand or grass barefoot, electrons enter your body through your feet. Researchers are discovering that these electrons are some of the most powerful antioxidants available.

During modern times, we’ve grown increasingly more distant from the Earth. We are eating more “unnatural” foods every year. Our shoes are made from non-organic materials such as plastic and rubber – instead of the animal or plant materials used throughout history. More and more metal, glass and plastic insulate our homes and businesses. We are surrounded by technology – WiFi devices, microwaves and cell phones – that cause electrical imbalance in our core systems. Fewer people hike or camp where they sit or sleep close to the earth anymore.

We are flooding our bodies with contaminates while simultaneously isolating ourselves from one of the biggest health benefits available: Earth.

An article published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health stated, “The research done to date supports the concept 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 Science of Earthing

Human beings are bioelectrical. Each of the basic functions – heart, immune system, brain, muscles and nervous system – depend on electrical currents for transference of nutrients, heartbeat and communication between the brain and body.

We are conductive – able to transmit electricity – and the free radicals in our bodies that lead to disease are positively charged. The earth is negatively charged. By bringing the two together, we balance our internal electrical systems.

Dr. James Oschman, PhD stated in his article published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, “The idea that nature has influences that are vital for the proper functioning of mind and body has been thought about for thousands of years, and in the last century has been repeatedly confirmed by science.”

“Chronic disease is the number one cause of death and disability in the United States. Treating patients with chronic diseases accounts for 75% of the nation’s health care spending, which surpassed $2.3 trillion in 2008. The most common and costly chronic diseases are heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes,” Dr. Oschman’s report continued.

Hundreds of illnesses and chronic diseases have been linked to a common contributor:

INFLAMMATION

Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize winner, explained the benefits of Earthing in his research on electromagnetism. When the body is grounded to Earth, it allows the Earth to become the “working agent that cancels, reduces, or pushes away electric fields from the body.”

Earthing:

• Minimizes inflammation and eases the symptoms of inflammation disorders
• Regulates heart rate and lowers blood pressure
• Stimulates deep, healthy sleep and increases energy
• Eases chronic pain – often eliminating it entirely
• Increases blood flow and thins the blood
• Enables faster recovery for muscle soreness or tension
• Regulates hormones and eases the symptoms of menstruation
• Regulates stress hormones and fosters a sense of calm

Grounding or Earthing benefits may seem “new age,” but in reality it is mankind’s earliest form of medicine…that we didn’t even know we were using. When you use the Earth’s abundant free electrons, you are giving your body the biggest and most powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory available!

Here are some ways to ground, or practice earthing:

• Spend 30 minutes walking barefoot on a beach or in the grass.
• Swim in a lake, river or ocean.
• Work in the garden without gloves, letting your hands contact with the soil.
• Sit or lay in the grass or on a beach.
• Sit in the branches of a tree.
• Go for a hike or walk in the woods and sit down on a boulder or fallen tree.

In all these ways, you’re simply connecting with or being grounded to the Earth.

Earthing is free, it will never run out and your body will thank you as it is able to balance the electrical systems constantly at work – cardiovascular, nervous, respiratory, digestive and immune system just to name a few.

 

There are so many reasons to kick off your shoes (and socks!) at the end of a long day. It also helps to smile—because happiness is key to better brain function. And these brain-boosting supplements are like Adderall for multitaskers.