By Tony Bruce and Ben Emos | Sunday, November 10, 2024 | 9 min read
Grounding, also known as earthing, is the practice of making direct skin contact with the Earth’s surface—whether through bare feet, hands, or specialized grounding products. Across various cultures, stories about the health and wellness benefits of connecting with the Earth are common, with many reporting increased well-being from spending time barefoot in nature. For most people, though, going barefoot outdoors regularly isn’t always practical. Many of us enjoy it only on beach vacations or special outings, so we miss out on the ongoing benefits.
Research suggests that consistent contact with the Earth’s surface can support lasting health improvements. Regular grounding has been associated with reduced inflammation, improved sleep, enhanced energy, and an overall sense of wellness. Thanks to modern grounding products, it’s now possible to maintain this beneficial contact with the Earth throughout the day. These grounding tools—such as mats, bed sheets, and wearable devices—make it easy to stay connected while sleeping, working, or even walking, allowing more people to enjoy the benefits of grounding wherever they are.
Grounding devices like sheets, mats, wrist and ankle bands, patches, and footwear provide an easy way to maintain a connection with the Earth’s natural electric charge indoors or at work. These products are conductive, meaning they allow for the flow of electrons from the Earth to your body, mimicking the effect of direct contact with the ground. They connect to the Earth either through a cord that plugs into the ground port of a standard electrical outlet or by attaching to a grounding rod placed in the soil outside a window.
For grounding footwear, a small conductive plug is embedded in the sole at the ball of the foot, targeting the Kidney acupuncture point for optimal benefits. This design makes grounding simple and accessible, fitting into daily routines without needing outdoor barefoot time. These tools are convenient and user-friendly and are also being explored for clinical applications, given their potential health benefits like improved sleep, reduced inflammation, and stress relief, as noted in recent grounding research findings.
Recently, a group of approximately a dozen researchers, have been investigating the physiological effects of grounding from various perspectives. This work has resulted in over a dozen studies published in peer-reviewed journals. While many of these initial studies included relatively small sample sizes, collectively, they represent a promising new frontier in inflammation research with significant potential for prevention and public health impact. The findings warrant attention from the inflammation research community, which can further evaluate, validate, or refine the interpretations presented thus far.
Research indicates that grounding reduces or even prevents key signs of inflammation after injury—such as redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function. Rapid resolution of painful, chronic inflammation was also observed in 20 case studies through medical infrared imaging.
Research also suggests that grounding may enhance sleep quality, regulate the day-night cortisol cycle, alleviate pain, reduce stress, promote a shift in autonomic nervous system balance from sympathetic to parasympathetic activation, boost heart rate variability, accelerate wound healing, and lower blood viscosity. A comprehensive review of these effects was published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health.
Effects on Sleep
An early grounding study explored how grounding influences sleep quality and circadian cortisol rhythms. In this study, 12 participants who experienced pain and sleep disturbances slept grounded for eight weeks using a grounding system. Over the study period, their cortisol levels gradually normalized, aligning with a healthy diurnal rhythm. Most participants also reported improvements in sleep quality, along with reductions in both pain and stress levels.
The experiment led to the following conclusions: (1) grounding the body during sleep induces measurable changes in diurnal or circadian cortisol secretion, which subsequently (2) impacts sleep quality, pain levels, and stress indicators—including anxiety, depression, and irritability—as reported by participants. The cortisol-related findings of Ghaly and Teplitz are especially noteworthy given recent research linking prolonged chronic stress to glucocorticoid receptor resistance. Such resistance hinders the regulation of inflammatory responses, potentially heightening the risk of various chronic diseases. This outcome aligns with the findings discussed in the “Effects on Pain and the Immune Response” section.
Effects on Pain and the Immune Response
A pilot study investigating grounding’s impact on pain and immune response utilized delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) as a model. DOMS is the muscle pain and stiffness that occurs hours to days after engaging in strenuous or unfamiliar exercise and is a standard research model in exercise and sports physiology. The soreness in DOMS results from temporary muscle damage due to eccentric exercise. Concentric contraction, where the muscle shortens (like lifting a dumbbell), contrasts with eccentric contraction, where the muscle lengthens (like lowering a dumbbell).
In the study, eight healthy participants performed an unfamiliar eccentric exercise targeting their gastrocnemius (calf) muscles to induce soreness. This exercise involved two sets of 20 toe raises while bearing a barbell on their shoulders, with the balls of their feet positioned on a 2-inch × 4-inch wooden board.
All participants in the study adhered to a consistent routine: they ate standardized meals at the same time each day and maintained a fixed sleep schedule for three days. At 5:40 p.m. each day, four participants received conductive grounding patches on their gastrocnemius muscles and the soles of their feet. These participants also rested and slept on grounding systems and remained on the grounded sheets continuously, except for brief breaks for meals and bathroom visits. The remaining four participants served as controls, following the same protocol but using ungrounded patches and sheets.
Researchers took various measurements before the exercise and then one, two, and three days post-exercise. These included pain levels, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), spectroscopy, serum and saliva cortisol, blood and enzyme chemistry, and blood cell counts.
Pain was assessed using two methods. The first was a subjective Visual Analog Scale (VAS), completed each morning and afternoon. The second involved an objective measure: in the afternoon, a blood pressure cuff was placed on the right gastrocnemius muscle and inflated until the participant felt acute discomfort, recording the maximum tolerated pressure. Results indicated that grounded participants experienced less pain, as shown by lower soreness ratings on the VAS and by their ability to tolerate higher pressures from the blood pressure cuff.
Research into earthing, or grounding, supports it as a promising, natural health practice with potential benefits for reducing chronic inflammation and improving overall well-being. This approach is based on the concept that direct contact with the Earth’s surface—through walking barefoot on grass, sand, or soil, or using grounding devices—can transfer electrons from the Earth to the body, which may neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation.
The body’s connective tissue system, known as the “living matrix,” acts as a conductive network, facilitating the flow of electrons throughout the body and helping maintain physiological balance. In this theory, grounding acts as a recharging mechanism for this matrix, replenishing electrons and enhancing the body’s inherent antioxidant defenses. Clinical studies have shown that grounding may improve sleep, decrease pain, and lower stress levels, indicating potential as a complementary health approach for chronic conditions often exacerbated by inflammation. Researchers and clinicians are starting to take interest in this practice due to its simplicity, accessibility, and potential physiological benefits.
Further studies are needed, but grounding presents an intriguing frontier in health science that could offer effective, low-cost benefits for inflammation and general wellness.
Grounding FAQs
How does grounding work?
Grounding, or “earthing,” connects the body to the Earth’s surface, typically through barefoot contact with the ground or using grounding products that link to an outlet or grounding rod. Unlike feeling “grounded” from practices like meditation, this type of grounding is physical. The idea is that direct contact with the Earth allows the body to absorb electrons, which are thought to help balance your body’s natural electrical charge. Some believe this connection has health benefits, including improved sleep, reduced inflammation, and stress relief.
How can I practice grounding?
You can practice grounding by simply standing barefoot on grass, soil, or sand. If going outside isn’t always possible, grounding products like mats and sheets offer a convenient alternative. These products connect to a grounding port in a wall outlet or a grounding rod in the soil, letting you experience the benefits while indoors.
Grounding can be incorporated into daily life, whether through outdoor activities or the use of indoor grounding tools, to help stay connected with the Earth’s natural energy.
Can grounding help relieve stress and anxiety?
There’s some evidence that grounding may help reduce stress levels. A few studies suggest that it can promote a sense of calm and improve mood, though responses vary from person to person.
How often should someone practice grounding?
It’s flexible—you can do grounding as often as you like. Research indicates that even short sessions, around 30 minutes, can potentially provide noticeable benefits, so even a brief daily session may be worthwhile.
Can grounding help with sleep issues like insomnia?
While grounding isn’t a medically proven treatment for insomnia, some research and reports from individuals who practice grounding suggest it may support better sleep. Many people report feeling more rested after incorporating grounding into their routines, even though results can vary.
Are there any potential risks associated with grounding?
Generally, grounding is considered safe. However, it’s always wise to check with your doctor, especially if you have health concerns. Safety considerations include being mindful when grounding outdoors, avoiding the use of grounding wires during storms, and ensuring grounded outlets are properly functioning if using indoor grounding products.
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