Earthing: What is it and what are the benefits?
Do you find yourself slipping off your shoes at every chance you get? Do you relish the feeling of bare feet at home, on soft grass or warm sand? If so, you might already be a proponent of Earthing. This intriguing concept involves connecting directly with the Earth, and research suggests it holds profound benefits for our health. Join us as we delve into the world of Earthing in this article, exploring its unique blend of well-being and communion with nature.
Earthing: Reconnecting with Earth's Energies
Earthing, also known as 'grounding' or 'connection to the earth,' involves establishing prolonged contact with the electrical energy present on the Earth's surface. The method is simple: whether by walking or sitting barefoot outdoors or utilizing an Earthing system indoors (such as a mat or bracelet), one can transfer energy from the ground to the body.
This concept emerged in the 1990s in the United States, spurred by the discoveries of Clinton Ober, who initially explored it for therapeutic purposes. Ober's curiosity was piqued while working for a cable television channel, leading him to investigate the impact of electricity on health. In 2000, he conducted a pioneering study, wherein 60 individuals slept on mattresses connected to the Earth. The results were remarkable, prompting further exploration in collaboration with esteemed researchers like cardiologist Stephen Sinatra and physician Martin Zucker.
To grasp the intricacies of this concept, it's essential to understand that our bodies conduct electricity. The Earth, on the other hand, is enveloped in magnetic fields composed of electric particles, fostering exchanges between it and us. Abundant in negative ions, the Earth neutralizes the positively charged cells within our bodies, counteracting free radicals' effects. We need negative ions from nature and the Earth, because they energize and soothe, while positive ions stress and tire us.
Why should Earthing and its benefits be pursued more actively by humans?
With industrialization and the parallel evolution of lifestyles, we have gradually become disconnected from nature and the earth. We seldom walk barefoot outside to feel the telluric energy flowing freely through us. We no longer sleep on the Earth, as was common practice for much of our civilization. The soles of our shoes insulate us. Consequently, we are cut off from our electrical roots, which studies suggest could explain the rise in chronic illnesses worldwide.
Conversely, our bioelectrical bodies normalize when we are grounded and connected to the Earth. This is a wholly vital connection, as our bodies operate electrically.
Earthing: Multiple Benefits Explored by Researchers
By establishing contact with the Earth, we enhance our state of health. Even the most skeptical may find conviction in the research conducted by scientists collaborating with Clint Ober, notably Gaétan Chevalier, a global expert on Earthing and its benefits.
The influx of free electrons from the Earth's surface helps neutralize free radicals, a process highly beneficial in combating oxidative stress. In today's lifestyles, which accelerate bodily aging, we often lack these free electrons. While consuming antioxidant-rich foods aids in countering oxidation effects, they are not always sufficiently present in our daily diets.
Earthing offers numerous other health benefits, including improved sleep, enhanced blood circulation, and reduced inflammation and chronic pain.
Specifically, grounding elicits a distinct inflammatory response, as evidenced by studies measuring white blood cell count and cytokine levels—key inflammation markers. This practice alters circulating neutrophil and lymphocyte levels and influences various parameters, indicating that the influx of free electrons promotes inflammation reduction.
Moreover, Earthing and its benefits have been appreciated in the context of heart diseases, demonstrating that the replenishment of free electrons reduces blood viscosity and platelet aggregation, thereby lowering the risk of blood clots. Better inflammation control also contributes to improved cardiovascular health.
Furthermore, physical connection with the Earth diminishes cortisol, the stress hormone. Concurrently, this grounding fosters tangible well-being and stimulates the natural production of happiness hormones, such as serotonin.
Naturally, these benefits complement the overarching advantages of connecting with nature for overall health.
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