The Benefits of Grounding or Earthing

Recently I was chatting with my sister and she mentioned “grounding” to me. In the context she gave it to me, I instantly became lost. Her words to me were, “I am not surprised you don’t know what grounding is because it’s something you do all the time.” That didn’t make sense either…If it something I do on a regular basis shouldn’t I know what it is?

Background…I grew up in what most people like to call the “sticks” Wyoming. Not only was I raised in a small town but my home was located up on a mountain outside of town. My parents’ passion for the outdoors was passed down to me and is so deeply ingrained into the person I am. I am the youngest of 5 children by quite a few years so by the time I was 5 all of my siblings were out of the house and living their own lives. My dad worked out of town, and my mom also worked a full time job as well as took care of my beautiful grandmother. This left me a lot of time on my own and being cooped up in the house was not my idea of fun. I was often found in the pasture petting, walking, or talking to the horses, building forts in the ravine with my trusty bordercollie at my heals, and on a hot summer day I would spend all day playing/swimming in the irrigation ditch.

As I grew older and my dad retired we spent a lot of time in the mountains hiking. This is still one of my favorite past times. I have found that when I am stressed, anxious, or sad, a good walk in the woods is the key to alleviating my troubles. Not only the walk, but the time spent sitting on a rock or on a clump of grass in the middle of a meadow, deep breaths of clean mountain air, dipping my feet in a stream or lake, or if I am lucky, spending the day in my kayak are all so healing to me. I look forward to them and seek them out in times of difficulty in my life. It has been that ways since I was a small child.

So why did my sister tell me that I grounded myself often? What is grounding? I love the explanation found here:

“Human beings evolved in connection with the Earth’s energy. We walked barefoot and we slept in contact with the Earth never realizing that its surface contained limitless, natural, healing energy. Walking around barefoot is not our main mode of travel any longer. We live indoors much of the time and when we do walk or run outside we wear rubber soled shoes which prevent our feet from being able to absorb the Earth’s subtle energy. Rubber is not conductive, but our bodies are!

So here we find ourselves. Civilized in a modern world, but disconnected from a primal, powerful source of energy and healing. See, the Earth is basically a six sextillion (that’s a six followed by twenty-one zeroes) metric ton battery that is continually being replenished by solar radiation, lightning, and heat from its deep-down molten core. The natural rhythmic pulsations of energy flowing through and emanating from the surface of the Earth keep the biological machinery and global life running in rhythm and balance-and that includes you! Unfortunately, we live like cut flowers, detached from the nourishing Earth energy. Earthing, also known as grounding, is simply reconnecting to the Earth’s healing energy.”

The notion is that the earth has a negative charge to it. Over time, especially in modern life, our bodies build up a positive charge. Direct contact with the earth can even out this positive charge and return the body to a neutral state. Makes sense right? It did to me! All those times that I was walking on a beach, sitting by a lake reading my book, sitting in a meadow after a long hike just relaxing, I thought I was just feeding my soul but in all actuality I was doing much more. I was healing myself using the earth’s energy.

So What Are The Benefits of Grounding?

• Reducing inflammation
• Reducing chronic pain
• Speeds healing- used in some places to prevent bed sores
• Improving Sleep and reduce snoring
• Shortening recovery time from injury or athletic activity
• Increasing Energy
• Lowering stress and promoting calmness by reducing stress hormones (I can vouch for this one!)
• Normalizing biological rhythms including circadian rhythm (it helps you sleep when you’re meant to)
• Normalizing blood pressure and blood flow
• Relieving muscle tension and headache (vouching for this one too)
• Improving menstrual and female hormone symptoms
• Reducing jet lag
• Protecting the body from effects of EMFs (ie: too much time on electronics)
• Helping  support adrenal health

What are some of the ways that one might earth or ground themselves? The best way is through bare skin contact with the earth’s surface such as soil, sand, water, and rocks. The beach/ocean is possibly the best place as not only are sand and saltwater extremely conductive, but saltwater is also very high in magnesium. Swimming in lakes or letting your feet dangle in a stream or river are also great ways. Even standing barefoot or laying in the grass in your backyard does the trick.

How about those who do not have access to the earth in those forms? Those who don’t have access or don’t want to be in the outdoors can get the same results by using an earthing mat and and earthing sheet. The mat can be used in an office under your feet at your desk to reduce the exposure to EMF’s. It is also easily transportable so you can take it with you when you travel.  A half-size earthing sheet can be used on any sized bed to achieve grounding benefits. There is no way to fully replace what earth can provide but these are good alternative options. What I have come to know by experience, is that giving yourself the chance to connect with the earth is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself (body and mind)!

We’d love to hear from you! What is your favorite way to ground yourself and release stress?