Earthing: Using Nature’s Energy for Well-Being
Do you feel disconnected from nature or consider the ways in which nature can help us heal our bodies? Aside from the natural world providing us with nourishment and medicine, its very own energy can help us heal when we are connected to it!
A powerful tool to regain connection to not only nature but to ourselves is called “earthing.”
What are Earthing and Grounding?
To state simply, earthing is when we (quite literally) place our bare feet or bodies on grass, sand, bodies of water, and soil to absorb the energy the earth’s surface is emitting. Grounding refers to the ways you use all your senses to ground yourself: stretching, meditating, or breathwork. Some experts and wellness enthusiasts define earthing as a type of grounding while others use it interchangeably.
The Science Behind Earthing
Our bodies are constantly being amped by the positive energies from our technological devices, radiation, and EMFs (electromagnetic fields). Earth’s surface is negatively charged, so when we place our bodies or bare feet on it, it allows our positively charged bodies to find equilibrium or balance.
History of Earthing
While earthing’s origins are in traditional Chinese medicine and indigenous cultures, a man named Clint Ober fostered the movement in many Americans after earthing and being connected with nature healed him from a compromising health diagnosis. After his own healing journey and going back to his roots as a farmer in Montana and living closely with Native Americans whose connection to the land was foundational to health, he noticed there were almost no studies conducted on earthing.
Wanting everyone to know the power of nature, he funded his own study in 2004 (after being rejected by numerous scientists and researchers) that tracked participants' circadian rhythms before and after sleeping grounded over several weeks. The results showed a significant reduction in cortisol during sleep with subjects reporting symptoms such as pain, sleep dysfunction, and stress were reduced or eliminated completely.
From Disconnection to Reconnection
It can be so easy to become disconnected from nature due to the fast-paced modern world. The correlation between remaining connected with nature and the significant positive impact it has on our health is closely linked. Nature reminds us to slow down and take in the present moment–it allows us to ground. When we feel grounded in ourselves, we are able to make more health-conscious decisions that not only benefit our bodies, but the planet as well.
Because we spend most of our lives indoors, we are not benefiting from the healing powers of the earth. It’s important to remember that our ancestors were naturally earthing every day and allowing the energy between the earth and their bodies to balance. They lived seasonally. Clint Ober views earthing as a practice so critical for the human body that he calls earth’s natural energy “Vitamin G” for “Vitamin Ground.”
Ober has made products that make earthing accessible indoors, here is a link to his page.
Studies Highlighting Earthing’s Benefits
Study 1: Earthing’s link to the immune response and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune responses.
In this study, researchers evaluated the effects of earthing on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Results: Earthing was found to be a simple, natural, and accessible form of reducing chronic inflammation. Earthing served as a primary antioxidant defense system and the study explained that our bodies require occasional recharging by touching the earth. The researchers even called the earth’s surface “the battery for all planetary life.”
Study 2: Earthing (Grounding) the Human Body Reduces Blood Viscosity—a Major Factor in Cardiovascular Disease
In this study, researchers examined the effects grounding had on cardiovascular health.
Results: After two hours of earthing, the ten research participants demonstrated a significant increase in cardiovascular health. The scientists concluded, “Grounding appears to be one of the simplest and yet most profound interventions for helping reduce cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular events.”
How to Implement Earthing in Your Routine
Prioritizing earthing in your routine is easier than you would think! It offers a great opportunity to habit stack. When I take my dog out for a walk every morning and get morning sunlight on my face, I spend time earthing and grounding myself for my day. Taking your book outside to read, eating a meal in the backyard, tending to your garden, or simply walking around your yard all while having direct contact with the earth’s surface will allow for immeasurable benefits to take place. Plus, this health hack is cost-free and simple!
Ready to become in tune with your body and learn about more ways to heal?
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