What is Grounding?
Grounding (also known as earthing) is the practice of contacting your skin to the earth. Grounding has shown to have many mental and physical health benefits. The earth has a natural charge and many studies have shown that when we have direct contact with the earth, our bodies respond positively.
In reviews published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health and The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine chronic pain patients reported improved sleep, subjects saw improved skin conductivity, moderated heart rate variability, improved glucose regulation, reduced stress and boosted immunity. Even more studies show lowered risk of heart disease, reduced stress and regulation in all areas of the body.
So how do you start? The most common way to practice grounding is walking or standing barefoot or gardening but really the only requirement is your skin needs to be touching the earth. My preference is barefoot walking in the grass or on the trail because our feet are too often imprisoned in shoes.
"Your brain and body are constantly talking with each other- your feet are full of receptors that communicate directly with the brain so in addition to strengthening the muscles of the feet, you're stimulating those receptors that have an effect on global balance, coordination, proprioception. - Dr. Marqelle Albrecht
Just some benefits from grounding:
- Reduce inflammation through negatively charged ions
- Increases cellular energy
- Helps get rid of migraines
- Disease prevention
- Healthier blood (be careful if you are on blood thinners)
Give it a try and intentionally spend 10 minutes a day grounding and make notes of how you feel over time.
