What is grounding and how can it improve your health?
Learn how to practice grounding and why it may benefit your wellness.
Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Caley Scott, ND
While grounding is not a cure-all for a health and wellness journey, it provides a powerful way to reconnect with the earth and take steps towards balanced, natural living. Let’s explore the concept of grounding, the research behind it, and how you may incorporate it into your daily life.
What exactly is grounding?
Grounding, also called earthing, is the simple concept of physical contact between your body and the earth. We’re not talking about your carpet, tiles, or hardwood floors — earthing requires you to connect directly with grass, dirt, rocks, or other natural surfaces that only planet Earth can provide (though grounding mats are an alternative).
While it might seem obvious to some or confusing to others, the idea of earthing simply takes us back to our basic state as human beings. For hundreds of thousands of years, the earth’s surface was our bedroom floor, living area, transportation system, and so much more. The concept of grounding was first studied in India as an extension of Ayurvedic and Yoga practices, and has since developed into a mainstream ritual for people all over the world.
The grounding movement is all about returning to the baseline contact with the earth itself. With new grounding research emerging all the time, it’s clear that this simple practice has more benefits than we could have imagined.
How does grounding work?
Grounding is as easy as it sounds. Just find a clean, walkable patch of land, take off your shoes, and enjoy a barefoot stroll. You can walk on grass, sand, and dirt, or wade in the shallow waves of an ocean. You can lie down on a rock like a lizard, do a yoga routine on the beach, or just lay out with a book at your local park.
Basically, we’re telling you what your parents said for years as you grew up: put down the computer (or video games, or phone), and get outside! The fresh air, combined with the benefits of grounding for the body and mind, can have a massively positive impact on all areas of your health and well-being. From supporting healthy blood pressure to aiding with chronic pain and even showing potential for preventing cardiovascular disease, the benefits of grounding can’t be overstated. Research is ongoing, but it’s thought that grounding’s ability to relieve feelings of stress may be to thank for its many benefits.
Why is grounding considered beneficial?
On one level, grounding simply feels good. If you work indoors or find yourself attached to a computer all day long, just getting outside provides a rush of relaxation that can’t be matched with any other method.
The connection between nature and health should be apparent to anyone who enjoys hiking, cycling, or just lounging at the beach. After spending time outside, you feel rejuvenated and less stressed, with a fresh perspective on life, relationships, and aspirations.
Grounding takes this well-known principle to another level by looking into the electrical charge of the earth and the human body. It examines the nature of electrons and ions and how the proper balance of these components is key to our health. As we explore grounding further, remember that a combination of ancient knowledge and modern research brought us here.
What are the main principles behind grounding?
You’ve heard all there is to know about healthy eating, exercise, and sleep — so why talk about grounding as a pillar of modern health? It may surprise you to learn that grounding is well-researched and has plenty of scientific studies to support it.
For starters, grounding balances your body’s electrical field by syncing it with the natural electric charge of the earth. Your body is essentially a battery, sending millions of tiny electrical signals that govern your motor functions and support essential processes that keep you alive!
By grounding your body with the earth, you’re absorbing free electrons from the earth in the form of negative ions. These negative ions are actually positive — they keep us stabilized, energized, and functioning as we should.
You may be skeptical at this point, but this is basic knowledge about electricity and biology that has existed for hundreds of years. Even the ancients knew that grounding was beneficial for our bodies and minds, even if they couldn’t articulate their reasons with the science they had.
How can grounding impact physical health?
Now that we know the basics of grounding and how it works, how can this practice impact our physical health? Let’s walk through some key discoveries and see how you might personally benefit from a grounding routine.
Sleep
Why does good sleep seem so hard to come by in the modern world? Electrical imbalance likely plays a role, and grounding can help. When free electrons are buzzing around our system as a result of positive ion exposure from electronics, it’s no wonder why we might find it hard to sleep. With direct contact with the earth, you absorb those negative ions and naturally relax the nervous system in preparation for better sleep.
Immune function
How does the immune system get support from the earth’s surface? Remember that so many of the body’s antioxidants and defense mechanisms are governed by electrical signals. Improved immune function is one of the key benefits of earthing that helps boost your natural ability to stay healthy, especially during colder months.
Stress management
Stress is part of life, but chronic stress levels indicate our cortisol and adrenaline levels are out of wack. This can lead to long-term health issues if not addressed, and certain grounding techniques can help. Our bodies are conductive, absorbing Earth’s electrons and providing a sense of balance you can’t get elsewhere. This is a safe, sustainable way to deal with stress, so try it out!
Energy levels
When you’re feeling fatigued, simply plug into Earth’s energy for a boost. Mother Earth restores balance to our electromagnetic field (EMF), offering good energy while removing the bad in the form of free radicals and excess electrons. The result is better blood flow, anti-inflammation, and numerous other health benefits that come from having more energy.
What effects does grounding have on mental well-being?
We’ve covered the physical side of grounding, but how can this practice help us in terms of mental health and well-being? Let’s find out the mental benefits of grounding now.
Mood support
Ever wonder why you feel better after walking outside and connecting with the earth? Grounding explains why this phenomenon actually works. The next time you’re feeling down, take a few minutes to connect with the Earth’s surface and watch your mood brighten like clockwork.
Cognitive function
When you’re feeling sluggish or fatigued, cognition can go out the window. By grounding, you remove those free electrons that may be a source of your brain fog and low attention span. If you’re stuck on a work project or just need some inspiration, grounding is your best ally.
Emotional balance
Healthy emotional management is key, and you don’t want to be led astray by fleeting emotions. Grounding offers a chance to step away from the fray of life and get in touch with yourself and the earth. It’s free, it’s easy, and best of all — it works!
How can you incorporate grounding into daily life?
We’ve made a good case for grounding so far, but how do you work this practice into your daily routine? Let’s offer some tips to make grounding an everyday thing so you can reap the benefits for yourself.
Walking barefoot on natural surfaces
Grounding is really that simple when you break it down: just step outside onto natural surfaces and let the earth do the work. Try varying your surfaces and environments to experience different frequencies and get everything the earth has to offer us.
Grounding exercises and meditation practices
A barefoot walk in the grass is often good enough for grounding, but why not expand your self-care with exercises, meditation, and more? There are plenty of ways to exercise or do yoga on the earth’s surface, from the beach to the park and everywhere in between. Combine these practices with meditation (focused breathing and observing your thoughts) to really ramp up your experience.
Grounding equipment
You may have already looked into supplements like CBD and other resources on your wellness journey, but what products can help you get more from grounding? You can find various grounding systems online, from mats and grounding sheets to conductive shoes, clothes, and more. Many people report that these grounding products help tremendously, so don’t overlook the possibilities.
The takeaway
We’ve come full circle in our discussion of grounding, from its ancient origins to the modern research that makes it all clear. Grounding is one of the pillars of health, and it’s more important than ever in our overly-electrified world.
The good news is that you can start your grounding journey immediately, with no extra research or resources required. If you’re looking to supplement with CBD to balance your mind and body with natural grounding techniques, Sunmed has everything you need to stay in sync.*
Sources:
Integrative and lifestyle medicine strategies should include Earthing (grounding) | ScienceDirect
5 Healing Benefits of Grounding Techniques | GoodNet