Do you remember the last time you walked barefoot on the beach? Or through the soft grass of a pretty meadow?

This activity is often called “earthing” or “grounding.” Since you’re putting your bare feet in contact with the ground or earth, you can see why. 

Studies are being conducted to determine the effectiveness of this natural skin-to-earth contact and how it may help our bodies.

It’s pretty easy to accept that the ground is full of nutrients. Plants need three primary nutrients to grow – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – so generally, the soil is typically quite rich in these. We also know that grass is full of chlorophyll, which makes it green.

​Earth is Full of Energy

​​The earth maintains a negative electrical potential on its surface. Our immune systems function optimally when the body has an adequate supply of electrons. When your skin comes in contact with the earth, free electrons are absorbed by your body.

Along with minerals, our bodies are full of water. This makes them excellent conductors of electrons from the ground since there is direct contact of our skin with the earth. When you touch the electron-enriched world, an improved balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems can occur.

​Grounding Interrupted by Our Modern World

​These days we live in sealed buildings, sometimes many stories up in the air. We work or go to school in buildings, sometimes even spaces without a window or proper lighting. Our world is wired, with technology at our fingertips all the time. 

We work, and we play on computers. The Wi-Fi routers keep us connected even if we get up from the desk. Our smartphones are barely out of reach at any point in the day.

Think of all of the appliances in your home. They’re all drawing on electricity and pulling that into your living space.

The refrigerator keeps your food cold. The heater keeps out a winter chill. The use of hairdryers, vacuum cleaners, ballasts for fluorescent lighting, and the list goes on and on…

This modern lifestyle and constant signals may significantly contribute to illness and physiological dysfunction.

Throughout history, people have spent their days outdoors. Walking, sitting, and even sleeping at times on the ground.

It wasn’t uncommon to go barefoot or wear leather footwear. Now all too many of our shoes are a blend of synthetic materials, lots of rubber, and laced uptight. This leads to limited circulation, lack of airflow, and no contact with the ground.

After a long day outdoors, if people went into their shelter at night or perhaps in bad weather, it wasn’t full of all the invisible artificial electronic radiations we’re now bathed in regularly.

The point is this: To encourage wellness and optimal body function, we need to not only get outdoors, but we need to touch the earth!

​​The Goodness of Grounding

​While it is not a “cure-all treatment,” grounding is entirely free and straightforward to get in your daily “dose.” Whether you’re nine months old or 90 years old, earthing can be of benefit!

What are some of those health benefits you may notice:​

• ​Stabilization of the body’s primary biological rhythms​
• Reduction of inflammation and various pain​
• Increased energy and vitality​
• Relief of headaches and muscle tension​
• Quicker recovery time from surgery or illness​
• Support for cardiovascular health​
• Calmed anxiety and lessen feelings of stress​
• A decrease in menstrual symptoms and hormonal imbalances​
• Improved quality of sleep, waking feeling rested​
• Overall well-being and an increase in happiness

But what if you don’t have hours outside walking barefoot all day? That’s okay!

Even just 20-30 minutes can make a big difference. And if you only have 5 minutes, use them.

Just a few moments outdoors earthing can improve your body’s physiology. That means your amazing organs, cells, bodily functions, and mechanisms can relax. Your nervous system can calm down, and stress can dissolve.

Would any of us pass up a completely free, non-invasive, negative-side-effect-lacking, natural improvement to our health and wellness? Surely not.

​​So How Do I Get Grounded?

Get those toes in the grass! By now, you probably realize it means touching the earth. You are taking your shoes off and putting your feet on the ground. But what else works? 

So it’s time to go Wild! Let those feet be free. And enjoy the benefits that can come from this completely free and natural energy of the earth.

References:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/
• https://www.barefoothealing.com.au/v/what-is-earthing/22