Earthing: The science behind bare skin contact with the Earth
They call it "earthing" or "grounding". Apparently kicking off ones shoes and walking barefoot on the Earth is supposed to be some sort of miracle cure for all sorts of health issues, sleep problems, skin problems, etc., etc., etc.. I've come across several such articles over the years and have always filed them away in the 'sounds like like new-age bullshit but who knows' cabinet. Then i ran across the documentary film, The Earthing Movie: The Remarkable Science of Grounding
"The Earthing Movie: The Remarkable Science of Grounding" is directed by Sundance Award-Winning filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell (The Big Fix, FUEL, etc). This is a feature-length documentary based on their viral short film entitled 'Down To Earth,' that reveals the scientific phenomenon of how we can heal our bodies by doing the simplest thing that a person can do...standing barefoot on the earth.
The winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at Dances With Films Festival, the film shares the Tickell family's journey with the healing power of grounding, aka earthing, and the people they met and learned from along the way; featuring grounding pioneer Clint Ober, author Deepak Chopra M.D., actress/activist Amy Smart, author/activist Mariel Hemingway, cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra, renowned healer Dr Joseph Mercola, engineer and physicist Gaetan Chevalier, PhD. and many others.
Over 20 peer-reviewed studies have shown that Grounding (Earthing) reduces inflammation...one of the most damaging internal biological processes that leads to chronic disease. So get out there and put your feet on the ground, and/or increase your grounding time indoors with grounding products. Your body and mind will thank you! Read up on all the studies and research at earthinginstitute.net/
With nothing better to do, i pointed my peekers at the screen and hit the Play button. After watching the documentary i have to admit i was quite impressed indeed, but i wasn't convinced.
The film referenced a study and since the film itself wasn't solid evidence of anything, i went poking around to find this study. To my surprise i found many studies which indicated positive health effects from something as simple as allowing your skin to contact the good ol' Earth, several of which are linked on the Earthing Institute website. Following are excerpts from a few of these papers:
Abstract
Objectives: Emerging research is revealing that direct physical contact of the human body with the surface of the earth (grounding or earthing) has intriguing effects on human physiology and health, including beneficial effects on various cardiovascular risk factors. This study examined effects of 2 hours of grounding on the electrical charge (zeta potential) on red blood cells (RBCs) and the effects on the extent of RBC clumping.
Design/interventions: Subjects were grounded with conductive patches on the soles of their feet and palms of their hands. Wires connected the patches to a stainless-steel rod inserted in the earth outdoors. Small fingertip pinprick blood samples were placed on microscope slides and an electric field was applied to them. Electro- phoretic mobility of the RBCs was determined by measuring terminal velocities of the cells in video recordings taken through a microscope. RBC aggregation was measured by counting the numbers of clustered cells in each sample.
Settings/location: Each subject sat in a comfortable reclining chair in a soundproof experiment room with the lights dimmed or off.
Subjects: Ten (10) healthy adult subjects were recruited by word-of-mouth.
Results: Earthing or grounding increased zeta potentials in all samples by an average of 2.70 and significantly reduced RBC aggregation.
Conclusions: Grounding increases the surface charge on RBCs and thereby reduces blood viscosity and clumping. Grounding appears to be one of the simplest and yet most profound interventions for helping reduce cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular events.
Prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection by earthing
We'll ignore the fact that viruses do not exist.
Methods: An observational and interventional study included 71 cases with COVID-19 infection. Earthing was applied as preventive and treatment measures. All participants conducted earthing through direct contact with the earth or connecting apparatus for about 15 min to 6 h/day.
Results: Sixty-nine patients were fully improved within 2 h-11 days after commencement of earthing (mean: 2.9 days, SD ± 2, median: 2 days), while the mean illness duration was 8.9 days (SD ± 4.6) and the median was 9 days. Two patients with many risk factors died where earthing was carried out insufficiently and too late. Nine people contracted mild or short-lived illness (mean: 6.3 days, SD ± 5.5) as a consequence of performing prophylactic earthing. There was a spectacular response in a critically ill patient who was unable to speak due to severe dyspnea with blood oxygen level 38% on continuous oxygen supply. On the second day, after two sessions of 3 h daily earthing, his oxygen level raised to 95% with oxygen supply and 77% without oxygen supply. The following symptoms were improved after implementing earthing: fever, dyspnea, cough, weakness, headache, chest pain, taste and smell sensation loss, anorexia, and body pain.
Conclusions: Earthing revealed significant curing and preventive effects with a shorter illness duration.
Grounding - The universal anti-inflammatory remedy - PMC
The astute reader will notice a conflict of interest in that its primary author is associated with the Earthing Institute which, to their credit, is disclosed in the paper.
Multiple clinical investigations indicate that grounding the body generates broad, beneficial, and significant physiological changes. The source of these effects is believed to be the mobile electrons omnipresent on the surface of the earth, which are responsible for the planet's negative charge. Lifestyle changes have disconnected most humans from this primordial health and healing resource, creating what may be an unrecognized electron deficiency in the body, an overlooked cause or contributor to chronic inflammation and common chronic and degenerative diseases. High blood pressure, disturbed HRV, and hyperviscosity are potentially destructive cardiovascular situations that can be improved with grounding.
When earth connection is restored through grounding, electrons flood throughout the body, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress while also reinforcing the body's own defense mechanisms. Electron transfers are the basis of virtually all antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. And the earth may very well be the ultimate supplier! When the supply is restored, humans have the potential to thrive. Touching our skin to the earth, is perhaps the perfect natural anti-inflammatory supporting biochemical and physiological effects that enhance healing.
In 2022, it is still in its infancy as more research is presently being done. When physicians recommend evidence-based, harmless, and simple therapeutic natural interventions to reduce human suffering and improve quality of life, we have done our job in the interest of the patient. In our opinion, diabetes and auto-immune diseases in general, cardiovascular disease, and communicable diseases are the most invasive, inflammatory illnesses that affect our present civilization. Grounding may soon become one of the premier preventive and therapeutic antidotes!
Grounding Patients With Hypertension Improves Blood Pressure: A Case History Series Study
ABSTRACT
Background * Research conducted during the last 15 y has demonstrated that grounding (Earthing) the human body to Earth's surface charge generates multiple beneficial physiological effects. Anecdotal reports include lowering of high blood pressure (BP).
Objective * To test such reports, a pilot case history series was undertaken with hypertensive patients in a single physician cardiology practice.
Intervention * Patients grounded themselves at home for at least 10 h/d for several mo.
Outcome Measure * BP was measured at baseline in the clinic, and then, after starting grounding, 3 subsequent times in the clinic again at approximately monthly intervals. Patients were also given a BP monitor and were asked to measure their BP on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM for 12 wk.
Results * All 10 patient measurements were found to be significantly improved at the end of the trial period, and some, well before the end. Systolic levels decreased during this time, ranging individually from 8.6% to 22.7%, with an average decrease of 14.3%.
Conclusion * This is the first known study measuring the influence of grounding the body on hypertension. The results indicate that grounding appears to be a safe BP-reducing therapy warranting further research. (Altern Ther Health Med. 2018;24(6):46-50.)
Effects of Grounding on Body Voltage and Current in the Presence of Electromagnetic Fields
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if grounding in the presence of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) encountered in a normal housing environment produces harmful currents in the human body.
Design: This study had a test-retest design, with duration of 5-15 min per participant.
Participants: There were 50 participants, of whom 23 were males aged 12-77 years (Mage - standard devia- tion = 50.5 - 19.5 years) and 27 were females aged 13-79 years (Mage - standard deviation = 45.9 - 19.0 years).
Intervention: Each participant was instructed to touch a lamp on a desk with his or her left hand, then to move the hand away from the lamp (first one foot away and then three feet) while his/her body voltage was measured. Each participant was then grounded and instructed to repeat the same hand movements. Current was also measured during the grounded retest.
Outcome measures: The measured parameters were alternating current (AC) body voltage and current gen- erated from contact or proximity to a lamp and other appliances situated on top of a desk.
Results: AC body voltage was reduced by an average of 58-fold when participants were grounded compared with when they were not grounded. AC currents generated during grounding were several orders of magnitude lower than the accepted minimum level of perception.
Conclusion: Normal levels of EMFs existing in houses are too low to produce harmful currents when a person is grounded.
Abstract
Earthing (grounding) refers to the human body being in contact with the surface of the Earth by barefoot exposure outdoors or using special indoor systems connected to the Earth. Previous studies have showed multiple beneficial effects as a result of such contact, including better sleep, normalization of cortisol, reduced inflammation, pain and stress, and better blood flow. To determine if Earthing for one hour improves facial blood circulation, forty middle-aged volunteers were divided into a grounded group and a sham-grounded group according to a double-blind procedure. They were asked to sit in a comfortable recliner chair equipped with a grounding mat, pillow and patches. The grounding systems were either grounded or sham-grounded via a wire to the ground port of a power outlet. An infrared imaging camera was used to measure changes in blood flow and temperature. Thermal imaging showed clearly improved circulation of fluids (including blood) throughout the torso, which in turn, translates into enhanced delivery of blood to the head and improved blood circulation in the face as well. The results of this innovative study demonstrate that even one-hour contact with the Earth appears to promote significantly autonomic nervous system control of body fluids and peripheral blood flow that may improve blood circulation in the torso and face, facial tissue repair, skin health and vitality and optimize facial appearance (face anterior view p = 0.002; face lateral views p = 0.017; full anterior torso view p = 0.002). Further study using larger comparison groups and following subjects for a longer period of time (longitudinal study) is warranted.
The Effect of Grounding the Human Body on Mood - Gaetan Chevalier, 2015
Abstract
Earthing (grounding) refers to bringing the body in contact with the Earth. Health benefits were previously reported, but no study exists about mood. This study was conducted to assess if Earthing improves mood. 40 adult participants were either grounded or sham-grounded (no grounding) for 1 hr. while relaxing in a comfortable recliner chair equipped with a conductive pillow, mat, and patches connecting them to the ground. This pilot project was double-blinded and the Brief Mood Introspection Scale (comprising 4 mood scales) was used. Pleasant and positive moods statistically significantly improved among grounded-but not sham-grounded-participants. It is concluded that the 1-hr. contact with the Earth improved mood more than expected by relaxation alone. More extensive studies are, therefore, warranted.
Abstract
Objectives: Previous studies have shown that grounding produces quantifiable physiologic changes. This study was set up to reproduce and expand earlier electrophysiologic and physiologic parameters measured imme- diately after grounding with improved methodology and state-of-the-art equipment.
Design and subjects: A multiparameter double-blind experiment was conducted with 14 men and 14 women (age range: 18-80) in relatively good health. Subjects were screened for health problems using a commonly used health questionnaire. They were seated in a comfortable recliner and measured during 2-hour grounding ses- sions, leaving time for signals to stabilize before, during, and after grounding (40 minutes for each period). Sham 2-hour grounding sessions were also recorded with the same subjects as controls. Outcome measures: This report presents results for 5 of the 18 parameters measured. The parameters reported here are: skin conductance (SC), blood oxygenation (BO), respiratory rate (RR), pulse rate (PR), and perfusion index (PI).
Settings/location: This study was performed in a rented facility in Encinitas, California. The facility was chosen in a quiet area for its very low electromagnetic noise.
Results: For each session, statistical analyses were performed on four 10-minute segments: before and after grounding (sham grounding for control session) and before and after ungrounding (sham ungrounding). There was an immediate decrease in SC at grounding and an immediate increase at ungrounding on all subjects. RR increased during grounding, and the effect lasted after ungrounding. RR variance increased immediately after grounding then decreased. BO variance decreased during grounding, followed by a dramatic increase after ungrounding. PR and PI variances increased toward the end of the grounding period, and this change persisted after ungrounding.
Conclusions: These results warrant further research to determine how grounding affects the body. Grounding could become important for relaxation, health maintenance and disease prevention.
THE EFFECT OF EARTHING ON HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY PART 2: ELECTRODE MEASUREMENTS
ABSTRACT
The human hody evolved while living in direct electrical contact (electricallv grounded) with the earth. The question that arises is: Does loss of electrical contact with the earth affect human physiology? This douhk-hlind swdy was designed to address this question hy measuring several electrophysiological parame ters of the hody. Suhjects were assigned [0 an experimental group that was grounded to the earth after a 28-minure haseline recording. Grounding the hody (earthing) was achieved hy placing electrode patches on the soles of the feet and connecting them to a conductive cahle that was attached to a metal rod planted in the earth. The total recording time was ')6 minutes. The control group was not grounded hur "sham grounded." Part 1 of this stud~. presented results from measurements taken with clinical hiofeedhack equipment. This paper pf(:sents results ohtained on Jing-Well points using the SSVP (Single Square Voltage Pulse) method. With the SSVP method we were able to corroborate results presented in our first paper with the biofeedback system. The SSVP method results are that grounding the body produces a reduction in tension (relaxation) of the internal organs and a reduction in inflammation. \X'e also postulated that the body was developed to take advanrage of (he contact with the eanh through the feet hy developing a system of distribution of electrons through the kidney meridian at K11. The presenr finding, are consistent with the results of our previous study which concluded that grounded subjects experienced a reduction in stress and a normalization of the functioning of the auronomic nervous system after eanhing.6
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Diurnal cortisol secretion levels were measured and circadian cortisol profiles were evaluated in a pilot study conducted to test the hypothesis that grounding the human body to earth* during sleep will re- sult in quantifiable changes in cortisol. It was also hypothesized that grounding the human body would result in changes in sleep, pain, and stress (anxiety, depression, irritability), as measured by subjective reporting.
Subjects and Interventions: Twelve (12) subjects with complaints of sleep dysfunction, pain, and stress were grounded to earth during sleep for 8 weeks in their own beds using a conductive mattress pad. Saliva tests were administered to establish pregrounding baseline cortisol levels. Levels were obtained at 4-hour intervals for a 24-hour period to determine the circadian cortisol profile. Cortisol testing was repeated at week 6. Subjective symptoms of sleep dysfunction, pain, and stress were reported daily throughout the 8-week test period.
Results: Measurable improvements in diurnal cortisol profiles were observed, with cortisol levels signifi- cantly reduced during night-time sleep. Subjects' 24-hour circadian cortisol profiles showed a trend toward nor- malization. Subjectively reported symptoms, including sleep dysfunction, pain, and stress, were reduced or elim- inated in nearly all subjects.
Conclusions: Results indicate that grounding the human body to earth ("earthing") during sleep reduces night-time levels of cortisol and resynchronizes cortisol hormone secretion more in alignment with the natural 24-hour circadian rhythm profile. Changes were most apparent in females. Furthermore, subjective reporting indicates that grounding the human body to earth during sleep improves sleep and reduces pain and stress.
There are several ways to ground ones self, one being skin contact with the Earth of course, but there are products available for indoor use as well including conductive bed sheets, grounding mats of varying sizes and other products. These can be grounded to the Earth using a wire and metal ground stake, or plugged into the ground pole of a 3-prong outlet. In the case of the latter, it is crucial that a device is used to protect against electrical shock should a piece of electrical equipment on the same circuit short out and dump its power into the ground circuit. Any kit from any reputable company will include both a tester to check that the outlet is properly grounded, as well as a short circuit protection plug.
For more information, see the Earthing Institute website which makes available their excellent book, Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever! There is also a lot more information on grounding available if you poke around.