Health Benefits of Grounding

Has anyone else heard of the term grounding? Also known as "Earthing". Has anyone been doing this all along? Either way, I figured now is a great time to talk about what grounding is and all the amazing benefits of this simple practice. Here we go!

Simply put, grounding is when a person makes an electrical connection to the Earth's energies. The easiest way this is done is by walking barefoot on the Earth-- grass, dirt, sand, etc. A little more science behind it-- since humans are bioelectrical beings that carry a positive charge and the Earth has a negative charge, connecting directly to the Earth with our body can help discharge excess energy which produces a healing effect in the body at the cellular level. So cool.

While Earthing has been around forever, it is finally being more researched. It has been found that there are actually quite a lot of health benefits linked to grounding including:

• Reducing inflammation

• Reducing cortisol levels - one of the main stress hormones

• Increasing energy

• Increasing healing speed

• Decreasing pain

• Restoring balance to the body

• Improving chronic fatigue

• Improving anxiety and depression

• Improving sleep disorders

• Improving cardiovascular health

While there are other ways to ground including using mats, socks or devices, the easiest and most cost-effective way to practice is to get outside for 10 minutes every day, roughly the same time of day, and just walk barefoot in the grass, dirt, sand, etc. or to touch nature with your body somehow. You can of course do more time if you have more time. You can also lay down on the Earth and reap the benefits. You can marry your grounding practice with a meditation or visualization practice if you have them. Swimming in an ocean or lake are also forms of Earthing, and when I think about it I always feel SO good after swimming in the ocean. I can't find any down-sides to grounding, as long as you're being safe.

If you're in New England, like myself, and can't get outside barefoot year-round or don't have immediate access to green space or nature, there are still ways to ground yourself including: touching the snow, taking nature walks or hiking trails, taking a bath in a tub that is connected to metal piping, walking barefoot on an unpainted concrete basement floor (surprisingly!), or checking out some of the devices and grounding products that are on the market now. Grounding really is such an interesting and simple way to improve your health, and can be utilized by just about anyone at any age.

Does anyone have anymore ground tips to share? I'd love to hear them in the comments!