What is Behind the Concept of Grounding / Earthing?

“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” ~ Khalil Gibran

As a massage therapist, I’m always exploring ways to enhance my clients’ well-being. One powerful method I recommend to all, is grounding, also known as earthing. This method involves activities that “ground you” or electrically reconnect you to the earth. The cumulative effect of this simple practice to our system is priceless.

The Importance of Reconnecting to the Earth

When referring to the healing practice, earthing and grounding are essentially the same. Both terms describe the process of connecting to the Earth’s natural energy by making direct physical contact with the ground. Grounding is basically referring to activities that “ground you” or electrically bind you to the ground. This practice is rooted in the science and physics of grounding. It explains how the Earth’s electrical charges can positively affect your body.

Grounding is based on the idea that the Earth has a mild negative charge. By connecting with the Earth, the body can balance its electrical charge. This occurs as it absorbs negative electrons that attach to free radicals and neutralize their effects. As a result, this process may help reduce chronic inflammation and improve overall health. Grounding connects people to the Earth’s healing energy with a variety of benefits. Earthing involves syncing the body to the Earth’s natural rhythms. By making direct physical contact with the ground, you can tap into the Earth’s energy to restore and maintain your health. 

Key Benefits of Grounding / Earthing

• Reduces Inflammation: Physical contact with the Earth can neutralize free radicals, reducing inflammation and pain. Check out my blog Natural Antioxidants to Fight Free Radicals about the topic of inflammation reduction.
• Improves Sleep: Grounding may help regulate sleep patterns by balancing the body’s natural rhythms. Read more about improving your sleep in my blog How Important Is Your Sleep?
• Enhances Mood: Direct contact with nature has been shown to boost mood and reduce stress.
• Boosts Immune System: Grounding can enhance the body’s immune response, promoting overall health.
• Improves Circulation: Regular grounding may improve blood flow and decoagulation, contributing to cardiovascular health.

Ways to Practice Grounding / Earthing

• Barefoot Standing /Walking /Sitting: One of the easiest ways to ground yourself. Spend time laying your feet or walking barefoot on natural surfaces like grass, sand, or dirt. If it’s your own piece of grass, try wetting it a bit before stepping on it, to enhance conductivity. Check the area for bees, wasps or poison ivy ahead of time. 
• Lying on the Ground: Increase skin-to-earth contact by lying on grass or sand. Just ensure the area is safe.
• Submerging in Water: Take a dip in your bath, hot tub, or natural bodies of water like lakes, rivers, hot springs or the ocean. Wading in a clear lake or swimming in the ocean can ground you just as effectively as contact with the earth. We are made of 70% water, and for a human to submerge in a body of water is like coming home and can feel like a sense of calm and belonging. Enhance your grounding experience in your bath by adding ingredients to your water, like Epsom salts, Essential oils, Herbs, or crystals.
• Using Grounding Equipment: When going outside isn’t an option, grounding mats, sheets, socks, bands, and patches are effective alternatives. Check out Earthing.com.
• Grounding Mats: Use specially designed mats that provide a grounding effect while you work or sleep. At Heavenly Embrace Wellness location, at the Wellness Collective in Boulder, we offer sessions in the far infrared sauna that has a grounding mat. In addition, on the massage table, we have the Far-Infrared BioMat, which we offer as a treatment tool with a beautiful grounding effect. 
• Gardening: Engage in activities that involve direct contact with the earth, leaves, trees, and flowers, such as gardening. The touch of the soil is the key here. That’s a great way to ‘Be In The Moment’ and ‘Smell The Flowers’ if you will 🙂. But even the sight of a tree and placing your intention and visualization powers we all have in our imagination into its trunk and down its roots… that can give you some of that grounded feeling.
• Petting an animal. Whether it’s a horse, a dog, or a goat, you can still benefit from grounding. As long as the animal is touching the ground and you are touching it, you’ll be grounded even if you have rubber soles. After your petting session, your pet will likely either shake it off or ask to go outside. Petting a pet, whether yours or someone else’s, is a great way to reconnect and feel their unconditional love. I highly recommend it as a method to ground your system.

Get It Started!

While the time spent grounding varies based on individual needs, the study found that practicing grounding for 30 minutes a day led to a noticeable decrease in pain. After one week, researchers noted an 80% reduction in pain levels. Impressive results, don’t you think so? But even if 10 min is all you can spare for that, it’ll be a great start!!

What You Might Feel When Grounding

When grounding, you might experience a range of sensations and cumulative benefits, including:

• Calmness and Relaxation: Many people feel more relaxed and at ease when they make direct contact with the Earth, like walking barefoot on grass or sand.
• Improved Mood: Grounding can lead to a boost in mood and a sense of well-being, as it may help to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Increased Energy: Some people report feeling more energized and refreshed after grounding, potentially due to the balancing effects on the body’s electrical charge.
• Pain Relief: Grounding has been associated with reduced pain and inflammation, so you might notice less discomfort, especially in chronic pain conditions.
• Better Sleep: Improved sleep quality is a common benefit reported by those who practice grounding regularly.
• Physical Sensations: You may feel a tingling or warmth in your feet or body, which some people interpret as the body’s energy aligning with the Earth’s natural energy.
• Connection to Nature: Many individuals feel a deeper sense of connection to nature and the world around them.

Experiences and sensations can vary from person to person. However, many find grounding to be a simple and beneficial practice for overall well-being.

Discover the Earth’s Natural Heartbeat: Understanding the Schumann Resonance (SR)

The Schumann Resonance is like the Earth’s natural heartbeat. It’s a set of low-frequency electromagnetic waves that circle the planet, mainly in the area between the Earth’s surface and the lower ionosphere. These waves are created by lightning strikes all over the world.

Source: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith

Think of it like this: when lightning strikes, it sends out electromagnetic waves that bounce around the Earth. The space between the ground and the lower ionosphere functions as a large resonant cavity, allowing waves to bounce and resonate. The main frequency of this resonance is around 7.83 Hz, although other frequencies are also involved.

Scientists named this phenomenon after Winfried Otto Schumann, who predicted it mathematically in 1952. Researchers find the Schumann Resonance fascinating because solar activity and changes in the Earth’s environment can influence it. Consequently, some are exploring its potential effects on human biology and health.

By entraining to the Schumann Resonance through grounding, we can help balance the body’s bio-electromagnetic field. Furthermore, this practice allows us to reconnect with the Earth’s electromagnetic waves. The Schumann Resonance has a remarkable ability to trigger Alpha/Theta brain wave frequencies, which positively impact mood, relaxation, cell regeneration, and healing.

Dive Deeper!

* There are two fascinating research studies that provide scientific backing of grounding and earthing. The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. 

As well as Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons that states as part of its conclusion that: 

“Emerging evidence shows that contact with the Earth—whether being outside barefoot or indoors connected to grounded conductive systems—may be a simple, natural, and yet profoundly effective environmental strategy against chronic stress, ANS dysfunction, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, disturbed HRV, hypercoagulable blood, and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease. The research done to date supports the concept that grounding or earthing the human body may be an essential element in the health equation along with sunshine, clean air and water, nutritious food, and physical activity.”

* For a deeper dive into the benefits of earthing, check out the documentary Down to Earth. Alternatively, I recommend the independent film The Grounded – “One Step for Men, One Giant Leap for Healthcare.” I also like The Earthing Movie, which is available on Amazon. 

Reconnecting with the Earth is a simple yet profound way to enhance your physical and mental well-being. As a massage therapist, I encourage you to explore grounding and earthing as part of your holistic health routine. Next time you find yourself in one of Boulder’s parks or at the Boulder Creek, take a moment to remove your shoes and socks. Enjoy the simple pleasure of earthing therapy while you’re there. Moreover, why not make this a habit?

Love & Light,

Liraz

Liraz Bergman-Turner is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki Master & Reflexologist. She owns Heavenly Embrace Wellness, a massage and energy healing practice in Boulder, CO.

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