One of the most important topics, in my opinion, is Grounding (aka Earthing). Sometimes we forget that our bodies came from the Earth! It only makes sense that the Earth has the ability to nurture us as well as provide much needed balance in our lives. The Earth even has a frequency, the Schumann Resonance, which is 7.83 Hz. Dr. Anker Mueller discovered this frequency matches exactly the beneficial and healing frequency of our human brains! There have been studies performed by E. Jacobi as well as Professor R. Wever that have shown when people have been isolated from the frequency of the Earth their physical and mental stability starts to deteriorate. So, what other benefits does Mother Earth provide for us?
The Earth’s surface has negatively charged free electrons. Over time, our bodies can become positively charged. Without a connection to the Earth, the cells in our body are unable to balance the positive charge which results from things like electron-deficient free radicals. Our rubber soled shoes act like insulators so we rarely get this connection. An electrical insulator is a material whose internal electric charges do not flow freely (and you are an electrical being!). So, even though some of us are getting out in nature we still aren’t reaping all of the benefits this Earth has to offer.
A study published a couple of years ago in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health titled Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons states:
"Emerging scientific research has revealed a surprisingly positive and overlooked environmental factor on health: direct physical contact with the vast supply of electrons on the surface of the Earth. Modern lifestyle separates humans from such contact. The research suggests that this disconnect may be a major contributor to physiological dysfunction and unwellness. Reconnection with the Earth's electrons has been found to promote intriguing physiological changes and subjective reports of well-being. Earthing (or grounding) refers to the discovery of benefits—including better sleep and reduced pain—from walking barefoot outside or sitting, working, or sleeping indoors connected to conductive systems that transfer the Earth's electrons from the ground into the body."
It also mentions, "Mounting evidence suggests that the Earth's negative potential can create a stable internal bioelectrical environment for the normal functioning of all body systems. Moreover, oscillations of the intensity of the Earth's potential may be important for setting the biological clocks regulating diurnal body rhythms, such as cortisol secretion."
If you are feeling "off", get your bare feet into the ground for 15 - 20 minutes and see if you notice a difference! Swimming in the ocean or walking barefoot on the beach, hugging a tree, gardening, rock climbing, and even standing on concrete are different ways to ground. I recommend doing this every day if you can. This can be challenging if you live in a cold weather climate, but you do have options. Earthing indoor products such as grounding sheets or mats can provide very similar benefits. I would probably recommend the sheets unless you are able to find a mat that is free of toxins (I have not found that in my research yet). Leather soled shoes provide another way to get the benefits of grounding while still going about your day to day activities.
Here are a few benefits:
- Improved sleep
- Improved blood circulation
- Stabilization of the body’s biological rhythms
- Reduction of inflammation
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Increased energy
- Improved memory
- Reduced electrosensitivity (think of all that Wi-Fi and EMF surrounding us!)
- Reduce or eliminate jet lag (I can personally attest to this!)
Pro Tip: If you are in a space where you need to reset and ground, but do not have a place to ground naturally; use your breath and intention. Take a nice big breath in through the nose and forcefully (but, comfortably) exhale through your mouth. As you exhale through your mouth, imagine all worry, anxiety, tension washing out of your body, through your feet and your tailbone, and down deep into the Earth. Do a couple of these breaths. Notice how you feel.