Grounding is another term for an increasingly popular practice called earthing. Earthing utilizes the understanding that bodily contact with our planet’s natural electric charge stabilizes human physiology in many ways, including reducing inflammation, stress reduction, pain relief, improved sleep, and more.
The practice of earthing can be accomplished by simply walking barefoot outside, lying on an earthing mat, or using an earthing system that allows you to practice grounding while sleeping or relaxing. While this might sound like a far out experimental idea, there is a fair amount of scientific evidence to verify the beneficial response to earthing.
The premise of earthing being such an effective anti-inflammatory practice begins with the understanding that free radicals (positively charged molecules that strip electrons from healthy tissue, causing damage) are produced by cells in extremely large quantities.
It is also understood that earthing permits a large volume of free electrons to enter the body. These electrons are believed to neutralize free radicals. The electrons move through the body via the nervous, meridian, and circulatory systems to the site of inflammation. It is there that the free electrons do their work of anti-inflammation.
Studies using thermal imaging have shown earthing has a positive impact on inflammation. Additionally, several research studies have indicated a reduction in pain and recovery time after exercise in those who practiced earthing.
Even a study in premature infants indicated earthing has an impact on measurements of autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning critically important in the regulation of inflammatory and stress responses. Earthing the babies significantly increased heart rate variability (HRV) indicative of improved vagal tone.
Simply put, the influx of anti-inflammatory electrons that earthing provides can reverse both acute and chronic inflammation. This offers another useful tool against the damage inflammation can do to our health when left unchecked.
