Ahhhh Summer time… There’s nothing like sunshine, beach days and warm breezes. Summer is the perfect time to find our own childlike playfulness, run barefoot, connect to our beautiful sacred earth, feel the sun on our skin and the water to cleanse our soul.
But why do we love feeling the earth beneath our bare feet? What is the science behind this simple pleasure that our ancestors practiced thousands of years ago? Let’s delve into the sacredness of it all, shall we?
Sacred Earth
Whether you’re running barefoot through the hot sand at the beach or perhaps changing sprinklers barefoot in your backyard, connecting to the earth with our bare skin is beneficial for our own health.
Grounding
Grounding ( also called earthing) is a therapeutic technique that involves doing activities that “ground” or electrically reconnect you to the earth ( Healthline, Eleesha Lockett, 2019).
People have reported benefits to the following:
Chronic fatigue
Chronic pain
Anxiety and Depression
Sleep Disorders
Cardiovascular Disease
Although grounding is an under-researched topic, there are quite a few fascinating studies on it. One study called the Central Theory found that grounding affects the living matrix which is the central connector between living cells ( The Effects of Grounding on Inflammation, Immune Response, Wound Healing and Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases, 2015). Electrical conductivity exists within the matrix that functions as an immune system defense similar to antioxidants. It is believed that through grounding, the natural defenses of the body can be restored.
In another study 10 healthy participants had patches placed on the palms of their hands and soles of their feet to monitor heart health. Blood measurements were also taken and results indicated less RBC ( red blood cell) clumping and reduced blood viscosity were noted after grounding therapy (Earthing (Grounding) The Human Body Reduces Blood Viscosity- A Major Factor in Heart Disease, 2013).
Lastly, a study indicated that grounding reduces muscle damage and pain in participants. This research was supported by another study on the use of grounding for pain reduction and mood improvement carried out by sixteen massage therapists who alternated between periods of grounding and not grounding. Before the therapy, physical and emotional stress were common side effects of their physically demanding jobs. After grounding therapy, pain, stress, depression and fatigue were all reduced among participants ( The Effects of Grounding (Earthing) on Bodyworkers’ Pain and Overall Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial, 2018).
Grounding Therapy continues to grow and get mainstream attention. Although Western Medicine has had major breakthrough using medications and surgery, let us not forget simple inexpensive ways to heal ourselves like grounding for over all health and well being.
Ways to Ground:
Walking Barefoot
Nothing says summertime like walking barefoot. Whether it’s in your back yard or strolling along the beach, allowing your skin to touch the natural ground can provide you with grounding energy.
Laying on the Ground
You can increase your contact with the earth by lying on the ground. This can be done in a park on the grass or on the sand at the beach.
The Bottom Line
Grounding or earthing is a therapeutic technique that focuses on realigning your electrical energy by reconnecting to the earth. The more connected we are to our surroundings and in tune with our own bodies, the more we are in alignment with our health and well being.
