For most of us, the most memorable childhood moments are the ones that got us into the most trouble at home. When we soaked ourselves in mud and went home looking like we hadn’t had a bath in a week. When we climbed trees to get loquats, went swimming in the rivers, or dancing in the rain. These were the priceless moments, where nothing else seemed to matter in life. Everything was so simple. We were alive, interacting with nature, and happy.
As years went by, we ‘matured’ to a point where interacting with nature became a once-in-a-blue-moon kind of thing. Technology made us stick to our gadgets rather than going out and discovering the beauty that is nature. What we didn’t know, was that we were letting go of something very important – grounding.
Grounding also called earthing, is a therapeutic technique that involves doing activities that “ground” or electrically reconnect you to the earth. This practice relies on earthing science and grounding physics to explain how electrical charges from the earth can have positive effects on your body. Essentially, it is the direct contact of the skin on the hands or our bare feet on the surface of the earth.
Grounding can be done in many ways. You can take a walk barefoot, lie on the ground, or submerse yourself in the water. There are also tools like grounding mats that can bring a connection to the earth indoors. The mats usually connect via a wire to the ground port of an electrical outlet. They conduct the earth’s energy.
Here are 7 benefits of earthing or grounding.
1. Relief from fatigue
Life can be extremely overwhelming. The hustle in the air that constantly has us working in the name of ‘chasing the bag’ can make us extremely tired and fatigued. Many times, even when we reach this point we are unable to spare time to rest.
Grounding is a good way to help with fatigue. In a study conducted on massage therapists, many reported a decrease in their fatigue levels after four weeks of treatment with grounding mats.
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2. Improves your mood
Your mood is heavily affected by the experiences around you. If you are feeling stressed, anxious, or having a depressive episode, then you should most definitely consider grounding.
A study in Science Direct reported improved mood, plus reduced depression and stress in those who received grounding therapy. Those who practice grounding regularly tend to be centred, balanced, calm, strong, and positive.
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3. Helps with sleep disorders
If you struggle with finding sleep, then this one is for you. Insomnia is a reality that so many people face on a daily basis, and it can be extremely frustrating. It causes all kinds of severe symptoms, from a general inability to get the right quality or quantity of rest through the night, to a lack of focus and even mental health issues.
Grounding is one of the ways that you can deal with the issue. In a study, massage therapists also experienced an improvement in sleep length and reduce sleep disturbances with grounding therapy.
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4. It helps to ease pain
Whether you are suffering from back or muscle pains, you should definitely need to try out grounding. Taking painkillers is a one-time solution since they overwork the body. Natural processes such as grounding are harmless and completely effective.
According to a study published in the Journal of Inflammation Research, when you ground, mobile electrons from the Earth make contact with your skin and enter your body, acting as natural antioxidants. They protect cells, tissue, and organs from oxidative stress.
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5. Helps with cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular diseases such as Deep Vein Thrombosis, High Blood Pressure, and coronary heart disease are common. In some circumstances, they are caused by poor lifestyle choices. Nonetheless, we have to find a way to deal with them because they can be life-threatening.
Results of one treatment study found that long-term self-administered grounding therapy helped to reduce blood pressure levels in participants with hypertension.
Another study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that grounding is good for your heart rate variability.
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6. Improves wound healing
If you are looking for a fast way to heal, then you should definitely look into grounding. According to The Movement Paradigm, grounding can be a great thing to include in an integrative approach to healing. It alters the numbers of circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes and also affects various circulating chemical factors related to inflammation, thus improving the healing of wounds.
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7. It’s good for your skin
We are all after healthy, smooth skin. There are a number of products that can help you achieve the perfect skin but grounding is a natural way to do so. The Earth protects your skin and enhances its appearance. How does this happen? It improves blood circulation, which allows for better delivery of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body as well as the face.
Watch this video to find out more about grounding.
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