Grounding: An Antidote to Inflammation
Core — Nº35
The benefits of spending time with your (bare) feet on the earth are said to be one of the most effective anti-inflammatories you’ll ever come across. In a report that analysed pain and inflammation in 20 case studies between 2004 and 2005, Dr William Amalu highlighted the powerful impact of grounding on our bodies.
In the case studies mentioned above, some subjects were given an ‘earthing’ sleep system comprising conductive fibres that sat on their mattress and connected to the earth via a cord and rod. Others got conductive electrode adhesives attached to the skin at specific points on one end and the earth (via a wire and rod) at the other. Throughout the case study analysis, Dr Amalu referred to “earthing” — coupling a person with the earth — as Electron Transfer Technology (ETT).
In one study, after four nights with an ETT system, a 49-year-old female reported a:
68% reduction in pain
43% reduction in lack of sleep interfering with daily functioning
29% reduction in pain interfering with sleep
75% reduction in leg achiness/restless legs during sleep
The images above illustrated a significant improvement in circulation through the subjects’ hands and arms. Moreover, there was a significant improvement in foot circulation and thermal symmetry in both feet.
Another case study included a 65-year-old female with chronic pain in various spots on her legs. She was also on prolonged medical treatment that didn’t work. But after four nights with the ETT system, she reported a 92% reduction in pain and over 50% improvement in daily functioning, achiness, stiffness, and insomnia.
These cases were not isolated incidents either; the trend remained consistent throughout the study (have a read when you can), with many patients reporting up to a 90% improvement in different areas of the body. The implications of these findings strongly suggest that grounding is one of the best methods for managing inflammation and associated conditions.
The concept of earthing (or grounding) has gained significant attention lately, which is strange for a practice much older than us. The mechanism is rooted in the transfer of free or mobile electrons into your body from the earth. Grounding leverages the negative electrical charge of free or mobile subatomic particles in the earth, which has the power to reduce oxidative stress from your body, allowing excess electricity to discharge through the ground.
Our cells are affected by electromagnetic fields, and it’s hard for them to be healthy in an unhealthy environment. So, some people theorise that you can induce a healing effect in your body through discharging extraneous energy.
Why is this important now? Our modern lifestyles have separated most people from physically connecting with the earth in this way. We sit in cars, wear shoes and socks nonstop, touch a raft of electrical appliances, and often live in cities with sparsely populated natural ground to dig our feet in.
As research continues to unearth the intricacies of grounding and its applications, it will do well to bring us back to an anti-inflammatory resource that has been available to us since the dawn of humanity. Even with a great nutrition and workout plan or cutting-edge supplements, you still need grounding.
The benefits are vast, such as:
Better sleep
Better hydration
Lowers the chance of blood clots
Improves blood oxygen
Lowers inflammation
Increases heart rate variability
Improves liver and pancreatic health
It’s a free practice that will boost all areas of your well-being, especially in this modern world. Give it a try. It can be as low as 30 minutes a day.