The Healing Benefits of Grounding

Let’s be real, a lot of root cause healing is decidedly unsexy. It’s not a miraculous sensational cure, it’s not an overnight phenomena, it’s not a ‘pop a pill’ and feel better immediately experience. Healing the root cause issue is about commitment, consistency, and returning to what is authentic and true. It takes effort and an investment in learning our body.

The reward in root cause healing is that it is long-lasting and free from harmful, and often deadly, side effects. It’s free from the shackles of lifelong pharmaceuticals that treat symptoms and not the cause. Instead, it is about sovereignty of self, freedom, and faith that we are created majestically with the capacity to heal and thrive.

Grounding Explained

Grounding, also referred to as earthing (often used interchangeably), is about as basic and unsexy as it gets, but it is a powerful healing tool. Grounding is the practice of connecting your skin, or some exposed part of the body, to the earth. As Ober, Sinatra, and Zucker (2014) explain in Earthing:

“The Earth is negatively charged. It has virtually infinite supply of free electrons. Anytime you have two conductive objects and they make contact - such as your bare feet and the ground - electrons will flow from the place where they are abundant to the place where there are fewer of them. The electrical potential of the two objects will thus equalize. That’s grounding.” (66)

“When thus “grounded,” you automatically absorb them (electrons), which in turn reduces electrical imbalances in the body and the oxidative free radicals involved in chronic inflammation and multiple diseases. The body’s natural electrical state is restored.” (9).

“What it does is to reunite you with the natural electrical signals from the Earth that govern all organisms dwelling upon it. It restores your body’s natural internal electrical stability and rhythms, which in turn promote normal functioning of the body systems, including the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and immune systems. It remedies an electron deficiency to reduce inflammation - the common cause of disease. It shifts the nervous system from a stress-dominated mode to one of calmness and better sleep. By reconnecting, you enable your body to return to its normal electrical state, better able to self-regulate and self-heal.” (14). *Bold emphasis is my own.

Grounding Benefits

Grounding has been reported to help with numerous ailments including but not limited to:

• Improved speed of wound healing
• Relief from joint pain/body pain
• Improved blood pressure/circulation
• Better mobility
• Increased energy
• Relief from burns, allergies, arthritis, and jet lag
• Improved symptoms with lupus and autism (among others)
• Improved sleep

And the list goes on. In my mind, the benefits of grounding are much like adaptogen herbs that essentially adapt, as their name implies, to what your body needs to reach equilibrium again. Similarly, grounding works to address imbalances in the body and restore it.

Grounding Methods

Here are some ways I incorporate grounding into my life:

• We use earthing mats which are created from conductive material that are designed to mimic the natural electrical energy of the earth’s surface. They are plugged into the grounding port of the electrical socket and much like placing your feet on the earth, you simply connect bare skin for grounding benefits (our dog even has his own mat for joint pain). Sleep is one of the most optimal times to utilize earthing mats as this is the time our body is dedicated to restoration.
• The more you connect, the better, so I also use a grounding mat under my desk for work.
• I use grounding sandals as much as possible when I’m out and about.
• I take my dog to the park as much as I can to go barefoot on the grass. This started mainly for my dog who loves to lay in the grass and bask in the sun, but it has become one of my favorite practices. I have decided that laying on a blanket barefoot with my feet in the grass under the trees is one of the most underrated forms of healing. The prevailing calm that descends on my nervous system every time I do this is remarkable.

My Experience with Grounding

I have experienced much deeper, more restorative sleep on a consistent basis using the earthing mat for sleep. I track my sleep and I now regularly clock anywhere from 7-10 hours of sleep with about an hour and half + of REM and deep sleep (2 hours is ideal).

I notice better mobility and less joint pain, especially upon waking, and quicker recovery from harder workouts.

Less specific, but I've experienced an overall better sense of well-being and calm.

Restoring Harmony in Our Bodies

Nature is a gift. We have lost our connection to this extraordinary miracle that surrounds us on a daily basis. We were designed to live in harmony with the earth and the rhythms of nature. We have isolated ourselves in climate controlled environments, insulated homes, clothing, shoes, cars…we rarely interact with nature let alone make body contact with the earth. Yet, this is our mecca for healing and it’s free and available at our leisure. The more we align with nature, the better we feel and the more we thrive.

To really feel the benefits of grounding, remember that consistency is key. I have provided some resources below if you want to try out earthing tools. Go get grounded - I think you'll love this practice!

xoxo,

Laura Lynne