It may sound a bit silly, perhaps even a little awkward, but research has shown that ‘grounding’ or ‘earthing’ has great health benefits.

So what is “Grounding”? It's the simple practice of taking off your shoes and walking in a park, beach or rocky area. This contact with the earth through our feet provides a therapeutic effect.

What does it do for me?

Grounding has been shown across multiple studies to:

• Reduce feelings of stress and anxiety;
• Reduce pain and muscle stiffness;
• Improve wound healing;
• Reducing blood pressure and preventing blood clotting.

Some studies have even shown that ‘grounding’ the bed by using a lead connecting it to the earth, results in improved sleep by resetting circadian rhythms (the body’s natural sleep/wake cycle).

How does it work?

It is hypothesised that the connection between the earth’s electrons and our own body systems creates an antioxidant effect. This helps to normalise the bodies functions reducing inflammation and enabling healing to occur.

OK, so it’s good for me, now what?

So get out there! There a lots of ways you can incorporate grounding into your life, even if it’s just a few minutes at lunchtime. While the best effects occur when you do it for at least 30 minutes per day, there’s no harm in starting small.

Take a friend and get them to try it with you, hang out the washing in bare feet, take the kids to the park on the weekend and all run around with bare feet. Take off your shoes at every opportunity - it’s good for your health.

References:

Chevalier et al. Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth's Surface Electrons. J Environ Public Health. 2012; 2012: 291541.

Oschman et al., The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. J Inflamm Res. 2015; 8: 83–96.

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