What is grounding and is it really good for you?

In our increasingly digital world, it’s important that we “go touch grass,” meaning that we need to physically connect with the Earth, a concept also known as “grounding.”

More people are spending less time outside than in previous years, especially as workers have shifted home after the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, a study by the Journal of the American Planning Association found that people now spend nearly an hour less each day on activities outside the home. So what is grounding? And what are its benefits?

What is grounding?

Grounding, also called earthing, is a wellness practice that involves making direct contact with the Earth's surface, such as walking barefoot on grass, sand or dirt. The theory is that grounding provides a connection to the Earth's electrical charge, which may have a positive impact on our bodies, health and mood.

The concept of grounding goes back thousands of years and can be seen across many different cultures. For example, in Chinese culture, walking barefoot is believed to stimulate the flow of energy (qi) throughout the body. In Ayurveda, grounding is believed to balance vata, one of the three humors that are responsible for a person's emotional, mental and psychological health.

How does grounding work?

Grounding involves connecting your body to the Earth's natural electric charge. Through direct skin contact — walking on the ground with bare feet, for example — the Earth absorbs your body's positive charge, and you receive its energy in the form of electrons. This opposite charge exchange can make one feel more grounded. Chiropractic research has shown that our modern lifestyles have caused most people to stop physically connecting with the Earth, resulting in higher rates of disease and illness. Reconnecting with nature, even for a few minutes per day, could help promote healing.

What are the benefits of grounding?

One of the benefits of grounding is its potential anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is the body's response to injury or infection. Acute inflammation can promote healing and help you feel better. But if you develop chronic inflammation, it can harm healthy parts of your body and cause disease. Making contact with the Earth's surface neutralizes free radicals — unstable atoms that can damage cells and cause aging and other diseases — with electrons from the Earth.

Grounding is also believed by some to improve mood and promote stress relief. Research has found that grounding may increase serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates appetite, mood, and sleep. Higher serotonin levels are associated with increased feelings of happiness and lower stress levels.

A small clinical investigation studied the effects of grounding in people with high blood pressure. Of the 10 participants in the study, all reduced their blood pressure and their reliance on blood pressure medication after grounding for at least 10 to 12 hours per day.

A Biomedical Journal study also found that earthing had a significant impact on managing complications from COVID-19. The study recommended at least 40 minutes of earthing per day to prevent and treat the disease.

Incorporating grounding into your daily life

Creating a regular grounding practice can be simple, but certain factors — such as where you live or the time of year — may require you to get creative.

Here are a few easy ways to get started:

• Garden or press your hands into grass or soil
• Stand, walk barefoot or lie down outside on grass, sand, or soil
• Practice yoga or meditation outside, ideally in grass
• Swim outside in bodies of water, weather permitting
• Wear grounding shoes (designed with conductive technology) to protect your feet, while still getting the benefits of the practice

If the weather doesn't allow you to get outside, don't be discouraged. You can still practice grounding indoors. One way to do this is with a grounding mat. These mats plug into an outlet inside your home and simulate the electrical connection you would get from the Earth from walking barefoot. You can also buy yoga mats with grounding technology to get more from your indoor practice. Other grounding or earthing products include mattress pads, sheets, socks, seat mats and patches.

Staying more connected to the natural world

In our fast-paced, digital world, it is easy to lose touch with the natural environment around us. Grounding offers a simple (and free) way to reconnect with the Earth and reap all its potential benefits. So, the next time you feel stressed or anxious, go touch grass — you might be surprised at how much better you feel.