What Is Grounding?

Medically reviewed by Arno Kroner, DAOM

Grounding, sometimes called earthing, is the process of connecting to the Earth's electrical energy. This practice is rooted in the theory that the electrical charges from the Earth can have a positive impact on your body, your health, and your mood.

The idea is that when you touch your body to the ground, it dissipates static electricity and extraneous charges that are on you, while at the same time, you receive a charge of energy in the form of free electrons, helping your body synchronize with the natural frequencies of the Earth.

Grounding can involve walking barefoot outside, laying in the grass, running your fingers through the dirt, or using some type of electronic device to ground you to the Earth's surface.

Below we explore the science behind grounding including how it works, its potential benefits, its possible risks, and how you can incorporate it into your routine.

How Does Grounding Work?

Grounding is based on the idea that your body carries a positive charge that can build up inside of you, while the Earth has a negative charge. By physically connecting with the Earth in some way, some scientists theorize that you are able to discharge your body’s excess energy (positive charge), and therefore potentially see a healing effect in your body.

According to scientists, the modern lifestyle have separated most people from physically connecting with the Earth in this way, and the result of that has been physiological dysfunction and illness. But by finding ways to reconnect with Earth, people are able to promote healing in their bodies.

Benefits of Grounding

Research on grounding is limited and most of the studies are small, but the preliminary results are encouraging. In fact, some studies have shown that grounding may reduces inflammation, stress, and pain. It also may improve sleep and blood flow, and impact vitality.

Of course, additional research is needed to determine whether grounding may be a useful treatment for illnesses, chronic pain, and more. Until then, here is a closer look at what researchers have learned so far about grounding.

May Improve Mood

Research has shown that grounding for one hour a day may boost mood and promote relaxation. In fact, the participants who were grounded using a conductive pillow, mat, and patches while relaxing in a recliner showed statistically significant improvements in mood and reported pleasant feelings.

However, researchers noted that more research is needed to determine how this intervention might be used in the future.

May Boost Quality of Life

One study of massage therapists found that using grounding mats improved their energy levels and decreased their fatigue. Those who were grounded also reported increases in physical function and significant decreases in depressed mood, tiredness, and pain when compared to those not being grounded. Researchers noted that grounding could potentially support overall health and improve quality of life.

May Reduce Blood Pressure

There also is some evidence that grounding may help lower blood pressure in those with hypertension. Researchers asked 10 participants to self-administer grounding therapy in an effort to reduce blood pressure levels.

What they discovered was that the blood pressure of all the participants had improved by the end of the trial period. In fact, their systolic levels decreased an average of 14.3%.

Related: What to Know About a Blood Pressure Chart

May Improve Heart Health

One smaller study found that grounding could potentially have a positive impact on heart health. During the study, 10 people wore grounding patches on their hands and feet for two hours. Grounding patches help provide a concentrated flow of the Earth's electrons to a small, localized area of acute or chronic pain, inflammation, or injury. Blood measurements were taken before and after grounding to determine how their red blood cells responded.

What the researchers discovered is that grounding reduces blood viscosity and clumping of red blood cells. Consequently, grounding could potentially be one of the easiest and most profound ways to reduce cardiovascular risks.

May Promote Muscle Recovery

Grounding also may play a role in healing post-exercise muscle damage. During one study, researchers used grounding patches and mats on participants. They measured creatine kinase, white blood cell count, and pain levels before and after grounding.

What they discovered is that the participants reported less pain. And, blood work indicated reduced muscle damage. These results suggest that grounding may have a positive impact on the body’s healing capabilities.

How to Practice Grounding

If you are interested in practicing grounding, there are couple of different options. First, you can practice grounding the traditional way—by being outside and reconnecting with the Earth's surface. Second, it is also possible to practice grounding indoors with the use of special equipment. Here is a closer look at each option.

Outdoor Grounding

If you want to trying grounding the traditional way, all you need to do is go outside and reconnect with the Earth in some way. The key is to maintain direct skin contact. For instance, the easiest is to walk barefoot outside. But you also can lay in the grass or run your hands through loose dirt. Even swimming in the ocean would potentially constitute grounding.

Indoor Grounding

Interestingly, you also can practice grounding inside as well. Through the use of different grounding systems that enable ongoing contact with the Earth, you can participate in the practice while sleeping, watching television, or sitting at the computer. These grounding systems come in a variety of forms including sheets, mats, wrist or ankle bands, and adhesive patches. Most of these work by connecting to the Earth's energy via a grounding cord that is plugged into the ground port of an electrical outlet. Most homes built after the 1950's have a ground wire in the third hole of the outlet that connects to the ground.

Risks and Safety Precautions

For the most part, grounding is a safe practice, but you should be aware of what is going on around you. For instance, some experts indicate that walking barefoot through the grass can increase your risk of wasp stings. There also is a chance of stepping on something that could injure your foot, like glass or thorns.

Likewise, if you have pollen allergies, are prone to getting poison ivy, or are sensitive to insect stings, you will have to weigh the pros and cons of the technique or consider using grounding devices that keep you connected to the Earth.

It is also important to note that if you are pregnant, you may not want to dig through the dirt outside in an effort to ease your symptoms. There is a risk of coming in contact with toxoplasma gondii, which is a contaminant that can be in soil. Coming in contact with this substance could lead to toxoplasmosis, an illness that could impact the health of your unborn baby. It can even lead to miscarriages and birth defects.

A Quick Review

Grounding, or earthing, is the process of reconnecting with the Earth in order to promote healing. Most of the research on grounding includes small studies with promising results—though more research is needed before grounding can be recommended as a treatment option.

There are a number of ways to utilize grounding in your everyday life including being outside and connecting with the Earth or using grounding devices inside like mats, sheets, or adhesive patches. Although grounding is relatively safe, people with allergies or those who are pregnant need to take extra precautions in order to use the practice safely. If you are interested in grounding, talk to a healthcare provider to determine if it is safe for you to try.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any science behind grounding?

Grounding is a technique used to realign your body's electrical energy to the Earth. While there is limited research on its benefits and effectiveness, some smaller studies have noted benefits in inflammation, pain, and stress markers. More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of this approach and how people might benefit from it.

How long should you practice grounding each day?

While the time spent grounding is largely dependent on the person and their needs, one study found that practicing grounding 30 minutes a day resulted in a noticeable decrease in pain. In fact, after one week, researchers noted that the person's pain level was 80% less than it was originally.

What is the difference between earthing and grounding?

When referring to the healing practice of earthing, earthing and grounding are essentially the same thing. They are a way to connect people to the healing energy of the Earth in order to reduce inflammation, stress, and even pain. This practice also can improve sleep and blood flow and even impact your vitality.

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