Earthing Makes You Feel Better

If you have ever taken a walk through a natural setting you inevitably return home feeling much better than when you left. This is because you re-connected with the earth which taps into your body’s natural healing state, far from the many artificial, man-made aspects of daily modern life.

As the earth tilts toward the more warming seasons of spring and summer, take this opportunity to remind yourself to go ‘earthing’. It is a simple way to recharge and rebalance your overall systemic health and can, more often than not, make you feel better both physically and mentally.

Confront Your Void

So many of us have been boxed-in to an easy way of living. You may be used to the many comforts of climate control, digital entertainment, microwaved foods, comfy furniture and so many other sanitized, sheltered conveniences.

Yet, there is often a void that many cannot explain even though they have everything needed around them. This feeling of emptiness is often a subtle reminder that you are missing an important component you just can’t put your finger on. Some consider this void a lack of money, love, respect, material availability or any other number of ego controlled worries.

The truth is that although certain concerns can be valid, the mindful practice of earthing could offer a significant stress reduction when it comes to an unexplained void.

Planetary Healing

With so much research on pharmacology and how better, stronger drugs are being developed everyday to allow you a quick-fix pill remedy, re-connecting with the earth may seem insignificant. However, if someone told you that that headache, stomach ache, joint pain, muscle pain or even cancer related symptoms could be alleviated with a simple, nature experience you may think they are ridiculous. Well, maybe science can be a motivator.

According to a study titled, ‘The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases’ published in the Journal of Inflammation Research (3/24/15) it was concluded that,

“Accumulating experiences and research on earthing, or grounding, point to the emergence of a simple, natural, and accessible health strategy against chronic inflammation, warranting the serious attention of clinicians and researchers. The living matrix (or ground regulation or tissue tensegrity-matrix system), the very fabric of the body, appears to serve as one of our primary antioxidant defense systems. As this report explains, it is a system requiring occasional recharging by conductive contact with the Earth’s surface – the “battery” for all planetary life – to be optimally effective.”

Other studies measure the amount of electrons you produce when living in a modern environment. It turns out that there is a considerable deficiency in electrons for most people which some practitioners believe is one of the major, underlying cause of internal inflammation. When your cells struggle with inflammation, disease could be just around the corner.

An interesting addition in a study titled, ‘A 12-year prospective study of stroke risk in older Medicare beneficiaries’ was the inclusion of those living in a multi-story building as one of the risks of stroke. Many practitioners (both traditional and conventional) believe that being above ground, sealed off from the earth’s soil creates an electron deficiency that in turn makes your body struggle for homeostasis (balanced health) more than it needs to.

A consortium of researchers collaborated on a study called, ‘Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons’ which was published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health (1/12/12) which concluded that,

“Emerging evidence shows that contact with the Earth—whether being outside barefoot or indoors connected to grounded conductive systems—may be a simple, natural, and yet profoundly effective environmental strategy against chronic stress, ANS [autonomic nervous system] dysfunction, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, disturbed HRV [heart rate variability], hyper-coagulable blood, and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease.”

How To Go Earthing

It really is the simplest thing to connect with nature, yet so many consider it too time consuming, frivolous or just unavailable. Here are a list of ways to start a relationship with your surrounding earth. Use some of these for a few weeks to see if you can make yourself feel better without anything but walking amongst nearby flora, water, soil, sand or any other available natural landscape.

• Take off your shoes – Once you push away a fearful ego that may scream “germs!” you can take off your shoes and act as a human antennae to the enormous natural electrical grid in the earth. Feel the sand, soil, grass or even mud in-between your toes for a deep, rejuvenating experience.
• Find Solace – Whether you live in the city or the sticks there are always places you can find to practice an earthing protocol. It can be a park, forest, meadow, lake, beach, or local field that you can use to recharge.
• Position Yourself – Walking barefoot is optimal for a grounding experience but if this is not possible, wear thin sandals or sneakers. Once you find your location you can simply walk, sit, or even lie down while breathing deep in your nose and out your mouth.
• Protocol – Any chance you get to visit with the earth, take it. If you need a specific protocol then schedule an earthing calendar by taking a walk after dinner each evening; forming a group that connects weekly; or searching for new earthing locations each time you venture out.
• Weather – It may be difficult, uncomfortable or inconvenient to connect with the earth in frigid temperatures or inclement weather. However, this is just an excuse to remain in your convenient shell. Put on the correct outerwear and connect with the earth through every season as just being in the outdoors will rejuvenate you even if it is cold or wet.

 

Earthing makes you feel better and is the easiest way to feed your system with an essential electron balance that results in a beneficial body and mind connection. So get out in the world under sunny or gray skies and give your body the most primitive medicine it was designed for, a shot of nature.