From the beginning of time, except for the past few generations, humans lived their entire lives primarily in direct physical contact with the earth; therefore, it is assumed that humans throughout evolution were naturally grounded.
Grounding the body as often as possible helps to re-balance the body's electrical system and neutralize any excess and potentially damaging radiation. In addition, the body benefits from absorbing millions of electrons freely available from the Earth which are naturally anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant in nature. Being Grounded also allows 100% of the body's energy to be utilized where it is most needed - for Homeostasis, the regulation and control of all body systems, most by the release of hormones into the bloodstream.
In modern times, humans have insulated themselves from contact with the earth by wearing synthetic soled shoes and living in homes that elevate the body above the earth. Consequently, humans are no longer naturally grounded and now the body becomes charged with static electricity and radiated electric fields can now create unnatural weak electric currents with-in the body.
This allows extraneous electricity, of which we are over exposed to in our modern environment, to interfere with and stress the normal bio-electrical activities of the body, which thereby interferes with natural health and sleep.
Today everyone is physically stressed, their muscles are tense, back and joint pain are the norm and most do not sleep well. These conditions all relate to excess stimulation of the nervous system and/or interference of the bio-electrical communications between cells.
With the increasing plethora of 'all things wireless' and Digital TV we are literally being bombarded with high levels of electrical & microwave radiation, and due to the insulating footwear we now use, the body is unable to discharge this high excess of radiation, thus leading to 'changes' in the way our cells and neurological system communicate.
Grounding is the most effective way to improve our health and protect our self from the potential dangers posed to us from our highly saturated Electrical Environment.
To what extent do EMFs create abnormal electrical activity in/or on the body? In 1995 the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [NIEHS] and the US Department of Energy [DOE] stated that common exposure to electric and magnetic fields [EMFs] from household electrical wires now produce unnatural weak electric currents between human cells. In other words 24 hours a day if you live and sleep in a modern home. [1]
These unnatural currents in the body are the direct result of the body being insulated from ground contact. The question is do these currents along with the static electricity created on the body from carpets etc. interfere with normal bioelectrical functions?
An indication is; according to the American Institute of Stress, over 75% of all visits to primary care physicians are now for stress related health conditions. The description of stress is; a state of continuous anxiety and nervousness in which muscles become and remain tensed. Stress is now confirmed to be a primary contributor to cardiovascular disease, cancer, gastrointestinal, skin, neurological and emotional disorders, and a host of disorders linked to immune system disturbances ranging from the common cold and herpes, to arthritis and AIDS. [2]
In the late 1960s, when humans were first widely diagnosed as being stressed, synthetic soled shoes, carpets and the like had just become popular and the use electricity and household electrical devices tripled from the previous generation.
See what Stephen T. Sinatra, (M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.N., C.N.S., C.B.T, a board-certified cardiologist, certified nutrition specialist, certified bioenergetic psychotherapist and anti-aging specialist) has to asy about Grounding / Earthing. Dr. Sinatra has authored fourteen books with a few more on the way, numerous peer-reviewed journal articles.
DOES THE QUALITY OF YOUR SLEEP EFFECT YOUR HEALTH?
Many of us want to sleep as little as possible—or feel like we have to. There are so many things that seem more interesting or important than getting a few more hours of sleep. But just as exercise and nutrition are essential for optimal health and happiness, so is sleep. The quality of your sleep directly affects the quality of your waking life, including your mental sharpness, productivity, emotional balance, creativity, physical vitality, and even your weight. No other activity delivers so many benefits with so little effort!
In Chinese medicine sleep has been regarded as a barometer of your health for centuaries. Nightime is considered the Yin Time, when your body takes care of itself, does routine repair and maintenance. Proper sleep is essential to allow this restorative work to take place. Especially critical to the function of organs such as the Liver, which performs most of its’ detoxification work at night.
When you are not grounded, do these unnatural weak electric currents that are created in the body also interfere with sleep?
According to the National Sleep Foundation's Sleep-2000 report, nearly two thirds of American adults [62%] now suffer from sleep problems. Americans have the most comfortable beds and the most protected sleep environments in the world. Yet, in traditional societies where most humans sleep on animal skins, grass mats or directly on the ground, sleep problems do not exist. As for Americans, most now sleep within 12 inches of electrical wires hidden in the wall at the head of their bed and with electric cords around or near the bed. All of which emanate e-fields throughout the night and create weak electric currents in the body.
The fact that the majority of people, with the best health care in human history, now increasingly suffer from poor sleep and stress related health problems suggests that something, largely unknown to the health community and public, is wrong. The dramatic change from the body being naturally grounded to now conducting unnatural weak electric currents between cells is the most likely candidate. Circumstantial evidence is provided by the fact that humans in traditional societies that maintain contact with the earth do not experience the common sleep and stress related health problems of the modern world. Nor do the animals that live in direct contact with the earth.
Evidence that is more conclusive was reported by the NIEHS and the DOE [1] that in some laboratory studies the biological effects of EMFs are:
-Changes in functions of cells and tissue -Accelerated tumor growth -Decrease in the hormone melatonin -Changes in biorhythms -Alterations of immune system -Changes in human brain activity and heart rate
The question is; by restoring natural ground to the body and thereby neutralizing these weak electric currents in the body and static electricity on the body, do muscle relax and normal sleep return?
In search of the answer the following test was performed.
METHOD AND MATERIALS
To effectively restore ground contact for an extended period, test subjects slept on dissipative carbon fiber mattress pads placed under their fitted sheets, connected via a ground wire [protected with an inline 1/100 amp fast blow fuse], to a ground rod driven into the earth near their bedroom window. The grounded mattress pads were designed to replicate the ground plane of the earth in the bed.
Sleep disturbances along with chronic muscle and joint pain, which the subjects had been experiencing for at least six months, were recorded to establish a base line.
The test was for a period of 30 days. SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS
An advertisement, distributed to ten beauty salons in Ventura County, CA solicited individuals experiencing sleep problems accompanied by tense muscles and/or chronic joint pain to participate in the study. Of the respondents, sixty individuals participated.
Age of subjects was between 23 and 74 years Male subjects = 22 Female subjects = 38 Declared sleep problems = 100% Declared chronic muscle or joint pain = 100%
The subjects were randomly divided into two groups. The first group of thirty, slept on carbon fiber mattress pads connected to a dedicated earth ground, just outside their bedroom window. The second control group of thirty, slept on carbon fiber mattress pads but were not connected to an earth ground.
E-field created charge on their bodies were recorded with an AC voltmeter connected to the earth ground and body contact made with a hand held probe or an EKG electrode patch.
"The studies indicate we can just touch the earth with our bare feet or our bare skin; sit down on the grass, and the earth actually releases anti-inflammatory electromagnetic radiation
What Tour de France athletes had to say about grounding improving athletic recovery, as well as: 1. Sleep was universally improved 2. Tendonitis was virtually eliminated 3. Wound healing (abrasions) was vastly accelerated 4. All members of the team completed the Tour 5. Illness frequency and duration diminished 6. Consistency of performance significantly improved 7. Team morale remained high throughout the Tour 8. Recovery from exertions from previous day was extremely high
Earth Grounding Energy Frequently Asked Questions?
What is the earth's electrical field?
Geophysicists have known for a long time that the surface of the earth has a steady supply of electrons. This unlimited supply is continually replenished by thousands of lightning strikes per minute somewhere on the planet. Electrons are immediately dispersed across the surface of the planet - many are eventually lost into the atmosphere. The whole system is known as the "global electrical circuit." It is estimated that if all thunderstorm activity on earth ceased, electrons would cease to flow on the earth within one hour.
Why does the earth's electric field transfer so easily to the body?
The body is mostly water and minerals; it is an excellent conductor of electricity (electrons). The free electrons on the surface of the earth are easily transferred to the human body as long as there is direct contact. Unfortunately, synthetically-soled shoes act as insulators so that even when we are outside we do not connect with the earth's electric field. When we are in homes and office buildings, we are also insulated and unable to receive the earth's balancing energies. Barefoot Connections products remedy this situation allowing an individual to be in contact with the earth in the comfort of his/her home and work place.
What is the difference between the earth's electric field and the electric field used to conduct electricity in our homes?
The earth's electric field is a continuous direct current (DC). Thousands of years of life on the planet have attuned our biology to this subtle field. On the other hand, home wiring systems in the South Africa use 50-cycle alternating current (AC). Alternating current is foreign to our biology and is being researched as a factor in a variety of stress-related responses.
Can I "earth" myself to a home electrical outlet ground?
You need to check that your home has a fully functional well grounded wiring system in place. The Health Direct earth leakage tester will check the circuitry of your outlet and confirm that a dedicated earth wire system is connected to the earth. If the "grounded" light does not come on when you plug in the tester, an electrician will need to install a dedicated earth ground or you may use the grounding rod (product is available) to connect directly to the earth.
How do the Grounding products work?
When a Health Direct Grounding product is plugged into a grounded and functional electrical outlet, current travels through the
Is it okay to use a Health Direct Grounding sleep product along with an electric blanket or on an electrically heated mattress pad or waterbed? However, given what we are trying to nuetralise the negative effects of induced electric (AC) currents, the use of electric blankets or other electrical devices in close proximity to the body is not recommended.
Can I plug a Health Direct Grounding product into a surge protector or extension cord?
Yes, as long as they have an existing ground wire (the 3rd prong) which will connect with the grounding system in the building.
How long will the Health Direct Bed Grounding Sheet last before it wears out?
The Health Direct Bed Grounding Sheets made with cotton, polyester, and conductive silver fiber have withstood rigorous testing. After 100 wash/dry cycles, the conductive silver fibers show virtually no breakage or wear. When cared for properly, your Health Direct Bed Grounding Sheet, should last as long as any good quality set of bed sheets.
Is the Health Direct Bed Grounding Sheet washable? What about care and cleaning?
Your Health Direct Bed Grounding Sheet may be laundered just as you would wash other bedding using the gentle wash cycle and a mild detergent. Low heat drying is recommended. However, CHLORINE BLEACH and FABRIC SOFTENERS should NOT be used. When necessary, use a hydrogen peroxide-based non-bleach to remove stains and/or to whiten your Bed Pad or Bed Sheets.
What is the difference between the Health Direct Grounding technology and the use of magnets?
Although the use of magnets can produce some therapeutic effects when properly applied, magnets cannot provide free electrons, nor can they connect the body with the naturally balancing frequencies of the earth. The Health Direct Grounding method is the most practical way, without standing directly on the earth, to connect with the earth's electron field.
Why is the Health Direct Grounding products so important now?
The Grounding / Earthing technology is the only scientifically documented way to restore our natural connection with the earth while maintaining a modern lifestyle. Simplicity and ease of use are making this technology the obvious choice for millions who want to re-connect with the earth.
Earthing and Grounding
An expert in the field of earthing, Dr. James L. Oschman, describes the exchange in this way, “The most reasonable hypothesis to explain the beneficial effects of earthing is that a direct earth connection enables both diurnal (daily) electrical rhythms and free electrons to flow from the earth to the body”. Hypothesis and proposed mechanisms are helpful as far as they go. But the real question in my mind is whether there’s any serious science that supports these assertions and the many claims made by purveyors of grounding products.
The first question that logically comes to mind is why an influx of electrons would have a beneficial effect in the human body. Dr. Oschman believes that direct exposure to the earth’s electrical rhythms may help promote a normalizing effect on hormone production, sleep patterns and stress levels. An interesting side note is an additional theory that “free and mobile electrons from the earth can resolve chronic inflammation by serving as natural antioxidants”. If accurate, these biochemical changes could obviously provide far reaching benefits for much of the world’s population. (1,2,3)
I was able to locate two peer review, published studies on grounding – one from January 2010 and another from October 2004. These scientific inquiries were conducted by two separate research facilities and were deemed worthy enough to be printed in a reputable medical publication, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. The results of the following scientific trials will be the primary basis for my opinion of earthing.
A total of 28 men and women took part in the most recent study of a grounding device. Their ages ranged from 18 – 80 years old. The controlled trial used a double-blind protocol which means that both the participants and the researchers didn’t know when they were using the experimental device or the inactive/placebo device.
The study volunteers were asked to sit on a standard reclining chair or one that was fitted with (hidden) grounding technology – which is typically made of metallic yarn.
Measurements were taken before, during and after “treatment” that indicated changes in blood oxygenation, pulse rate, perfusion index, respiratory rate and skin conductance.
When the participants were resting on the grounded recliner chair, they exhibited a decrease in skin conductance (an indicator of stress reduction) and an increase in respiratory rate. There were also significant changes noted in blood oxygenation during grounding, shifts in perfusion index (circulation) and pulse rates. Collectively, these responses were suggestive that “Grounding could become important for relaxation, health maintenance and disease prevention”. Additional research was urged by the authors of the study. (4)
An 8 week trial from 2004 examined the effects of a grounding bed in 12 volunteers suffering from pain, sleep disturbance and stress. The bedding used in the trial was described as “using a conductive mattress pad”. Multiple saliva samples were taken at the beginning and at week 6 of the experiment testing for concentrations of cortisol, a stress hormone. Questionnaires were also employed to determine subjective changes in pain, sleep quality and stress levels. Both daytime and nighttime cortisol levels declined significantly after sleeping on the grounded bed. A trend toward normalization of 24 hour cortisol levels was noted overall. The volunteers reported that virtually all of the pain, sleep and stress symptoms were greatly improved or eliminated by the 8 week point. It’s also interesting to note that the female participants appeared to benefit the most from this therapy. The reason why unclear at this time. (5)
Right about now, some of you may be rolling your eyes in disbelief. I do realize that earthing may seem like a rather “new agey” sort of practice. The use of a grounding bed or chair may, in fact, fall into this category. But, in my opinion, the idea of re-connecting with the ground isn’t so far fetched. Human beings haven’t been wearing tennis shoes and sleeping on NASA tested foam bedding for all that long a period of time. These inventions are certainly useful, but they’re far from natural. I’m not suggesting that we all ditch our clothes, mattresses and sneakers and reclaim a stone age way of living. But I think it’s important to remember that there may be some positive practices from our distant past that can be applied to the present. One example is walking barefoot when it’s practical and safe. Beyond any possible grounding effect, walking with bare feet can promote healthier feet and joints. (6,7,8)
I’m going to adopt a “wait and see” attitude about grounding products. There’s a hint of promise there as indicated by the apparently real physiological changes brought about by said products. But that’s about all that can currently be said on their behalf. The many distributor and manufacturer claims far exceed what is verifiably documented in the scientific literature. For the time being, I would feel much more comfortable recommending spending more time in contact with the ground in a natural setting – lying down or walking barefoot in the park or at the beach, etc. If this topic interests you, consider trying it out for yourself. See how non-commercial grounding makes you feel. The worst case scenario is that you’ll probably expose yourself to more fresh air and sunshine. Fortunately, that’s not a side effect that warrants much concern.
Dr. Pollack also offers some fascinating insights into the technique of earthing, or grounding—the simple act of walking barefoot to "ground" with the Earth. The scientific theory behind the health benefits seen from this simple practice is that your body absorbs negative electrons from the Earth through the soles of your feet.
Interestingly, Pollack adds support to this idea by explaining how the Earth is negatively charged, so when you ground, you're connecting your body to a negatively charged supply of energy. And since the Earth has a greater negative charge than your body, you end up absorbing electrons from it.
These negatively charged electrons may then help increase the structure of the water in your cells—just as water increases in structure when a negative charge is introduced with an electrode. Dr. Pollack is a wealth of information, and our interview covers far more than what I've summarized above. I highly recommend listening to the entire interview or reading through the transcript for even more information on this important topic.
When was the Last Time You Walked Barefoot?
"I want to start off by talking about the barefoot revolution," David says.
"If there is a local park or a beach nearby where you can easily get your shoes off and take a walk, this is really powerful in terms of helping you deal with inflammation of your ankles, knees, hips, and, I would say, even lower back.
A lot of back problems, a lot of postural problems, are caused by wearing shoes that throw out our posture in different directions, and they also make your toes limp. Your toes lose their ability to grip. They lose their strength by the wearing of shoes."
Most shoes emulate a cast in that they do not allow your foot to articulate properly.
In terms of inflammation, shoes also block the beneficial electromagnetic radiation of the earth, which actually has an anti-inflammatory effect. According to David, about 30 studies performed by Clint Ober over the past 12 years reveal this.
"The studies indicate we can just touch the earth with our bare feet or our bare skin; sit down on the grass, and the earth actually releases anti-inflammatory electromagnetic radiation," David says. "This helps to draw out inflammation, in particular of your lower extremities: your feet, our ankles, knees, and hips."
My own understanding of this phenomenon is that it's not caused so much by the electromagnetic radiation but rather from the transfer of free electrons from the earth; a grounding effect that is, in my understanding, one of the most potent antioxidants we know of.
Unfortunately, few people ever walk barefoot anymore to experience it.
According to David, it takes about 80 minutes for the free electrons from the earth to reach your blood stream and transform your blood.
"This is what Clint's research has been showing," David says.
"We actually did this at the Longevity Conference. We showed, within an hour and 20 minutes, how people's blood profiles changed and improved just based on being grounded for an hour and 20 minutes."
Walking barefoot can also help ameliorate the constant irritation caused by EMFs and other types of radiation on your system from cell phones, computers and Wi-Fi on your system. By getting outside, barefoot, touching the earth, and allowing the excess charge in your body to discharge into the earth, you can alleviate some of the stress put on your system.
That is the grounding effect.
Walking barefoot outside and breathing fresh air are grossly neglected foundational health principles, as is having large amounts of your skin exposed to natural sunlight so you can optimize your vitamin D, which is another crucial component for treating inflammation.
Researchers found that there was a significant relation between the charge of our bodies and the ground. In fact, it has been determined that the Earth acts as a natural reservoir of electric energy. If a person with an excessive negative charge, or an excess of electrons, steps onto the ground, the excess will be absorbed into the Earth. If a person has a positive charge, or a deficiency of electrons, then the Earth will supply what is needed to achieve homeostasis (balance). This is a truly amazing discovery: stepping on the ground electrically balances you!
Why is this significant?
In the past twenty years, we have witnessed an explosion of research conducted on human physiology and disease. What has been discovered has prompted almost global awareness of the importance of antioxidants and the process of oxidation. Oxidation, literally the same process of iron rusting, has been found to greatly contribute to aging and the formation of disease.
The culprits are "free radicals." A free radical is a molecule that has become unstable because of the lack of an electron. Free radicals will 'take' electrons from other molecules in order to become stable, but in the process they produce more free radicals. In time, free radicals can damage any tissue and lead to aging and disease.
Free radicals form in our bodies naturally as a byproduct of stress, environmental & dietary toxins and natural metabolic processes. Nature's solution to free radicals is anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants are substances that help put a stop to oxidation by providing the missing electrons to free radicals without becoming free radicals themselves.
Thanks to the progress of science, we now better understand that related to oxidation is the natural process of inflammation. Inflammation, called "the silent killer," is the leading theory on the underlying cause of many diseases (such as cancer and heart disease). The problem of inflammation lies not in a scarcity of electrons, as in oxidation, but in an excess of electrons.
Stay Balanced, Stay Grounded!
When you ground yourself, you are utilizing nature's most powerful form of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory: free electrons. The effect does not need to come from an injection or a drug; it comes directly from the Earth. All you have to do is put your bare feet on the ground!
