In recent time, people have become more and more aware of the positive results that can be achieved through alternative types of therapy; this includes grounding, which is sometimes called earthing. But there may still be some confusion over how one should connect to the earth and whether walking barefoot is the best way to notice the effects of grounding.
To get properly connected to the earth, you should walk barefoot. This gives you the best chance of reaping the benefits of grounding and noticing how you feel better over time.
In this article, we are going to be looking at the best way to connect to Mother Earth without the need for soled shoes and showing you how beneficial grounding or earthing can be. You will notice improvements in your health but always remember to seek medical advice if you have serious medical issues or ones that will not go away.
What Is Earthing Or Grounding?
Many people are quick to brush off the idea of earthing and deny that it could have any beneficial effects on the body, but when you learn about the healing power of earth s surface, it isn’t hard to see why this practice is so well-loved.
Earthing or grounding, as it is sometimes known is not a complicated concept; it simply involves connecting the human body to the earth and the best way to do this is by going barefoot outside and allowing your body to make contact with the ground.
The practice can be done in a variety of ways so if you do not feel like walking barefoot in the grass, sand or soil, you could try immersing yourself in water or simply lying on the ground. Alternatively, you can get many grounding products which are conductive and allow you to reap the earth s energy without leaving the comfort of your home.
These products are excellent if you cannot make direct contact with the ground and have been seen to still provide similar health benefits to the body. But how does this process work?
When you make contact with the earth s surface, you are creating a direct bond between the living matrix that sits between the cells of the body. This matrix serves as a defence to the immune system and acts in the same way as antioxidants.
This system is essential to the makeup of the human body but does produce free radicals; these are electrons that have no partner but all electrons need to be paired. A free radical can be either positively or negatively charged. Our white blood cells will never stop producing these radicals and if they do not have a free electron to attach to it, they will attach to cells in the body which can contribute to health problems, particularly inflammation.
There is a limited supply of free electrons in our bodies so it is important to allow the radicals a way to find their partner charge without affecting our health. The good news is that this charge can be found in a way that is completely natural – the very ground beneath our feet.
As you make contact with the earth, the radicals and electrical charge from the earth can come together, allowing the radicals to meet another electron with which they can pair.
Should You Ground Yourself Barefoot?
There are several ways that you can perform grounding and how you do it will depend on your personal preference as well as what you have available to you. If you do not have access to the ground directly, or you cannot go outside for whatever reason, then there are other ways that you can perform grounding – but we will look at this method of grounding in a little more detail later on.
In essence, the whole point of earthing is to connect to the earth and reap the advantages of its healing power. The best way to achieve this is by making direct contact with it and this involves removing your shoes and connecting the feet to the earth.
But if you don’t want to do this, you might also connect other parts of the body to the ground, as this can be just as effective. Provided that some part of you is connected, it doesn’t matter. You could place your hands on the ground, your head or any other part of you.
So, yes, if you are planning to do grounding through walking, then going with bare feet is the best way to do this and you will notice the best results.
Does Grounding Earthing Really Work?
There have been some research studies done on the effects of grounding but there is still quite a way to go with a lot more research being needed. However, what we have seen is certainly substantial enough to back grounding techniques and their benefits.
The main effect of grounding that people strive to achieve is to lower inflammation and this comes as a direct result of the contact with the earth and how the electrical charge can affect clumped blood cell formations – particularly the red blood cell – as this study demonstrates.
This research shows us that as a result of this effect, there is a serious reduction in the chances of developing cardiovascular disease. It is thought that around 17 million people die from some form of cardiovascular disease every year across the world so if connecting to the ground is an effective way to prevent this then it is little wonder that the practice has become so popular.
Furthermore, the blood viscosity has been seen to be improved and this can mean better blood flow as well as improved blood pressure. Perhaps even more incredible is the fact that studies on grounding showed that there are even effects on the nervous system, changing it from sympathetic to parasympathetic within the autonomous system.
But this is certainly not where the benefits end; there have been many more research studies conducted and it is easy to see why one might get a lot from grounding or earthing. There was one study that showed the effects of earthing equipment and how it was shown to reduce chronic pain and inflammation in those who had experienced exercise injuries. What’s more, the natural process of earthing drastically reduced muscle damage in these same patients.
Aside from improving pain levels, grounding reduced stress levels and other symptoms related to mental health. In this modern-day, we are constantly exposed to the electromagnetic radiation of electrical devices and this can result in a whole host of symptoms including pain and a lack of energy. However, both of these things are also associated with mental health.
What’s even more interesting is that the chronic stress of modern life can be a problem in itself, but stress can also be a contributing factor to things like anxiety and depression. But research shows that all of these things were reduced. You may also notice that your sleep is improved. Stress is one of the most prominent things that may hinder a good night’s sleep so it isn’t difficult to see why getting outside without your shoes is appealing.
Is Walking Barefoot On The Ground Good For You?
Having looked at the science that shows us that the benefits of grounding are very real, it is not difficult to determine that some time outside without your shoes and allowing yourself to walk barefoot in the grass is advantageous. In short, there is no denying that bringing together a negative charge and a positive charge in this natural way is like therapy for the body.
Walking on the ground without shoes is undoubtedly the best way to practice earthing, however, there are other grounding techniques that can be just as effective at tackling chronic inflammation, high blood pressure and other health symptoms.
We are referring to grounding equipment which essentially uses a grounding rod along with grounding mats, patches, socks and many other things. You connect the grounding rod into the earth and run the grounding wire into your home where you can connect it to your other grounding equipment and get grounded without having to go outside.
How Long Should You Walk Barefoot For Grounding?
The amount of time that you spend on getting grounded is entirely up to you. There are some people who like to get outside for a good part of the day and this is great if you have the time. But many people may not be able to afford this luxury. Fortunately, it has been suggested that as little as 30 minutes of grounding every day is enough for you to start seeing the many advantages that this practice can bring.
Conversely, there are some people who may not start to notice any difference for quite some time. There are those who will practice grounding for several months and only just begin to see the positive changes in their body, whereas other people might do one earthing session as feel a reduction in their chronic pain and notice that they sleep better on the first night.
It is important to keep in mind that each of us is different and what works well for one person may not work so well for another; there is no doubt at all that you will notice benefits of earthing but how long this takes will depend on the individual person.
Conclusion
Grounding is a technique that has been used for thousands of years but is becoming more and more popular in modern times due to its effectiveness. Grounding involves connecting yourself to the ground to take advantage of its electrical charge and use these molecules to improve your health. What’s best is that you need to do nothing more than go outside and walk along with nothing on your feet, although there are other ways to do grounding if you prefer.
Going barefoot is undoubtedly the best way to perform grounding and you will notice a lot of benefits such as a reduction in pain and inflammation as well as improved sleep and far lower levels of stress.
However, it is vital that we point out that whilst we advocate the use of grounding and back its effects entirely if you have persistent medical problems or pain, you should seek medical advice.
