Grounding ("earthing") — effects on health

What is grounding (earthing)?

Grounding (or earthing) means making direct contact with the Earth, for example by standing barefoot on soil or using a product that is connected to the ground.

This connection makes it possible for your body to absorb the Earth's natural electric charge, which delivers electrons into your system.

Research suggests these electrons can reduce inflammation, relieve stress, and improve sleep.

Some experts believe grounding can correct an "electron-deficiency syndrome," which may play a role in several health problems. In other words, grounding may help balance your body, whether you sit on a grounded mat, walk in a garden or park, or wade in a lake.

How does it work?

The Earth is electronically active, with many electrons circulating at its surface. The human body naturally "draws in" electricity from the ground, which can trigger changes in the body and support health.

In the past, people were much more connected to the Earth. They spent more time outdoors, often barefoot or with direct body contact with the ground. Today, however, most people have little direct contact with the Earth. As a result, positive static electric charges build up in the body that you can only discharge by reconnecting with the ground. Grounding neutralizes these positive charges by allowing the body to absorb negative electrons. This contributes to rebalancing.

When you connect to the Earth, the absorbed electrons act as natural antioxidants, neutralizing positively charged, damaging free radicals. Contact with electrons is vital for your body to function optimally. Grounding can improve sleep, help wound healing, and reduce inflammation, which underlies many health problems.

You don't have to touch soil directly to experience grounding. There are many grounding products that can be plugged into an outlet or connected directly to the ground, allowing you to take on electrons that neutralize positive charges.

Grounding products

In modern society we walk barefoot less often, so grounding products can be useful. Examples include grounding mats, sheets, patches, and shoes that help your body absorb electrons.

These products can be connected to a grounded outlet or directly to the earth.

Grounding techniques

It's important to apply grounding regularly and for a sufficient duration. There is no fixed required time, but some studies suggest that even 10–20 minutes of grounding can be beneficial, while longer periods may have stronger effects.

Benefits of grounding

Several studies have been published on the benefits of grounding, although there is not yet a large body of evidence that it can actually prevent diseases. However, a number of findings indicate that changes occur in the body within minutes of contact with the ground or a grounding product.

Authors of a 2020 report believe grounding may counteract cardiovascular, respiratory, neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.

The Earthing Institute states that contact with the Earth can improve sleep, reduce inflammation, relieve stress, improve circulation, and promote physical healing, to name a few effects.

Inflammation One of the best-known benefits of grounding is the reduction of inflammation, which underlies many diseases and pain. One study highlighted differences in the concentration of inflammation-related molecules in the blood of grounded versus non-grounded people. Participants who were grounded showed reduced levels of inflammatory markers compared with non-grounded individuals.

Circulation One study measured circulation in people who spent an hour in contact with the ground compared with those who did not ground. A 2023 report compared grounding and non-grounding in people with COVID-19. Those who tried grounding did not develop blood clots, whereas clots occurred in the non-grounded group.

In a study where participants did yoga on grounded yoga mats for an hour, the blood viscosity of participants decreased, which eases blood flow through the body. Higher blood viscosity has been associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and hypertension.

Improved circulation can speed wound healing and may be beneficial for facial skin and general skin health.

Blood pressure A small study found grounding to be an effective method for lowering blood pressure.

Sleep A study found that grounded individuals had lower nighttime cortisol levels — excessive cortisol can have negative health effects. The study reported that grounding better aligned hormone levels with the natural 24-hour circadian rhythm. A regular circadian rhythm is associated with better health. A disrupted rhythm can increase the risk of diabetes, obesity, blood pressure problems, and other diseases. Grounding has been linked to more restful sleep and improved relaxation. A grounding study in people with Alzheimer's disease showed that grounding helped with sleep.

Heart rate variability Heart rate continuously varies, but too-low heart rate variability has been associated with cardiovascular events. In a small study, heart rate variability improved after 20 minutes of grounding and improved further with longer grounding durations.

Anxiety Anxiety is associated with lower heart rate variability, so grounding may be a useful therapy. Animal research in some rats suggests grounding can reduce stress levels, but there is less research in humans. In two small human trials, grounding improved stress levels, which may contribute to reduced anxiety.

Thyroid function One report indicated that nightly grounding affected thyroid hormone levels, which influence health. In another trial, people who practiced grounding had to adjust their thyroid medications, suggesting grounding may have the potential to restore thyroid function.

Risks of grounding

Grounding is generally safe, but there can be certain risks, for example when walking barefoot you could step on a thorn and the wound might become infected.

If you use an indoor grounding product, unplug it during storms! A nearby lightning strike could pose an electrocution risk.

Sources:

• The Ohio State University: “Body-Earthing.”
  Journal of Inflammation Research: “The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.”
• Biomedical Journal: “Grounding – The universal anti-inflammatory remedy.”
  “Integrative and lifestyle medicine strategies should include Earthing (grounding): Review of research evidence and clinical observations.”
• Open Journal of Preventive Medicine: “Grounding the Human Body during Yoga Exercise with a Grounded Yoga Mat Reduces Blood Viscosity.”
• The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine: “Can electrons act as antioxidants? A review and commentary,” “The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress.”
• The Earthing Institute: “Getting Started,” “What Is Earthing?” “New to Earthing? Try This.”
• European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences: “How Localized Grounding, Combined with Conductive Skincare, Improves the Outcomes of the Traditional Skincare?”
• Alternative Therapies: “Grounding Patients With Hypertension Improves Blood Pressure: A Case History Series Study.”
• Integrative Medicine: “Emotional Stress, Heart Rate Variability, Grounding, and Improved Autonomic Tone: Clinical Applications.”
• Journal of Environmental and Public Health: “Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons.”
• Cleveland Clinic: “Is Earthing Actually Good for You? Here’s What We Know.”