Grounded in Nature: The Amazing Health Advantages of Walking Barefoot on Earth

Skyscrapers, cellphones, and sedentary lives have made us increasingly estranged from the very element that gave birth to us: the Earth. Our forefathers traveled barefoot on the ground and benefited from a wide range of health advantages. With the support of convincing scientific studies that demonstrate its tremendous effects on human health and wellbeing, the idea of being barefoot on Earth, also known as earthing or grounding, is now experiencing a comeback.

The Relationship at Hand

Like all other living things, humans were created with a constant connect to the earth in mind. Our forefathers coexisted peacefully with nature for hundreds of years while going barefoot and sleeping on the ground. Today, the typical individual only spends 2% of their time outside, which causes a separation from the healing forces of the Earth.

Regaining Balance via "Earthing"

1. Earthing and discharging

Negatively charged electrons are abundant on Earth and serve as a large reserve. When we walk barefoot on the Earth, we allow our bodies to discharge positively charged ions, a typical side effect of modern existence. Barefoot voltage meters have been used in scientific experiments, including research by Chevalier, Sinatra, and Oschman, to show how earthing successfully lowers voltage in the body1.

2. Polarity Shifting and Alkalinity

According to research, earthing can change our bodies' electrical activity, which causes the polarity of the body to shift. The negative charge of the Earth aids in balancing the body's surplus positive charge. This occurrence may also affect the pH equilibrium in our blood, which would increase the body's alkalinity. These effects have been thoroughly investigated in studies by Oschman, Chevalier, and Brown, among others - 2.

Scientific Validation

Numerous research confirm how earthing has a transforming effect:

• Study by Ghaly and Teplitz (2004): This study showed how grounding the body when sleeping lowers nighttime cortisol levels, a stress hormone, enhancing sleep quality and lowering stress - 3.

• The study by Chevalier, Mori, and Oschman (2006): This study examined the physiological and electrophysiological components of earthing and offered insightful information about how it may affect people's health - 4.

Embracing Earthing in Everyday Life

• Walk Without Shoes: Take advantage of the chance to go barefoot whenever you can on natural surfaces like grass, sand, or soil. Allow your feet to touch the ground.

• Planting: Work in the garden without gloves. Put your hands down in the dirt, letting the Earth's surface touch your skin.

• Beach Time: If you live close to a beach, take advantage of the chance to stroll barefoot on the sand. Water and Earth together offer a powerful anchoring sensation.

Conclusion: Rediscovering Wellness and Reconnecting with Earth

The case for going barefoot on Earth is well supported by scientific research. Earthing is a return to our original status as beings, not some new-age craze. In the process we can rejuvenate our bodies and hearts by embracing this straightforward yet deep practice that allows us to re-connect with the Earth's healing forces. So, kick off your shoes, feel the Earth beneath your feet, and embark on a journey to improved well-being.

References

1 - Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S. T., & Oschman, J. L. (2012). The effect of earthing (grounding) on human physiology. European Biology and Bioelectromagnetics, 8(1), 2-23.

2 - Oschman, J. L., Chevalier, G., & Brown, R. (2015). The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Journal of Inflammation Research, 8, 83–96.

3 - Ghaly, M., & Teplitz, D. (2004). The Biologic Effects of Grounding the Human Body During Sleep as Measured by Cortisol Levels and Subjective Reporting of Sleep, Pain, and Stress. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 10(5), 767–776.

4 - Chevalier, G., Mori, K., & Oschman, J. L. (2006). The Fascia Network and Complementary Medicine: An Interview with Robert Schleip, PhD. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 12(10), 1–8.