One environmental fact which has a positive effect on human health is that the Earth’s surface contains a very large supply of free electrons, potentially a beneficial factor. However, modern lifestyles have separated us from those electrons—due to the synthetic shoe soles we wear and to the height at which we live above the ground. Throughout most of history, humans walked barefoot or with footwear made of natural products. They slept on the ground. Primitive people had access to the ground’s electrons, and balance was maintained naturally in the electrical charges of the body.

Earthing (grounding) is the study and practice of how reconnecting with the Earth’s surface can be beneficial to health, disease prevention, and treatment. Except in ultra-dry areas, such as deserts, a negative electron potential is maintained by the Earth’s electrical circuit. This negative charge has been found to be beneficial in many human health conditions. It is already known that electrons from antioxidants can neutralize electropositive free radicals from pollution, which alter immunity and cause inflammation. Electrons from the surface of the Earth most likely act in the same way, neutralizing free radicals.

Since the 1960’s we have worn artificially-soled shoes instead of leather. Chronic diseases and inflammatory conditions have increased dramatically during recent decades, and this disconnect with the Earth’s surface may be a major cause. Even in the 1920s some people started to report trouble sleeping unless they were on the ground with copper wires attached to grounded pipes. In the late 1900’s benefits started to be reported with the use of pads and mats connected to the Earth.

Clint Ober*, a U.S. cable television executive, found the human body resembled a television cable. When television cables were grounded, interference in the signal (“snow” on television) was eliminated. “All electrical systems are stabilized by grounding them to the Earth.” Sokal and Sokal (father and son from Poland) found that grounding the human body “appears to offer a significant modulating effect on chronic illnesses encountered daily in their clinical practices”. Walking barefoot on the Earth or connecting with the Earth’s electrons transfers energy from the ground into the body. Earthing reduces pain, improves sleep, has a blood-thinning effect, and shifts the human body from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic side of the autonomic nervous system.

Grounded subjects report improvement in pain, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, PMS, sleep apnea, hypertension and autoimmune diseases. Studies have shown improvements in the daily fluctuation of stress-related cortisol production by patients. Production of cortisol returns to normal in many of these people, with improved sleep patterns and daytime energy. Grounding also eliminates the charge induced on the human body from common electrical sources and alters human brain waves. Athletes have less post-workout muscle soreness with grounding. Earthing for only one night has been shown to improve the markers** for osteoporosis, such as calcium and phosphorus in the blood and urine. Earthing improves blood sugars in diabetes and may be a natural solution for blood with high viscosity (allowing more oxygen to reach the tissues).

CONCLUSION: Grounding of the human body allows electrons from the Earth’s surface to enter the body and counteract inflammation, improving a number of symptoms and disease processes.

NOTE: *A new book named “Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?” has been published, by *Ober C, Sinatra ST, and Zucker M.

**Markers or biomarkers of diseases are chemical changes in blood or urine test which indicate improvement or worsening of diseases.

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PMID: 22291721.

Summary 790. nutrientmedicine.