Question for you…when was the last time that you walked across the grass without your shoes on?
I don’t know about you but I can’t say my sleep patterns are fantastic. I’m a good sleeper but I can’t remember the last time when I woke up feeling fully refreshed. I don’t think the increase of gadgets in my life helps matters, I work on a computer – a lot. I try my best to use a notepad when it comes to making notes to give myself a chance to get away from staring at a screen but in the evenings I’ll relax by watching some tv or a movie and even my books and magazines are now shown on a screen.
It’s technology overload.
So I was fascinated last week to read an article on how we’re all wearing rubber shoes these days and not connecting to the earth and that’s having an effect on our health.
Bear with me, the technology link up is coming very soon.
Now, I hate wearing shoes. If I’m at home or in the garden the first thing that comes off is my shoes (followed very closely by my bra, unless I’ve got company). There’s something so satisfying about feeling the air around your feet. But I do have a LOT of devices around me at all times.
Now, because of our shoe wearing habit and wiith all our energy, wi-fi, tv’s, mobile phones etc, we, as humans build up positive electrons and with our rubber sole shoes we’re not expelling that energy…just storing it up.
Put simply…the earth has a negative grounding charge.
To be able to rid ourselves of this build up of electrons, which can cause health problems such as poor sleep pattern, we need to earth. Much like you would when you’re sorting the electrics, you need to ground your body to the earth and doing so is SO simple. Walking barefoot on the grass, sand or in the sea will connect your body with the earth, returning the voltage to zero helping us feel calm, sleep better and have a positive impact on our health.
You see, our skin is a good conductor so that means that you can connect any part of your body with the earth (not just your feet) and still technically be earthed but it’s worth noting that right in the middle of the ball of your foot; is a point known to acupuncturists as Kidney 1…and what are kidneys there for? Flushing the toxins. So by using your feet to connect to the earth will give particularly good results.
Health Benefits of Grounding/Earthing
- Reducing inflammation by defusing excess positive electrons
- Reducing chronic pain
- Improving Sleep
- Increasing Energy
- Lowering stress and promoting calmness by reducing stress hormones.
- Normalizing biological rhythms including circadian rhythm
- Improving blood pressure and blood flow
- Relieving muscle tension and headache
- Lessens menstrual and female hormone symptoms
- Speeds healing- used in some places to prevent bed sores
- Can eliminate jet lag
- Protecting the body from EMFs
- Shortens recovery time from injury or athletic activity
- Reducing or eliminating snoring
- Helping support adrenal health
Obviously, there are people who are going to think this earthing business is nonsense and dismiss it as complete woo-woo but there have been preliminary studies on the effect that grounding is having on cortisol levels and sleep, pain and stress which makes a pretty interesting read…
Results indicate that grounding the human body to earth during sleep reduces night-time levels of cortisol and re- synchronizes hormone cortisol secretion more in alignment with the natural 24-hour circadian rhythm profile. Changes were most apparent in females. Furthermore, subjective re- porting indicates that grounding the human body to earth during sleep improves sleep and reduces pain and stress
But here’s another thing…
A thermographic image showing how earthing can affect inflammation. The image below shows a woman who spent years complaining of chronic pain and stiffness, the picture highlights the before and after effects of earthing (the difference is visible after just 30 minutes).
It may not be fully scientifically proven but it’s interesting right? Just think about those days when you get back from the beach and you sleep so soundly – we associate that with the sea air but maybe it’s because you’re free of electrons? What do you think?
I’m not quite sure that I buy in to the products associated with grounding, I think when you start seeing people peddling things such as earthing mats to go under your desk or earthing sheets for under your bed, it all starts to get a bit grubby. But then, I’ve not tried them, maybe they do work? However, getting outside and feeling the ground under your feet and air in your lungs is bound to be a lot more effective don’t you think?
Tell me what you think? Do you regularly indulge in earthing? Does it work? Let me know in the comments below…
Yes, this is definitely interesting! Plus with these things, I always think, what’s the worst that can happen, so you might as well give it a try 🙂
Rachael, I love wandering around my yard in my bare feet – I have just recently put shoes back on because of lethargic hornets in my lawn. I think we have wandered very far away from being part of nature, but I know I feel more content since I moved to a more rural setting from the city.
Very interesting post Rachael. Just off to go and have a wander around the garden barefoot and see how I feel afterwards!
Great post. I don’t like wearing shoes either or wearing a bra. LOL I will have to try your suggestions. Thanks for sharing. anita
Walking barefoot on the sand is one of the best free pedicures you can get!
This is a good reminder for me – sometimes I get so caught up in what I am doing I don’t even go outside all day! I live on a lake so there’s no excuse….
Be right back I have the urge to go and jump of the end of my dock…
it’s not snapping turtle season anymore is it?