If you are looking for natural ways to improve your health, energy levels, and just how you feel within yourself day-to-day, you might have heard of grounding.
While many praise grounding, or earthing, as an alternative form of medicine that has changed their lives, the practice also has many critics, largely because it is under-researched.
Studies that have been undertaken have had few participants and haven’t been replicated, so there is not a lot of strong evidence to support the claims of grounding enthusiasts.
But there is also no evidence to dispute the personal experiences shared by thousands.
In this article, we are going to dig into what exactly grounding is, how to do it, and its potential benefits.
We will also share some of the best earthing mats and other grounding tech that you can use if you do decide that this practice could benefit you.
What Is Grounding
The practice of grounding, or earthing as it is often called, is the simple practice of putting your body in contact with the Earth, or natural body of water, for extended periods of time.
The theory is that our bodies pick up a lot of positively charged energy as we go about our lives. This is naturally occurring in the atmosphere, but it is also increased by manmade activities such as radio waves, Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth beams, and so forth.
The earth, however, has a slight negative charge to it. So, when our bodies come into contact with the negatively charged earth, it can neutralize the energies that we have gathered and return our bodies to a neutral state.
Maintaining this neutral state is considered important for our energy levels and our mental well-being, but has also been linked with one significant health issue.
Excessive positively charged energy has been linked with the build-up of free radicals within the body. Having some free radicals is a good thing, as they kill bacteria and viruses. But when you have too many free radicals, they can go into overdrive, and can cause chronic inflammation.
Chronic inflammation damages healthy cells, which can lead to a wide variety of health issues. In particular, excessive free radicals have been linked with both heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes.
Eating a diet that is rich in Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as polyphenols, is one way to keep free radicals in check. Another method is earthing.
Read our in-depth guide on grounding here.
How to Practice Earthing
You might think that earthing is something that is easy to practice, as it simply means putting your body in contact with the earth for extended periods of time. Going for a swim in the ocean has the same effect, as it is similarly negatively charged.
But, while you may have enjoyed lazy afternoons lying on the grass and looking up at the clouds as a child, when was the last time that you did this as an adult?
In fact, you might be surprised how many days can pass in which you don’t have direct contact with the earth. So much of our cities are paved, and when we go out, we’re usually wearing shoes.
You might pass weeks without having sustained, direct contact with the earth.
This might also explain why beach holidays are so good for recuperating: the sheer amount of time that you spend in contact with the sand and the water.
If you aren’t grounding as part of your day-to-day life it is a good idea to develop a grounding practice. While the more time you can spend in contact with the earth the better, there is evidence to suggest that just 20-30 minutes a day can make a huge difference.
But, if your lifestyle means that you are not able to do this within a natural setting, then there are technologies out there that can help you simulate grounding and get the same benefits.
Grounding Technologies
Grounding mats are designed to create a surface that you can have significant contact with that mimics the negative charge of the earth itself.
They function by connecting to the ground point of an electrical outlet. So, you aren’t just plugging it into the outlet, you are connecting it to the electrons from the earth that pass through the grounding wire.
Most pieces of kit will come with a tool to help you determine if the socket that you want to use is grounded, and where exactly to plug in the mat (usually the bottom prong).
The mat is then conductive, so as you touch your skin to the mat, it is almost as if you are touching your skin directly to the earth.
There are a lot of different options when it comes to grounding technology. There are mats that you can lie down on, and use for meditation or yoga. There are sleep pads designed to sit on top of your mattress so that you can ground when sleeping, and even grounding pillowcases.
There are lots of grounding options for the office including foot mats for resting your feet throughout the day, and mats that can go under your keyboard to rest your arms.
You can even get earthing shoes, though they are not widely available in the UK. Instead of plugging into a wall, they have a little copper button implanted in the sole of the shoe. This is a highly conductive metal and it channels the earth’s electricity into your body.
Both special earthing shoes, and bands that you can attach to an existing pair of shoes are available.
The key to finding the right thing is to find something that fits into your lifestyle.
Interested in fitness and well-being tech? Check out or technology section.
Best Earthing Mats and Grounding Devices
Ground Smart Earthing Mat
If you are looking for a multi-use mat for grounding both in the office and at home, then this option from Ground Smart Earthing is a great choice.
It is made from conductive carbon leatherette which will feel comfortable under your sin whether you choose to place it under the desk for your feet while working, or on the desktop to rest your hands and arms.
You can also use it at home when relaxing, and even set it up for your pup to uses. Dogs can also benefit from grounding, but should be supervised at all times when using the product.
Just 26 inches long and 9 inches wide, it is highly portable, but big enough to give you the coverage that you need to renew your energy.
- Multi-use grounding mat
- Conductive carbon leatherette
- Portable 26 by 9 inches size
Breathable Grounding Bed Mat
If you suffer from poor sleep or you are a bit of a snorer, grounding may be able to improve sleep for both you, and the loved ones that need to listen to you.
While you don’t need to ground while sleeping to feel the benefits for sleep, why not?
If you are a multi-tasker that likes the idea of getting your daily earthing done while also getting your sleep, this product will also appeal.
You can get earthing bed pads that just cover a portion of your bed, but we like this one because it is big enough to cover a full double bed, measuring 54 by 71 inches.
The mat itself is made from conductive carbon leatherette, which is also breathable and comfortable. Secure it to the mattress with elastic straps so that it stays in place during the night.
It comes with a 15-foot cord to connect with the closest suitable socket.
- Earthing bed pad
- Standard double bed size
- Conductive carbon leatherette material
Grounding Pillowcase
Another way to do your earthing while you get your daily shut-eye is with a grounding pillowcase. It is designed to feel comfortable under your head made from 95% cotton with 5% silver grounding thread.
Coming in a standard size, it has a 15-foot cable so that you can plug it into the nearest available powerpoint. You can easily disconnect the cable from both the socket and the pillow when it is not in use.
Many people report feeling a tingling sensation when they first start to use the pillow. While it may be disconcerting at first, it is something that they soon came to welcome.
- Grounding pillowcase
- 19.7 by 30 inches
- Cotton and grounding thread
RASHION Earthing Bed Sheet
The final bit of kit that you might need for a good night of earthing sleep is this bed sheet. It works in a very similar way to the pillowcase, and is made from cotton with silver grounding threads to conduct earthing to where you are lying.
This sheet is 90 by 35 inches, so it is big enough to fit on a double bed and should be used as the top layer that you lie on directly.
This sheet also comes with a 15-foot cable, so you should have no trouble connecting and starting to feel the potential benefits of grounding
- Earthing bedsheet
- Cotton with silver conducting micro-fiber
- Standard double bed size
Groundology Footwear
If you do get out into the great outdoors a lot, but need to wear footwear for running or hiking, you can still get your grounding while exercising.
Groundology Footwear make intelligent straps that you can attach to your shoes, and which transfer the grounding energy of conductive surfaces such as earth, sand, and grass directly to your body.
The strap is designed to be fixed to your shoe permanently, but you can remove them and move them to other shoes if you have more than one set that you like to wear.
A strap should have a lifespan of at least 50 sessions when used on a natural surface.
Benefits of Grounding
As we have already said, the science isn’t in on grounding, and there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of figuring out what the true benefits are.
But based on the small studies that have been conducted, as well as benefits consistently reported by individuals that have used grounding for self-care, there are some widely accepted benefits.
- Reducing inflammation
One thing that grounding certainly does is help control the number of free radicals in the body. This reduced inflammation and protects the body against common related diseases such as heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes.
- Reducing chronic pain
Several studies have shown grounding to be effective against chronic muscle pain. Studies show that just two hours of grounding can significantly reduce chronic pain by reducing inflammation.
- Improving sleep
It is pretty much universally reported that grounding can improve sleep, letting people fall asleep faster and get better quality sleep. Earthing has also shown some effectiveness in reducing snoring.
- Reducing stress
Grounding may be able to normalize cortisol levels, meaning that the body is less flooded with this stress hormone. Cortisol also plays an important role in regulating metabolism, and normalizing levels may also help you lose weight.
- Normalizing blood pressure and flow
Grounding improves circulation, allowing the body to better deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body.
- Relieving muscle tension and headache
Earthing has also been shown to relieve muscle tension and headache, perhaps as a result of better circulation. As an extension of this, many athletes report that grounding aids in muscle recovery following a workout.
FAQs
How long should you ground for each day?
The more time you spend grounded, the better you will probably feel. But you only need to spend 20-30 minutes a day grounding in order to feel the benefits.
Does grounding really work?
The research has not yet been done to prove the various benefits of grounding. However, thousands of individuals that engage in the practice report similar experiences and effects.
This suggests that grounding does provide positive benefits, but much more research is still required to understand exactly how the process works.
Is it healthy to walk barefoot?
It is extremely healthy to walk barefoot, as long as you look out for things on the ground that have the potential to damage your feet.
Not only will walking on the earth ground you, but it helps you to develop better foot control and improve balance.
The Verdict
While the science is still a work in progress for the benefits of grounding, the anecdotal evidence is there that cleansing your body by passing time connected with the earth is good for our health.
Grounding can reduce inflammation and many of the health problems associated with it, and can balance hormone levels, improving sleep, mood, and more.
While the best way to ground yourself is to spend time in nature and make the effort to have extended skin contact with the earth or large bodies of water, that is not possible for everyone on a regular basis in our daily lives.
This is why earthing mats have been invented. They offer the same benefits while you are sitting at your computer doing the daily grind.
Advocates of grounding who have tried it for themselves suggest that just 20 to 30 minutes a day can make a big difference to your quality of life.
References
- The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, sound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases – NCBI
- The biological effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress – NCBI
- Grounding the human body to neutralize bioelectrical stress from static electricity and EMFs – ESD Journal
Last update on 2024-06-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
