Grounding Your Body for Optimal Health:
Grounding your body on a daily basis may be one of the best things you can do for the health of your mind and body. Walking barefoot on the earth has been a staple part of human and animal life since the beginning of time. In the past couple of generations, humans have made shoes, sandals and boots that insulate us from the natural energies of the Earth. The electromagnetic energy from the Earth is has profound healing effects on the body.
Although these shoes protect our feet they also deprive us of the free electrons present in the ground. Grounding our bodies with barefoot exposure has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect that is a genetic requirement for optimal health. I affectionately call grounding, vitamin G, as it is nearly as essential as any other nutrient for optimal health.
Nature is a Healing Source:
Our world has more medical technology than ever before. Much of this is good, however, there is no substitute for the healing forces found naturally on Earth. Nature itself is a powerful healing source.
The sun produces vitamin D3, the plants and vegetation give us antioxidants, trace minerals and chlorophyll among other things. The Earth itself provides a powerful form of free electrons that are available to everyone by merely exposing our bodies to these natural energies present on the ground.
Our bodies are a living matrix of energetically charged biochemical circuits that are charged and coordinated through the activity of the central nervous system. The Earth itself is regulated by subtle, but dynamic electrical circuits. The electrical crosstalk between the Earth and our central nervous system helps to program trillions of biochemical reactions.
Earth’s Electrical Rhythms
The Earth’s electrical rhythms play a significant role in the natural circadian rhythms that govern our sleep/wake cycle, hormones, mood and energy production. Studies taken on people fully disconnected from this natural electrical rhythm have shown abnormal circulating cortisol levels, indicating abnormal stress responses (1).
Additionally, disconnected people often struggle with issues such as insomnia, hormone disruption, chronic pain, headaches and fatigue among other things (2, 3).
Human have always connected with the Earth’s electrical energy through our feet. This is evidenced by the 1300 nerve endings per square inch on the sole of the foot. Compared to other parts of the body, that is an incredibly high density of nerve enrichment. This is necessary for balance, stability and coordination of the foot, but also to absorb the electrical energy present on the Earth (4).
The Problem with Modern Shoes
Modern shoe soles have separated man from the electrical energy of the ground with insulating covers. Most people go weeks to months without ever having direct skin to ground contact with the Earth for longer than a minute. These people live completely disconnected from the planet which leads to a dysrhythmic function within the mind & body.
The human body has a very similar makeup to the Earth, being they are both a combination of water and minerals. This combination is what conducts electrical currents. Our bodies were made to be connected with the Earth and this subtle electrical energy has extremely powerful effects on our health and well-being (5).
Grounding Basics:
If you wear shoes everywhere you go the whole Earth will feel like leather! Take your shoes off and begin to truly experience the benefits of the Earth!
1) Take Off Your Shoes: Avoid wearing shoes whenever possible
2) Sit Down Barefoot: Sit outside barefoot with your feet on grass or soil.
3) Walk Barefoot: Walk or run barefoot outside on grass, sand or soil. Moist ground or grass is the perfect electrical conductor.
4) Let Your Body Touch the Earth: Expose any part of the body to the Earth, ground or any natural waters like lakes, streams or oceans. Walking in salt water is one of the best grounding techniques due to the combination of earth, water and electrolytes.
5) Sit on a Tree: Sit or lean on the trunk or limb of a tree to share some of its natural electricity.
The benefits of earthing include reduced inflammation and better internal stress management. This results in better sleep, enhanced immunity, less pain and better state of mind and quality of mind (6). Many individuals report significantly better memory, creativity, innovativeness and spiritual direction after spending time connecting with the Earth.
Sources for This Article Include:
1. Ghaly M, Teplitz D. The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress. J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Oct;10(5):767-76. PMID: 15650465
2. Sokal K, Sokal P. Earthing the human body influences physiologic processes. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Apr;17(4):301-8. PMID: 21469913
3. Chevalier G, Sinatra ST, Oschman JL, Sokal K, Sokal P. Earthing: health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth’s surface electrons. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:291541. PMID: 22291721
4. Sokal P, Sokal K. The neuromodulative role of earthing. Med Hypotheses. 2011 Nov;77(5):824-6. PMID: 21856083
5. Oschman JL. Can electrons act as antioxidants? A review and commentary. J Altern Complement Med. 2007 Nov;13(9):955-67. PMID: 18047442
6. Ghaly M, Teplitz D. The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress. J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Oct;10(5):767-76. PMID: 15650465
I wonder if this id why u feel do rested after a day atvthe beach.
Are skin absorbsion of pesticides a concern at a park?
I always feel better with barefoot walking, even at the park. I would still recommend it…just not right after they spray the grass down.
Difficult to get quality grounding time. Nightly, I have been using direct grounding from an interior wall outlet to my body, relatively successfully for 5 years. There is some pushback on the process, that it exposes the body to unnecessary EMF’s. What is your position on this method for grounding?
Hi dr. Jockers!
I apologize if I overlooked anything, but I didn’t see anywhere on your posts, to warn people to check EMF in their’s bedroom’s, when they want use earthing products.
What’s your what is your opinion about this?
Thanks for reply
Yes I discuss that in this article on EMF https://drjockers.com/emf-exposure-dangers-symptoms-and-protection/
how long do you stand barefoot on the grass?
I would say at least 5-10 mins to get the benefits!
What about if you have pets? My dogs/cat don’t have any issues but what about ringworm and other parasites from where your pets roam?
Hey Becky, Parasitic infections largely happen in people with weakened immune systems. Although owning pets increases the risk for getting parasites, supplementing your diet with anti-parasitic herbs is a great way to kill parasites naturally and boost immunity if you consider the benefits of grounding! Blessings to you!
What are good options in fall/ winter, when it’s too cold to follow these protocols?
We just try to get out even when it is cold for 5-10 mins!
Memory and imagination are powerful forces in the body’s experience. Many people find that even recreating in vivid detail a day at the beach, wiggling their toes and “feeling” the sand between them, or recalling a deep, responsive connection with Nature in a place they love can create a grounded state. This takes practice and patience but then becomes available at any stressful moment when we feel challenged to maintain our essential connection to Earth.
Thanks for sharing!
How about going out with just socks when its cold weather?
Is cement sidewalk/ patio effective or even partially??
Thank you!!
Yes, concrete that is connected to the ground still conducts. Having socks on is fine, as long as you don’t have rubber soles.