What on Earth is Earthing?

Tapping into the Natural Healing Force of Nature

Earthing or Being Grounded:

Ok, so what is this “Earthing” thing or being grounded exactly? As usual, we’ll look at the science first and then get into the feel-good/physical and psychological healing benefits of grounding.

Much research has been conducted on this matter for many years now. Scientists have revealed that earthing as we call it has a true connection with the Earth's magnetic field. We, as electric beings, are connected with the Earth on a physical level. Continuously wearing shoes with rubber soles breaks that connection. Reconnecting with the Earth's magnetic field through barefoot walking or running, gardening without gloves and actually touching the Earth and living things around us can reconnect that energy field and in many ways help our bodies heal on a physical level as well as a mental level.

Koniver, L. (2022) explains in her article, Practical Applications of Grounding to Support Health, published in Biomedical Journal, that grounding or earthing is related to the process of actually touching the earth and putting our bodies into a state of healing.

The article further discusses how we are all connected to direct current (DC) energy within the earth and every living thing as opposed to the manmade alternating current (AC) energy, that flows throughout the universe, our planet, plants, animals, and of course us as human beings which in turn creates a global electrical circuit. She further discusses some of the many benefits of earthing that can also be found in several medical journals and scientific journals.

Our entire bodies use DC energy to live and maintain homeostasis. For example, our brains, hearts, muscles, and each part of our being is run on DC energy. Everything living and some things considered non-living on this earth conduct and “live” on DC energy, including dirt, rocks, trees, and plants. Yep, that’s right boys and girls, even rocks and dirt have an electrical current running through them.

According to ancient tradition and as taught by our ancestors, including the American Indians, everything on this earth is living, including the rivers, the rocks, everything we touch, see, and the things we cannot touch (e.g., the clouds) and/or cannot see (e.g., the air). Not everyone has taken a physics course and not everyone watches educational documentaries, I get that, but this is the knowledge that our ancestors understood thousands of years ago.

For those of us that have studied physics, or at the very least had at least one course of physics know that we learn this in our physics classes across the globe. We learn that everything living and "non-living" resonates with a vibration, a wavelength of energy flow that can be measured and seen with the proper equipment. So, how is it that we leave physics class and forget all that we learned about energy, sound and vibrations, and light fields and how each particle resonates at different vibrational levels? Why do some people say a rock is just a rock, a tree is just a tree, and they do not live? When in fact they do live and, in many ways, communicate and interact with each other as well as us, if we learn to listen. The living Earth will just have to be another article because there is just too much research and too many findings to support this to discuss in this particular article. For now, we will remain focused on us as human beings and the health benefits that Earthing gives us.

When we come in contact with the earth, the trees, and the plants, we are connecting ourselves to the universal DC energy flowing throughout the earth and the universe. Similar to connecting the spirit tree in the movie Avatar. If you have seen Avatar, you know what I am talking about. If you have not seen Avatar, well you should. It teaches us a lot about grounding, becoming one with nature, the healing powers of the planet, and much more. Not to mention, it's a feel-good fun movie the entire family can enjoy.

Anyway, back to our science a little and diving into the health benefits of grounding. There are several studies written in medical journals that discuss the profound healing effect that grounding has on our bodies. In fact, it has been known for many years that coming in contact with the natural microorganisms found in the dirt help build our immune systems. Another reason it is good for children to get out and play in the dirt. It not only keeps them grounded, it helps build a healthy immune system to prevent diseases, colds, flu’s, etc. In fact, many medical journals even discuss how grounding can reduce inflammation (the cause of pain) in our bodies.

Did you know that they even make special mats and pads that can be used in the home to ground people as they sleep or use while watching T.V.? Some even place them on the floor to put their feet on as they work on their computers. They are literally called Grounding Mats or Earthing Mats. In case you’re interested in getting one they can easily be found on Amazon. People using these mats have reported getting better sleep, reduced pain and swelling, and so much more.

Earthing or grounding also affects our mental status as well. It helps reduce anxiety, improves mood, and decreases depression. I use this method a lot in my practice as a psychotherapist. I have personally used this practice all of my life. Anytime I have felt down, angry, depressed, sad, whatever; I find a tree to sit under, take off my shoes and place my feet on the ground or simply just sit on the ground itself for a bit. Between the earth’s energy and the rays of the sun, after a bit of breathing and sitting, the energy from the earth and the universe dissipates all the negative emotions. I also incorporate meditation, visualizations, and fluid movement into my practice to increase the vibrational fields and release the negative energy of my own thoughts and body.

I teach this to provide people with healthy natural ways to cope with stress, whether it be acute or chronic. The techniques I teach can be used anywhere and at any time. In fact, just last week we lost our poor little pup. We live in the country so there are no leash laws here. Our animals run free. Well, we had a dog, brought her up from birth and she never left the yard, she was a good dog. After she was about 6 months to a year old (I forget how old she was) another dog was introduced into our family that taught our good dog to go out into the street, chase squirrels, and chase cars. Well, as the inevitable would have it, she was chasing a squirrel and she got hit by a car. The kids were very unhappy of course. My daughter was beside herself, crying and broken that this had occurred. She was so angry with the other dog for teaching her dog these horrible habits. Well, after a bit of discussion and consoling, I told my daughter to go sit in the sun, place her feet on

the ground, and just listen to the sounds of the earth (e.g., the birds, the squirrels, etc.) to draw in the positive energy from the earth. I told her to remember to visualize as she breathes that each breath in is made up of positive energy and as she breathes out, she will release negative energy. Within about 10 minutes of doing this, she returned with a smile on her face, stating that she felt much better, still sad from the loss of her dog, but she felt calmer and more relaxed.

Grounding is an excellent way to learn to cope with your emotions and calm yourself when, well, “life happens”. Things are going to happen whether we like it or not, some things are going to be wonderful and happy and some things will bring us distress and disappointment. Learning different ways to cope with the distressing moments in our lives can help decrease the amount of time we spend feeling anxious, depressed, or angry. Grounding is one of the best coping mechanisms I have found. In particular the grounding method I created for myself and my family that involves a bit more than just simply sitting or standing on the ground. We call it the "Alturic Grounding Method". One of many different Alturic therapies the clinic teaches.

You can connect with the earth’s energy in many different ways, depending on your location and personal preferences. For example, being in the ocean, lake, woods, gardening, etc. Even when you are in a store such as Walmart or somewhere where they sell gardening materials. You can simply go to the garden section and put your hands on the soil products or stand in the sun in the outdoor section, hold a plant in your hands, etc.

These are just some ideas and ways to quickly deal with anxiety. For further help, you can always contact me here at Altura. I’m always happy to help those in need. Now, go take your shoes off and get outside for a bit and spend some time with nature. 😊 Have a Great Day!