Who Is Clint Ober
Who Is Clint Ober?
“After years of observing the effect of Earthing on people, I know with absolute certainty that everything going on in the body is different when you’re not grounded — when you are disconnected from the Earth, like most people today. The ungrounded state is neither normal nor natural, nor the way humans lived throughout most of history.
The way to live is to be connected to the Earth — grounded as much as possible — because being connected is like pulling a switch that enables your body to function more naturally and efficiently. Your body works electrically. You are a bioelectric being, and you need connection with your natural electric source — the Earth’s electric energy. It establishes the most natural state of your electric body. It nourishes every cell.
Earthing can be life-changing. It is one of the most simple and important things you can do for your health, and probably the easiest lifestyle change you can make in your lifetime. My message is very simple: get grounded, and stay grounded for a lifetime.”
– Clint Ober
There’s not many famous people with the name Clint. I can think of Clint Eastwood (the actor) off the top of my head, and also being a football fan, I know of Clint Dempsey who played for Fulham FC in the Premier League. But if you’re interested in natural health, functional medicine, or bioelectric wellness, there’s one Clint who might just be more important than all the rest. Clint Ober, the man who discovered Earthing (also known as Grounding).
In our view, Clint Ober is one of the most influential figures in modern natural health.
Clint Ober grew up on a farm in Montana, USA, surrounded by wide open fields and endless connection to the Earth. His childhood was spent barefoot chasing cows, baling hay, and pulling weeds. Everything about nature fascinated him.
Many of his childhood friends were from a nearby Native American reservation, and they approached life with a deep respect for the Earth. On one visit, his friend’s mother told him to take off his shoes when entering the home, explaining: “They will make you sick.”
That comment stuck with Clint. Later, when another friend’s sister fell seriously ill with scarlet fever, her family followed a traditional healing practice. They dug a pit in the ground and had her lie in it, staying connected to the Earth while a nearby fire kept her warm. Within days, she recovered.
Perhaps these early experiences planted the first seeds of curiosity about the healing power of the Earth.
As an adult, Clint Ober built a successful career in the cable television industry, where grounding and electrical stability are essential. He founded and expanded a major cable systems company, gaining a deep understanding of electrical grounding and how proper connections protect equipment from interference and ensure stable signal flow.
Life was good for Clint until 1993, when he faced a serious health crisis. A massive abscess attacked his liver, nearly killing him. After emergency surgery and a long recovery, Clint decided to sell his business, travel, and search for a new purpose.
That decision would change not just his life, but potentially the health of millions.
In 1998, while sitting on a park bench watching a group of tourists, Clint noticed something curious. Every single person was wearing rubber-soled shoes. The same material used to insulate electrical wires.
He suddenly realised that modern footwear disconnects us from the Earth’s natural electrical field. If we’re insulated all day, could that disconnection affect human health?
It was a simple but revolutionary question.
That night, Clint decided to experiment. Using his electrical expertise, he placed metallic duct tape across his bed in a grid pattern, connected it with an alligator clip and wire to a grounding rod outside, and lay down for the night holding a voltmeter.
He slept deeply and better than he had in years.
Over the next few nights, the same thing happened – deep, uninterrupted sleep and a profound sense of calm. He shared the experiment with friends, setting up similar systems for them. The results were astonishing and everyone reported better sleep, less pain, and improved energy.
Encouraged by these results, Clint Ober decided to test the concept scientifically. He funded a pilot study of 60 participants, which was published in 2000 and showed measurable improvements in sleep and pain reduction when people slept grounded.
From that point on, the idea of Earthing as a scientific discipline began to take shape. Over the years, numerous peer-reviewed studies have confirmed that grounding can:
These findings are now documented through the Earthing Institute, founded by Clint Ober to promote continued research into the bioelectrical connection between humans and the Earth.
Recognising that most modern people can’t walk barefoot all day or sleep outdoors, Clint developed the first indoor grounding products. This included grounding mats, sheets, and patches. All so everyone could stay connected to the Earth’s electrons from home or work.
This innovation transformed Earthing from a niche concept into a global wellness movement. Today, more than one million people worldwide use grounding products inspired by Clint Ober’s discovery.
Clint Ober’s mission is simple yet profound. To help every human on Earth reconnect with their natural source of energy – the planet itself.
Through decades of passion, perseverance, and personal experience, he has reshaped how we understand health, energy, and our relationship with nature.
His work continues to inspire scientists, healthcare practitioners, and individuals around the world to explore how grounding restores the body’s electrical balance and supports healing at the cellular level.
At BeGrounded, we share Clint Ober’s vision in helping people experience the powerful health benefits of reconnecting to the Earth, whether outdoors or through high-quality indoor grounding products.
In 1998, Clint Ober realised that most people were disconnected from the Earth due to rubber-soled shoes and indoor living. He discovered that direct contact with the Earth allows the body to absorb free electrons, which help reduce inflammation, balance the nervous system, and restore natural bioelectrical function.
Clint Ober is best known for developing the concept of Earthing/ Grounding. The practice of connecting your body to the Earth’s electrical field to support overall health. He also founded the Earthing Institute, which conducts and publishes scientific research on grounding.
Yes. Multiple peer-reviewed studies show that grounding can lower inflammation, reduce pain, improve circulation, regulate cortisol levels, and promote better sleep. These studies are compiled and published by the Earthing Institute, established by Clint Ober to advance scientific understanding of grounding.
Clint Ober helped design the first indoor grounding products—including mats, sheets, and patches that allow people to stay connected to the Earth’s energy from home or work. His goal was to make the health benefits of grounding accessible to everyone, regardless of climate or lifestyle.
Clint Ober’s discovery has inspired millions of people worldwide to reconnect with the Earth. His work bridges modern science and ancient wisdom, reshaping how natural health practitioners and wellness enthusiasts approach inflammation, pain management, and overall vitality.
