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The therapeutic practice of grounding, also known as earthing, essentially means engaging in actions that restore a person’s electrical connection to the earth. This might sound both simple and complex at the same time. After all, how does it work, and how can you do it?
The fact is that electrical charges from the earth are thought to have beneficial impacts on human health. So, when you do something that connects you to the earth, such as walking barefoot, you can be grounded and benefit from these electrical charges.
To work at its best, your body needs a steady flow of electrons, which it gets when it’s electrically grounded or earthed. This keeps you in sync with the earth’s 24-hour circadian rhythm, which controls the hormone cycles in your body at different times of the day. When you are grounded, it is highly likely you’ll sleep better, you’ll be more productive, your body will work as it should, and even your mental health could improve.
But can grounding reduce heart disease? Read on for some more information.
What Is Heart Disease?
The term “heart disease” refers to a group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.
Plaque deposits in the arterial wall lead to the disease known as atherosclerosis. This accumulation makes it more difficult for blood to circulate through the arteries. It is possible for a blood clot to obstruct blood flow. In the worst cases, this can lead to a stroke or heart attack.
The plaque deposits which lead to heart disease can be caused by many different things, including high blood pressure, stress, excess weight, lack of physical activity, and more. When we talk about how grounding might be able to reduce heart disease, it is these things that we need to discuss.
Grounding Reduces Inflammation
The significant effects of grounding come from its ability to reduce and prevent inflammation in the body, therefore protecting against inflammation-related health conditions, which include heart disease.
White blood cells (neutrophils) are a key component of our innate immune systems. These cells secrete reactive oxygen molecules (also called free radicals) that oxidise and kill off infections and damaged cells. Electrostatically charged due to an electron deficit, free radicals can do harm to healthy cells by either affixing to them or stealing electrons in an effort to neutralise themselves. In order to get rid of the damaged cell, the immune system dispatches yet another neutrophil to deal with it, thus restarting the process from the beginning. This sets in motion the process of chronic inflammation, the root cause of chronic pain and the promoter of numerous health diseases.
When you earth yourself by walking barefoot or lying on the ground, you can reduce the electron deficit in your body, and this reduces inflammation, keeping you – and your heart – healthier.
Ground Lowers Stress Levels
Another reason why you might develop heart disease is too much stress. Stress can make your body suffer from more inflammation, which is linked to things that are bad for your heart, like high blood pressure and a lower level of “good” HDL cholesterol.
As we’ve seen, grounding reduces inflammation that stress causes, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if walking barefoot could also reduce stress to begin with? The good news is it can.
When a person is grounded, the levels of the stress hormone cortisol start to return to a normal 24-hour cycle. Cortisol is part of your body’s response to stress. It helps control your blood sugar levels, regulates your metabolism, reduces inflammation, and helps your brain make new memories. Too much cortisol, however, can put the body into a constant state of alertness, causing the heart to have to work a lot harder than usual, potentially damaging it.
By participating in earthing exercises, you can reduce inflammation and stress at the same time. You’ll feel calm and connected to the earth, and your cortisol levels will reduce to helpful levels rather than harmful ones.
Grounding Improves Circulation
One of the most fundamental and crucial functions of the human body is maintaining a healthy blood circulation. Digestion, heart health, brain function, clarity of thought, and energy levels are all influenced by the quality of our blood flow.
We get oxygen and nourishment to our organs and tissues when our blood flows normally. During this process, carbon dioxide and other byproducts are eliminated. By eliminating the potential for cellular waste to accumulate, weight gain and inflammation can be avoided. You can see how good circulation can improve your heart health and reduce the potential for heart disease.
So can grounding reduce heart disease? When you consider that poor circulation can be a contributing factor and you learn that grounding can improve your circulation, you’ll see the answer is yes.
What Are The Best Grounding Techniques?
It’s clear that grounding or earthing is good for you, but how can you do it? There are actually a number of different techniques that you can use, and the one (or ones) you choose will depend on your own personal preferences. Here are some to consider when you’re just starting out.
Walk Barefoot
Walking barefoot is one of the easiest ways to be grounded. Even a tiny patch of grass will do if you can’t find a secluded area in the woods or on the beach. It’s best to walk on something natural to properly recharge yourself using earth energy, whether that’s grass, sand, rock, or soil.
All you have to do is take off your shoes and socks and walk. While you’re doing this, think about how things feel, what you can hear, what you can smell, and so on. Maybe even close your eyes. You need to walk for at least 20 minutes for the earth’s electrons to have an effect on your body, but the longer you can walk, the better.
Indoor Grounding
Indoor grounding calls for special grounding mats, sheets, or socks. Many of these items require connecting to the grounding connector in your wall outlets. Wires run from this grounding socket to a rod buried underneath. It’s simple to tap into because it’s already present as part of your home’s electrical system.
The combination of a grounding mat and a standing desk could be a powerful tool for better health at work.
Although perhaps not as directly connected to the earth as you would be outside, this is certainly better than doing nothing at all, and for the time-poor or those without any outside space, it can be ideal.
