Earthing In A Nutshell
The Earth’s surface contains a limitless number of free electrons that are continually replenished through solar radiation and lightning strikes; your body naturally absorbs these particles when you make physical (skin) contact with the ground. Within the body, these electrons have an anti-inflammatory effect because they reduce the free-radical activity that causes inflammation and chronic pain.
Electrons are negative charges of electricity and are attracted to opposite charges of electricity. Free radicals are molecules that are positively charged because they are short of at least one electron. It is because of this deficit that the free radical’s sole purpose is to stabilise itself by binding to (and therefore eliminating) negatively charged electrons.
The immune system naturally produces free radicals to perform an essential physiological service. They are produced and released within the body to help eliminate injury, stress or disease by binding to and stripping negatively charged electrons from damaged tissues and pathogens.
This is the body’s “inflammatory response” and can produce inflammation symptoms like redness, swelling, pain, and decreased range of motion, among others. Normally, when the disease or injury subsides, free electrons and anti-oxidants within the body neutralise and eliminate excess free radicals
However, the everyday stresses of life (money, health, work, relationships) have caused our immune system to constantly produce free radicals to fight what the body perceives as an ailment or affliction. This over-production of free radicals can be detrimental to human health as it can lead to the oxidation of healthy tissues.
Earthing can help alleviate the presence of free radicals, which can lead to chronic inflammation and pain because it injects the body with an abundance of negative-charged electrons for the free radicals to bind to. The energy of the free electrons gained through grounding also helps keep your body’s innate electrical circuitry properly balanced. All of these effects of grounding are extremely beneficial to whole-body health.
Without a regular connection to the Earth, people can develop what is essentially an electron deficiency. Over time, this can lead to imbalances in the body and potentially to significant health problems and chronic inflammation.
What Surfaces Can I Practice Earthing?
If you are barefoot or have direct skin contact, you WILL be grounded on the following:
- Outside on the grass
- Soil
- Gravel
- Stone
- Sand
- Brick
- Concrete (unpainted or unsealed)
However, there are some surfaces that simply ARE NOT suitable for grounding and do not conduct the earth’s electrons.
You WILL NOT be grounded on the following:
- Asphalt
- Vinyl
- Wood (e.g. decking)
- Wooden floors
- Painted/sealed concrete
- Tiled floors
- Carpets
