Years ago a friend of ours introduced my wife and I to the concept of grounding. If you’ve never heard of it grounding, also known as earthing, is the practice of connecting with the Earth's electrical energy by walking barefoot outdoors, sitting, or sleeping grounded indoors using grounding devices.
This particular friend of ours, Romeo, is a self-described renaissance man. He has a lot of different interests and tends to take a D.I.Y. approach to all of them. He made a grounding device using a lightning rod sunk into the ground, copper wire that led from that rod to metal tape attached to his mattress and arranged in a grid pattern. He swore that sleeping grounded each night reduced his pain and inflammation and allowed him to achieve a significantly better night’s sleep.
Fast forward to 2024. My wife and I are getting older and realize the dire state our medical system is in here in the United States. As I approach my mid-fifties (that still seems weird to think about) I’m trying to be as proactive as I can with my health and overall well-being. I want to limit my reliance upon our broken healthcare system and try to escape the plethora of pharmaceutical drugs that most of our doctors love to push on their patients.
In a warmer climate all I’d have to do is walk barefoot on the grass to achieve the benefits. In places like Minnesota we need to buy devices to help us out because there’s this thing called frostbite. WTH do I live here again?
After doing a ton of research I ordered a grounding sheet from a company called Grounding Well. The research I did on the products recommended that you buy a grounding device continuity tester because, apparently, there are fake grounding/earthing products out there. Thankfully, the tester showed the sheet was legit and conducting while plugged into the wall socket.
Reduced Inflammation: Some studies suggest that grounding may help reduce inflammation in the body by neutralizing excess positive electrons (free radicals) through direct contact with the Earth's surface.
Improved Sleep: Grounding has been associated with better sleep quality and duration. It may help regulate circadian rhythms and reduce cortisol levels, promoting more restful sleep.
Stress Reduction: Grounding techniques may help lower stress levels by balancing the body's electrical system and promoting relaxation.
Pain Relief: There is some evidence to suggest that grounding may alleviate chronic pain and improve pain management by reducing inflammation and promoting better circulation.
Enhanced Well-being: Many individuals report feeling more grounded, centered, and connected to nature after practicing grounding techniques regularly. This sense of well-being may result from the calming effect grounding has on the nervous system.
Improved Energy Levels: Some proponents of grounding suggest that it can boost energy levels and vitality by restoring the body's natural electrical balance and improving overall health.
After four full nights of sleeping grounded I can attest to a shockingly better night’s sleep. Admittedly, I rarely have trouble sleeping but after the first night of using the grounding sheet I woke up as refreshed as I remember being when I was a young boy. I'm sleeping like a six year old again.
Remember that blissful, super deep sleep you used to get after playing outside all day during summer vacation as a child? During those 1970’s sunny summer mornings I remember waking up somewhat foggy but refreshed, so relaxed that my limbs felt slightly tingly. That’s exactly how I’ve felt the past four mornings. We’ll see if any more of the reported benefits materialize over time.
The improvement in sleep alone makes the $99 price worth it to me, life has felt a little bit better because of it. I suppose, anything else will just be a bonus. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a grounding device, I've seen highly rated grounding mats on Amazon for just over $20.
In my annual New Year’s Eve post last year, “What Do You Want to Do Differently?” I wrote, 2024 WILL BE A YEAR OF GROUNDING FOR ME, of getting back to basics….
It just dawned on me after writing this post this morning that I wrote those words in the cold, dark, and waning hours of 2023. After realizing this I couldn’t help but laugh and feel a little more in awe of this amazing universe we live in.
Here’s a short video about the practice of grounding if you'd like to learn more.
I guess to heal, sometimes, all you need is a closer relationship with your Mother (Earth, that is).
All for now. Thank you for reading!
~Eric Vance Walton~
(Gif sourced from Giphy.com)
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