FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL HEART MONTH AND A GOOD
TIME TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE MOTHER EARTH
PRESCRIPTION!
The Mother Earth prescription?
That's right.
What it means is that you need to connect to the ground
beneath your feet because it packs surprising health benefits
for your cardiovascular system—and the rest of you as well -
through improvements like these:
- Thinner blood and enhanced blood flow
- Reduced inflammation
- Improved blood pressure
- A calmer nervous system
Here's the background:
It's a well-established, but little known scientific fact that the
surface of the Earth contains a subtle, natural, negative electric
charge. You may have felt it sometime when walking along the
wet sand at the beach and noticed a bit of tingling or warmth
in your feet. That's it. You were getting charged up by Mother
Earth.
A good thing!
The Earth is like a gigantic battery circling around the sun. And
pulsating throughout the surface of the planet is an unseen
and virtually limitless reservoir of sub-atomic particles called
electrons. Constantly replenished and stimulated by the sun,
lightning, and the deep-down molten core, they vibrate at
different frequencies and give our landmasses and oceans a
subtle negative charge.
Electrons are used by your body as antioxidants to keep
oxidative damage and inflammation in check. You get
antioxidant electrons in your food. But you can get them – and
big time – if you connect with the Earth.
Modern lifestyle has largely disconnected us. We rarely walk
barefoot outside. We no longer sleep on the Earth. We no longer
use animal hides for footwear and bedding that conduct the
Earth's energy – in the form of electrons - into our body. These
practices were part of ordinary living throughout virtually all of
history. We have replaced traditional leather (made from hides)
with synthetic soled shoes of plastic and rubber that insulate
us, blocking the energy underfoot when we sit, stand, walk, or
run outside. Many of us live and work far above the ground in
multi-story buildings.
I believe this disconnect is a missing link, an overlooked
cause of the ever rising inflammation-driven chronic disease
epidemic.
More than 20 studies along with feedback from thousands of people
around the world, reveal that reconnecting with the Earth's
natural surface energy offers a broad array of major health and
healing benefits. You can reconnect by routinely going outdoors
barefoot or sleeping, sitting, or relaxing indoors in contact
with specially designed and inexpensive conductive grounding
sheets, mats, and body bands that are connected with a cord to
the ground wire of a wall outlet.
One of the major benefits is better blood flow. You don't have to be a doctor to understand the importance of good
flowing blood that's able to pass through thousands of miles
of blood vessels to provide your heart as well as the many
trillions of cells throughout your body with adequate oxygen and
nutrients. Thick, sludgy blood doesn't move through efficiently
and is typically found in patients with cardiovascular disease,
hypertension, and diabetes.
Thick blood means inflamed blood, predisposing you to
red blood cell clumping and abnormal clotting that requires the
heart to work much harder to pump blood. I have always told
my patients I want to see their blood have the consistency of
flowing wine, not sludgy like ketchup.
Several years ago, I participated in a formal study to
investigate whether grounding impacts blood flow. Indeed it
does, the experiment indicated, and dramatically so. Take a
look at this short video clip (http://www.earthinginstitute.net/how-grounding-affects-blood-viscosity/) showing a before-and-after
blood sample from the study, evidence of a dynamically
enhanced blood thinning effect - better flow and less clumping
of blood cells. The study1 was published in 2013.
Two subsequent studies2,3 utilizing imaging technology
demonstrated that grounding improves blood flow to the face
and throughout the abdomen. One likely benefactor of this
effect is complexion. Indeed, many people, and particularly
women who are more apt to notice such things, have told me
they look healthier and more youthful after they start to ground
themselves.
Another pilot study will be published in the near future
describing a positive effect of grounding on hypertension
(high blood pressure). This common condition, often caused
by stress, is associated with an increased risk of heart attack,
stroke, and kidney disease.
In my experience, grounding provides a natural tool for
helping bring down high blood pressure. I have frequently heard
comments about improved blood pressure from people after
they start grounding. Some individuals have said that their
doctors have been able to reduce their medication dosage, and,
in some case, eliminate medication altogether.
Grounding benefits high blood pressure by reducing
inflammation and pain, promoting better sleep, normalizing
the stress hormone cortisol, and exerting a calming effect on
the nervous system.
Much more scientific investigation is obviously needed.
But the implications are apparent and significant. The Earth is
foundational for health and a major healing booster.
Space doesn't allow me to go into all the surprising details
and systemic benefits of grounding, and how this natural and
utterly low-tech discovery helps you function better, feel better,
and look better. I invite you to learn more by reading the Earthing
book (which I co-authored) as well visiting the informational
website www.earthinginstitute.net.
Caution:Grounding and Blood Thinning Medication
If you take a pharmaceutical anticoagulant, consult
first with your doctor before grounding. Earthing has a
blood thinning effect, as described in this article. The
combination of medication and Earthing may possibly
cause excessive thinning of the blood and an alteration
of blood measurement values.
With approval from your doctor, you can start grounding
minimally, with perhaps a barefoot walk in the park, or
sitting barefoot in a grassy yard for an hour or so, or while
watching TV in contact with an indoor Earthing product.
Monitor blood frequently in the very beginning to
determine, under your physician's supervision, whether
the medication dosage may be adjusted.
Earthing exposure can be increased gradually but
with careful monitoring. If you take prescription
medication, please refer to this article on Earthing and
medication. (http://www.earthinginstitute.net/medicaland-medication-considerations/)
If you are under the care of a physician and are interested in
grounding, speak to your doctor before starting.
References:
- G. Chevalier, S. T. Sinatra, J.L. Oschman, R.M. Delany. "Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity – A major factor in cardiovascular disease," Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 102–10, 2013.
- G. Chevalier. "Grounding the human body improves facial blood flow regulation: results of a randomized, placebo controlled pilot study," Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 293–308, 2014.
- G. Chevalier, G. Melvin, T. Barsotti. "One-hour contact with the Earth's surface (grounding) improves inflammation and blood flow– A randomized, double-blind, pilot study," Health, vol. 7, pp. 1022–1059, 2015.