All About Grounding

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Inflammation is a buzz word in modern health, and free radicals can both contribute to it and stem from it in a vicious cycle. Nothing more than molecules looking for an electron, free radicals are unstable molecules that will steal electrons from other molecules to complete themselves. Unless the scavenged molecule has an extra to spare, it will become unstable itself...and then steal from another to cause a cascade leading to inflammation. Antioxidants in foods and supplements serve to neutralize these free radicals but the simple practice of earthing can do the same thing.

Grounding, also called earthing, is purposefully coming into contact with the earth's surface for a period of time. This may sound ridiculous at first glance because every human (except for a select group of astronauts) is technically on planet Earth. However, few people truly come into contact with bare ground regularly...

• Where do people spend most of their days? Indoors on carpet or flooring.
• When they go outside, where are they walking? Paved sidewalks or roads.
• If they're walking on wild earth, what are they wearing? Shoes, often ones that have rubber soles.

In nature, the atmosphere is full of positive ions, and the earth is full of negative ions. Lightning is the static electricity that perpetuates this balance, like the spark can be seen when touching a door knob after walking across carpet. By coming into direct contact with the earth, the body absorbs free electrons and can use them to neutralize free radicals before they cause damage.

Grounding is simply touching bare skin to bare earth in any form. Sitting in the grass, walking on the beach, digging hands into soil... There are plenty of ways to practice earthing, and they are all free to start at any time. Getting at least 20 minutes each day is recommended, and as an added bonus, spending time outside has additional health benefits from sunlight and nature.

If getting outdoors is inaccessible - for instance due to weather - products can be used to harness the power of free-flowing electrons inside. Grounding mats plug into the ground port of an electrical outlet and make it easy to practice earthing while resting out the couch, working at a desk, or doing other stationary indoor activities. Earthing sheets also work the same way for those who want to sleep grounded all night.

Early humans constantly practiced grounding without thinking about it, sleeping on the ground and walking barefoot or in thin, conductive shoes like leather moccasins. Nowadays, however, earthing usually needs to be intentional.

Free radicals are produced as a normal byproduct of cellular activities but are more pronounced when the body is under stress (including "good stress" like exercise). Following a diet filled with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables will help neutralize some of them, but in a world full of emotional pressures, environmental toxins, bioelectric challenges, and a host of other stressors, getting grounded is needed to settle both the body and the spirit.

This post was originally published in February of 2018 and was updated in October of 2025.