What is Grounding?

Grounding Surfaces & Grounding Techniques For Concrete, Rocks, & Mats With Silver

Have you grounded yourself lately? Perhaps you have and you are not even aware of it – walking barefoot in the grass, or on a sandy beach, gardening with your bare hands in the soil, or touching a tree.

You may have heard of the term “grounding”, also known as “earthing” – although not yet mainstream, more people are becoming aware of the many benefits of this practice.

Mother Earth is a magnificent healer, and has the ability to transform our lives when we connect with the abundant natural resources stored in earth’s surface (known as electrons) to stabilize our systems, recharge, and restore our energy. The earth has a natural energy field known as the Schumann Resonance, which is an invisible frequency, comprised of electrons our bodies need for improved functional health.

Getting grounded is as easy as connecting your body to the earth’s surface and by making direct contact with its electromagnetic field.

It’s an easy way to get re-charged, free of charge! This can be achieved by connecting with a grounded surface through your skin, and there are so many ways to do it.

What is Grounding?

Grounding, also known as earthing is a self-therapeutic practice that enables one to directly connect with the electrical charge within the earth’s surface and experience the positive effects within the body. Grounding therapy is backed science and grounding physics.

As awareness and interest in grounding increases, more people are curious about grounding. Also known as “earthing”, grounding is as simple as connecting with the earth’s surface.

The concept may be new to new fans; however, it is not new to TRU47. Grounding is an ancient practice, which has been highly researched and scientifically studied. It is known to have many immediate and lasting health benefits supporting people’s overall wellbeing. The biggest amongst them are reduction of inflammation, improved circulation, normalization of blood pressure, and a return to a more normal state of homeostasis.

Benefits Of Grounding

Until the end of the 19th century, grounding was a seamless part of everyday life. People walked everywhere either barefoot or again, in pure leather footwear along dirt and stone surfaces, each of which is naturally conductive to earth’s energy flow, naturally grounding as they went and keeping a host of opportunistic illnesses at bay because of enhancing their immune systems. Interestingly, inflammation, the bane of modern-day health, was unheard of back then. Diabetes was unknown. People didn’t typically die from heart disease, hypertension and an array of debilitating chronic conditions that confound doctors, wellness, and medical practitioners, today. They didn’t rampantly exist when grounding was in the mix, and when they did occur, they were somewhat infrequent events.

Scientists and researchers have studied the many benefits of grounding over the last two and a half decades. There are currently more than 25 studies revealing, peer reviewed and published scientific evidence of how grounding can help reduce stress, inflammation and pain, lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and increase blood viscosity. Grounding is Mother Nature’s most effective, natural prescription for your health and well-being.

What Exactly Are the Health Benefits of Grounding?

There are many health benefits associated with being grounded. Here are some of the ways grounding can benefit your overall well-being:

  • Increases Energy and Enhances Mood
  • Reduces Inflammation Throughout the Body
  • Accelerates Wound Healing
  • Balances Stress and Anxiety
  • Improves Sleep and Alignment with the Circadian Rhythm
  • Improves Blood Viscosity and Circulation
  • Lowers Blood Pressure
  • Synchronizes Cortisol Hormone Secretion
  • Improves Alignment with the Natural 24-Hour Circadian Rhythm

You can see why grounding is an amazing, all-natural integrative approach to better health through connecting with the earth’s surface.

Grounding/Earthing 101

In the simplest terms, you get grounded by connecting your body to the earth’s surface and by making direct contact with its electromagnetic field. The earth has a vibration, which in its natural energy field is known as the Schumann Resonance. This frequency is invisible, comprised of electrons, which our bodies need for improved functional health.

Grounding can be easily achieved by making a connection to the earth or a grounded surface through your skin, such as your feet when walking barefoot in the grass, your hands touching a rock, a leaf on a plant or yes, hugging a tree trunk.  Also, you can get grounded by laying or walking on a beach with your bare skin touching the sand, being knee deep in your garden, and wading in a lake, stream, or ocean. All these connections help return your body to a more natural state of equilibrium between interdependent physiological systems, physical, internal, and chemical. This supports optimal functioning within human beings and organisms.

The Earth’s surface is naturally magical, as it keeps our bodies in balance through this constant exchange of electrons and electric vibrations that literally recharge us with positive, healing energy.

This is the essence of grounding, and you can do it while you are out walking, swimming, gardening, or doing anything that puts you in direct contact with the earth. And most of all, it is 100% free.

Safe, Natural Electric Grounding Nutrition

Sometimes when people hear of being grounded, they think of their kids being sidelined for blowing curfew, chilling out if overly taxed or in technical arenas - some imagine electricians wearing special footwear to protect them on the job from electrical discharges. Electrical grounding is the process of removing the excess charge.

The grounding we are talking about is different.

Here is how it works. Imagine the earth’s electromagnetic energy field as a large battery. Human beings are electrically charged, and by tapping into the energy stored in its surface in the form of electrons, they can re-charge. We call this electric nutrition.

We have all heard of and understand vitamin D deficiency, which is why many of us take supplements. Most people are also electron deficient due to not making enough contact with the ground and the earth, unlike our ancestors, many who slept on the ground, wore conductive leather soled shoes, and worked in the agricultural fields as a part of their daily lives. As modern civilization has evolved, we have become more separated from the earth and from nature, which is why grounding is more important and necessary than ever to offset the buildup of free radicals abounding in our daily lives which help to stabilize our systems.

Grounding is safe, the way nature intended -- and you cannot overdo it.

What Does Grounding Feel Like?

Very possibly, you won’t feel any sensation. Grounding is a very subtle energy. Many people do not feel a thing when they are getting grounded, while others may feel a slight tingle. Some people feel more energized while grounding and immediately after, while others feel relaxed and at peace. Other grounding enthusiasts became such because they experienced better sleep, and many other healthful benefits.

In his blog, Dave Asprey, one of the most well-known biohackers reported how earthing, also known as grounding, improved his REM sleep and helped his jet-lag while traveling. 

In Season 1, Episode 2 of the Netflix series Down to Earth, Co-Star Darin Olien teaches Zac Ephron how to get grounded after their long flight to Paris by running barefoot across the grass in a park.

Many other celebrities, such as Katy Perry, Gwyneth Paltrow and Deepak Chopra have also shared their stories and how grounding makes them feel.

By grounding, you are receiving good vibes, which your body will recognize, even if it is not as noticeable to you immediately.

How Long Does It Take to Get Grounded?

We are all conductive beings. By touching the earth, we receive the immediate benefits - and support the conductivity of the entire body from head-to-toe — healthy heart, circulatory, thyroid, and adrenal and brain function, in addition to supporting bone metabolism.

Therefore, we encourage grounding to become one of your essential daily practices. Again, you cannot overdo it, and the longer the better. Most of us live busy lives, so making the time may be the first challenge. However, knowing the holistic benefits to your well-being, we recommend you designate time and a place to do your grounding. Many of us also live in cities, which may also be a deterrent. Find a patch of grass in the park, an unsealed brick or concrete area outdoors where you can comfortably stand barefoot. You can also simply touch plants and trees in casual walks.

In addition, you can get grounded indoors by taking a a shower, or a bath while allowing the water to drip lightly through the faucet, or enjoying a pedicure with your feet in an electric tub.

Best practice is to get grounded for even 20-30 minutes a day to feel the benefits and stabilize your internal systems.  Your body will thank you.

How to Get Grounded

Go Barefoot When Possible

The best grounding surfaces include: grass, sand, soil, rocks, unsealed tiles/brick, and concrete. A great book on the topic of grounding is Barefoot Wisdom: Better Health through Grounding, co-authored by TRU47 Founder Sharon Whiteley, an authority on grounding.

Lay On the Ground or on a Sandy Beach, Lakeside, Riverbend

The more you contact the ground, the better. Laying down in the grass or sand is a great way to increase the surface area for your body to make contact. Laying on a beach or on the grass in a bathing suit allows for your bare skin to have direct contact with the surface.

Go for a Swim, or Put Your Feet in the Ocean, Pond, Stream or River

Going for a swim or emerging your feet in a natural body of water is another enjoyable form of grounding. Get to your favorite beach, river, or swimming hole, jump in, and enjoy.

Sleep and Get Grounded Indoors

There are companies that sell grounding mats and sheets, and also make pads to put under your desk. These products require a grounding outlet to plug into electricity receptacles in your home or office. TRU47 will be introducing grounding products soon made with Silver, which is one of the most conductive metals and materials, so you can get grounded without outlets.

Why is grounding important?

As our lives are lived more indoors, and due to synthetic footwear preventing us from being grounded while outdoors, this causes us to accumulate an excess positive charge, and become electron deficient. Our bodies need this electrical nutrition to offset free radicals, and to help keep all physical interdependent systems functioning properly. Grounding eliminates this excess positive charge and brings us back to our natural state of homeostasis, and reduces the excess positive charge that adversely affects our health and various physiological processes.

How do I get grounded?

Grounding can be accomplished when making direct bodily contact with and through conductive surfaces that enable us to get grounded. Standing barefoot on grass, soil, sand, gravel, unsealed brick, tile and concrete. Walking or lying on the beach, gardening in soil, swimming in an ocean, pond, lake, stream or river, touching trees or plants or a rock planted in the earth. Some people do not like the feeling of going barefoot. You can also get grounded by wearing grounding socks made with conductive materials, and standing or walking on the aforementioned grounding surfaces while wearing them.

What does grounding feel like?

Some people do not feel any immediate sensation, while others may feel a slight tingling. Many people report feeling more energetic or relaxed after grounding, and most people can feel the difference that grounding makes in their overall wellbeing. One can get grounded through an electrical connection using a conductive material.

How long does it take to get grounded?

You are getting grounded any time you are making direct bodily contact with grounding surfaces, however to feel the most results and benefits, 20-30 minutes is recommended, and an hour is even better. You can also ground multiple times a day when you have time. The good news is, you cannot overdo it, and more is better for your body.

Is grounding safe?

Absolutely. Think of the earth’s surface as an enormous battery. Humans thrive by accessing the natural, electrical charge stored within the earth to help re-charge and stabilize their systems. Research on grounding shows solid evidence of improving your health and well-being, and is known to improve energy, circulation, sleep, while lowering inflammation and blood pressure, and balancing mood.

What is the difference between the electricity in my home and the earth's electric field?

While negatively charged "electrons" are moving in the earth and in your home, the earth's electric field is gentle and cannot be used to power electrical devices. The electric power in your home is designed to travel long distances and to power electrical devices. The earth's charge fluctuates slightly at a very low frequency and a low intensity. Electric power has a high frequency and generates a much higher intensity electromagnetic field (EMF). Some people notice feeling varying effects in the presence of measurable EMF. EMF is the strongest near the wires that transmit large amounts of electric power.

Can I still receive the benefits of grounding while on a ceramic, tile, wood or carpet?

It depends on whether the tile floor sits on a concrete slab or on the ground. If it sits directly on a UNSEALED slab or ground, the energy could come through. If the tile sits on plywood or some other kind of wood, plastic, or vinyl understructure, you will NOT get any conductivity. It also depends on what kind of tile. Ceramic tile with a glazed or sealed finish on the surface will, like glass, probably prevent conductivity. Grounding also does not work if standing on carpet or wood floors because these surfaces fully insulate contact directly to the earth.

Can I overdo grounding or get over grounded?

Absolutely not. You can ground as long as you like. The earth is naturally abundant with electrons that are nourishing to our bodies. There is no overdoing it. 

Is there research and science to support the benefits of grounding?

Yes, there is a growing body of science, research to support the many health benefits of grounding and earthing. Currently there are 25 Grounding Research Studies, multiple Grounding Review Articles and more than a dozen Grounding Commentaries about the effects of grounding and earthing, and how this practice improves sleep, circulation and blood flow, blood pressure and overall immunity, and reduces cortisol levels and stress, inflammation and related pain. You can find many of them here: https://grounded.com/earthing-grounding-studies

Can grounding protect me from cell phones, microwave ovens, or smart meters?

In short, no. Grounding or being grounded will not block microwave radiation or any other form of radiation. However, there is a growing interest in how being grounded can help EMF/RF shielding.

Are there people who don't feel anything, or for whom grounding doesn't work?

Everyone who carries an excess positive charge will benefit from grounding. We are all different, so some may experience dramatic results while others may have subtle more gradual results over time.

Are there ways to enhance grounding?

Yes, being well-hydrated will allow you to get grounded more quickly. The more hydrated your body the better. In addition, standing on wet grass, a wet beach or in wet soil will also enhance grounding.

Is it okay to be grounded in the rain?

Grounding while in the rain actually enhances it because water when combined with ions in the earth become more conductive.

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