Earthing: Nature’s Anti-inflammatory
by Shannon Flath

Today’s society is bombarded with exposures to cell phones, electronic devices, microwaves, processed foods, and heavy metals on a daily basis. Our bodies suffer oxidative damage from these exposures, which, put another way, is positively charged free radicals at work. If these free radicals are not taken care of, the result will be inflammation, sickness, and pain.

Compounding the problem is the fact that we have also become detached and unconnected from Nature and the Earth itself. Rubber soled shoes, homes with wooden floors, and beds that are insulated from the ground are all exacerbating the problem. Reducing exposure to anything that contributes to this inflammation is essential, but we simply cannot avoid all of the toxins in our environment and water and food supplies nowadays. And so this leads us to the question, “What can we do to reverse this damage?”

A very important, yet easy to accomplish, aspect of the answer is Earthing. Earthing (or grounding, as it is also referred to) is simply the act of connecting our bodies to the earth. Our planet has its own natural energies and subtle frequencies and it will generously donate an endless supply of electrons to anyone who comes into contact with it.

Immediately upon touching the ground, our bodies begin to absorb electrons and use them to help neutralize any oxidative damage present.

The strength of any antioxidant is measured by this as well—how many electrons it can donate. The sole of your foot has approximately 1,300 nerve endings per square inch, and more sweat glands than any other body part, which makes your feet very conductive and receptive to the transfer of electrons. Therefore, the result of grounding is the reduction of inflammation which is the root cause of so many of the chronic health challenges we face today.

Individuals who have taken advantage of this simple principle have seen many health benefits. Some of the most common benefits reported by people who regularly ground themselves include the reduction or even elimination of chronic pain, improved sleep quality, increased energy, lowered stress levels, faster healing, reduced jet lag, improved blood pressure, and more. Inflammatory and autoimmune processes that have been improved by Earthing also include MS, arthritis, allergies, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, autism, cancer, diabetes, kidney failure, lupus, pancreatitis, psoriasis and eczema, fibromyalgia, headaches and migraines, and cardiovascular disease.

Another noteworthy advantage to grounding is its ability to provide better performance and shorter recovery and injury repair times after intense physical exertion. Just ask Dr. Jeff Spencer, a chiropractor who used grounding technology to help Lance Armstrong and the US Cycle team win at the Tour de France four times!

Walking or exercising barefoot, lying on the grass, swimming in the lake or ocean, standing on untreated concrete, and even wearing leather-soled shoes such as moccasins are all excellent ways to get connected to the Earth and should be done as much as possible to help maintain good health or improve it.

But for those of us who live in the city and don’t have much access to the ground, or just due to the fact that we live in Saskatchewan where we have cold temperatures for a good portion of the year, there are fewer opportunities to ground ourselves as much as we would like.

Thanks to Clint Ober, who is the man that “rediscovered” Earthing in 1988, and his collaborators’ hard work and endless research, there are now Earthing devices that are available to make it simpler to ground yourself whatever your situation may be. Earthing shoes can be worn, pads are available to place your feet on, and electrode patches and body bands are available to increase grounding time and focus the benefits on a specific area of the body. A person can also utilize an earthing sheet, recovery bag or mattress, and take advantage of grounding throughout the night.

There are a few important facts to keep in mind when beginning to ground yourself. Some will experience a warm, tingling sensation during the first few sessions, but this is perfectly fine. Also, keep in mind that grounding improves the functions of the body, so anyone who is grounding and on prescription medications should inform their doctor. Individuals taking blood thinning medications need to increase grounding time very slowly and check clotting times often. Also, keep in mind that due to the more efficient functioning of the body, a detoxification response may be triggered in some, resulting in mild flu-like symptoms. This occurs because there is a release and flushing out of more toxins from the cells of your body. If you experience this, it is recommended to reduce the amount of time spent grounding and then gradually increase again.

I would like to finish with a quote from Mr. Ober’s Earthing book, in which he poignantly writes, “Our contemporary fast-paced lifestyle, filled with chronic stress, poor eating choices, and lack of physical activity, has created a sick society. Earthing doesn’t stop the bad habits. It is not a do-it-once-and-you-are-cured thing. Nor is it a cure-all. Rather, it is a safe, effective, new-old paradigm that truly deserves thorough exploration and exploitation as a primary health and healing tool.”

Shannon Flath is a Live Blood Analyst as well as a Holistic Health Practitioner, Nutritional Consultant, and Master Herbalist living near Radisson, SK. She is passionate about helping people find the root cause of their illnesses and supporting them on their path back to good health. For more information, to purchase earthing products, or to book an appointment with her, please call (306) 827-2202, email holisticheights@yourlink.ca, or visit www.holisticheights.ca. Also see the Directory of Services ad on page 30 of the 18.2 July/August issue of the WHOLifE Journal.