by Karen Keller Capuciati

You know when you spend a day at the beach with your feet in the sand and swimming in the ocean and you feel so relaxed, yet energized?  What if you learned that, instead of the power of the warm sunshine, it was the direct connection you had with the Earth that made you feel that way?

Clinton Ober, co-author of Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?, hypothesizes that direct exposure to the planet surface, through some form of tangible contact, provides health benefits.  His initial research has inspired a series of studies that are indeed supportive of his theory.

Geologists acknowledge that the surface of the Earth is teeming with a natural electrical energy continually replenished by the sun and an average of 5,000 lightning bolts striking the planet every single minute, not to mention the energy produced and radiated outward from the Earth’s molten core.  Ober believes that when we come into direct contact with this earthly energy — a principle now popularized as Earthing — it provides genuine healing properties.

It’s becoming evident to researchers in this area that since we’ve lost this natural groundedness, our immune systems have become dysfunctional.  They believe we have deprived ourselves of this essential healing energy by living in buildings insulated from our planet’s energy.  Even when we’re outside our insulated homes, we wear shoes that restrict contact with the Earth.  Once upon a time man walked barefoot and slept on dirt floors, and while that might not have been the height of civilized society, Earthing proponents would argue that our more primitive ancestors received more of the Earth’s essential healing properties than we do today.

Advocates of Earthing claim the planet’s energy can help to:

• Defuse the cause of inflammation and improve the symptoms of many inflammation-related disorders
• Reduce or even eliminate chronic pain
• Improve sleep in many cases
• Increase energy
• Lower stress and promote tranquility
• Thin blood and improve blood pressure and flow
• Relieve muscle tension and headaches
• Lessen hormonal and menstrual symptoms
• Dramatically speed healing and help prevent bedsores

I know that most people only try Earthing out of desperation, when medications and treatments have failed.  They figure why not give it a try, it can’t hurt.  While it might not be a cure-all or a cure for all, I have to say that I am personally impressed by what I have seen.  My husband, his father and many friends have all experienced benefits from Earthing — and the concept does make sense to me.  After all, we don’t doubt that the sun is beneficial, that it provides us with vitamin D.  So why wouldn’t our planet nurture us as well?

For years my father-in-law, Peter, has been dealing with chronic pain.  Being a very physically active person, Peter’s legs would ache terribly by the end of the day and he was often unable to sleep through the night due to the pain.  He took handfuls of ibuprofen — between 6-8 a day.  His doctor diagnosed him with polyneuropathy, and confessed there was nothing else he could do.  But we were determined to help Peter and sent him to the very best specialist we could find.  But after two years trying different treatment options with no success, the specialist, too, claimed there was no cure for Peter’s condition.

Shortly after this final doctor visit, my husband sent Peter a set of Earthing sheets — bedsheets that are “grounded” to allow your body direct contact with the Earth in order to absorb its energy.  Peter was willing to try anything that might help.

And help they did!

After six months of Earthing, Peter reports that he feels better and is sleeping better.  He still feels pain at the end of the day, but now, instead of reaching for the ibuprofen, he spends an hour with his feet placed on an Earthing pad while he works at his desk or watches TV.  He rarely takes pain relievers anymore — only 2-3 per month now, a considerable decrease from the approximately 200 pills he was previously using each month!  Now a true believer, Peter tells everyone about his newfound phenomenon and even bought an extra set of Earthing sheets so he has them whenever he travels.  He doesn’t want to go a single night without being grounded.

There are several ways to “ground” or “Earth.”  You can simply take off your shoes and connect with the ground below — feel the grass beneath your feet, swim in the ocean or walk barefoot on the beach.  Since it’s not always practical to walk barefoot outside, Earthing sheets are a good option.  The fitted sheets contain silver threads and a cord that acts as the ground line by plugging into the third hole of an electrical outlet.   The fitted sheets cost about $300 and allow you to “Earth” the entire time you’re in bed.  You can find these sheets on Earthing.com.

If you want more information about Earthing, there is plenty available on the web, from scientific clinical studies to testimonials from the popular TV personality, and cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Oz.  I actually learned quite a bit just by reading the free preview offered on Amazon for Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?

So this summer, if you need a new idea for helping with inflammation-caused illnesses, chronic pain, headaches or trouble sleeping,  try kicking off your shoes and feel the healing effects of Mother Earth.

We would love to hear your thoughts or experiences with Earthing.  Please share in the comments below.

 

 

 

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 5th, 2012 at 4:46 am and is filed under Alzheimer's Disease, Book Review, Cancer, Diabetes, Emotional Support, Stress Reduction, Stroke, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.