When I think of grounding, I imagine my feet sinking into the grassy earth or walking barefoot through a rainforest with the rich soil under my feet. This is something I haven’t done for ages, yet I see my gorgeous niece regularly going bare foot, across the gravel driveway and into the garden without considering the sharp stones or what she will step on. Her barefoot adventures are astounding in many ways…but before I jump into the science, my immediate thought is that just being in bare foot brings you into connection with the earth, with nature, and with Gaia, the mother of all life. This connection to the earth and nature benefits us, calming our nervous system, helping us to clear busy-ness of thought and relax. However, there is more to it, and Wendy Menigoz, a US physician went so far as to say grounding, or earthing as she calls it, ‘is a GROSSLY overlooked factor in health and healing’.

Our modern lives routinely separate us from regular direct contact with the earth and which research suggests may be a driver of factors such as inflammation, stress, and poor sleep, all of which contribute to the progression of chronic disease. Grounding or earthing in this sense refers to direct skin contact with the surface of the earth. This can be done by walking bare foot, gardening with bare hands (no gloves) or even yoga on a grassy patch of lawn (downward dog with both hand and feet on the earth).

Grounding or earthing in this sense refers to direct skin contact with the surface of the earth.

Most of the research focusses on the physical effects of grounding, but there are also concepts around being grounded mentally and emotionally. Feeling ungrounded mentally or emotionally refers to feeling out of sorts, unable to focus, stressed or restless. Physical symptoms may include shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat or feeling shaky. Grounding in this sense is coming back to earth, getting centred and reconnecting to what is important. We can do this by using strategies that ‘bring us back to ground’.

Emotional grounding can also help us detach from emotions or repetitive thoughts that are causing us pain (anxiety, anger, or sadness). It is a way of lessening the intensity of difficult or challenging emotions or thoughts. Another way of framing it is being able to self-soothe and calm our bodies when stress or emotions overwhelm us. In doing this, we are more able to stay in the present moment, which is a calmer and safer place.

There are many benefits of regular grounding, whether you choose to ground with direct contact with the earth, a combination (meditation in the park) or other regular mentally and emotionally grounding practices:

Reduces inflammation and as such can reduce inflammatory pain.
Improves sleep by normalising day-night rhythms and reducing stress hormones. A likely add on benefit is daylight exposure when grounding, which also helps reset sleep and wake cycles.
Reduces stress by shifting from the sympathetic nervous system (fight, flight or freeze) to the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest).
Increases heart rate variability, which reflects vagal tone.

There are a number of useful strategies that can help with grounding, as a one off or as a regular practice:

Putting aside technology and tap into a non-electronic activity such as reading or just doing nothing with no agenda.
Physical exercise, of any kind, particularly outdoors – yoga, walking, swimming.
Water therapy (balneotherapy) such as taking a bath or swimming outdoors or even just running cool water over your hands.
Breathing practices or meditation
Walking barefoot in the local park
Touching physical objects
Stretching, digging your heels into the ground, lying on the ground, clenching your fists or something that allows you to recognise your physical body.

If you recognise the feeling of being ungrounded or disconnected on a regular basis, Muladhara (Base) Chakra Essence or Clear Space Spray Mist can help to ground and connect to the earth and your body through the base chakra. Using essences or spray mists can also further enhance any grounding practice you choose to do.

So, as part of my practice today, I am about to get off the computer and follow my niece out into the garden to tap into her sense of wonder (who knows what we will discover) and benefit from some time spent grounding.

Reference:

Menigoz, W., Latz, T. T., Ely, R. A., Kamei, C., Melvin, G., & Sinatra, D. (2020). Integrative and lifestyle medicine strategies should include Earthing (grounding): Review of research evidence and clinical observations. Explore, 16(3), 152-160

Reconnect through Grounding