EARTHING & Barefoot Walking

EARTHING is a complementary healing technique that allows the free electrons on the Earth surface to work as antioxidative agents reducing different pathological conditions in the human body.

The Earth’s atmosphere is subject to a continual and substantial electrical current, which varies according to a daily pattern, shows seasonal variation, and creates a “Global electrical circuit”.

Earth is electrically neutral, but the interior of Earth is positively charged, whereas the crust is negatively charged. The surface of the Earth possesses a continuously renewed supply of free electrons as a consequence of a global atmospheric electrical circuit.

EARTHING (also known as grounding) refers to the discovery that bodily contact with the Earth’s natural electric charge stabilizes physiology at the deepest levels, reduces inflammation, pain and stress, improves blood flow, energy and sleep, and generates greater well-being.

One of the most powerful effects of Earthing, as documented over nearly 20 years of research, along with feedback from thousands of individuals around the world, is reduction of chronic inflammation, a common cause or aggravating factor for chronic and aging-related diseases, as well as pain. (Menigoz 2020)

The EARTHING PRACTICES are very simple: e.g., barefoot walking, relaxing on the beach or in a meadow, swimming in the natural waters, or sleeping on the ground in the open.

The most reasonable hypothesis to explain the beneficial effects of Earthing is that a direct earth connection enables free electrons to flow from the Earth to the body. It is suggested that free electrons from the Earth’s surface act as antioxidants neutralizing the positively charged free radicals that are the hallmark of chronic inflammation. (Oschman 2007)

An antioxidant is a molecule donating an electron to a free radical and neutralizing it, thus reducing its capacity to damage cells and tissues.

Connection to the global electrical circuit has an important impact also on the hormone systems related to circadian rhythms.

One hundred test subjects who lived for a month in an underground bunker, completely removed from exposure to natural daylight, were able to maintain an internal synchronization to a day/night rhythm, even with the complete absence of sunlight. But when the same subjects were additionally shielded from the global electronic circuit of the Earth, it resulted in internal desynchronization of the circadian body rhythm. However, when these subjects were consequently exposed to the Schumann resonance frequencies (activity of the Earth’s electromagnetic field), their day/night rhythm became re-synchronized once again. (Koniver 2023)

The Schumann resonances are a set of spectrum peaks of the Earth’s electromagnetic field. They are created in the resonant cavity formed between the Earth and ionosphere, excited by lightening; they exist worldwide at 7,83 Hz along with harmonics of that frequency.

EARTH as a REMEDY for PAIN and INFLAMMATION

Various studies have provided evidence of Earthing’s impact on inflammation and pain. One of the methods to assess the process of inflammation is thermal imaging that register small changes in skin temperature.

E.g., thermal pictures of a patient with pain in the area of both knees were taken a half-hour apart − before and after Earthing. Tissue damage generates heat, represented by the hot red-shaded colors on the left. The difference shows a clear and rapid resolution of inflammation after Earthing (please, see the picture on the left).

Another study conducted at the University of Salzburg showed specifically that Earthing during sleep produces faster recovery and/or less pronounced markers of muscle damage and inflammation when compared to without Earthing. (Menigoz 2020)

BAREFOOT WALKING

A part from the assumed impact on the immune and other regulation systems, barefoot walking shows its benefits also in the prevention of injuries of the lower-extremities.

Barefoot walking changes the biomechanical parameters of the gait and body posture resulting in reduced step length and increased step cadence, lower plantar pressure and ground reaction force, increased sensory feedback from the ground-foot contact and changes in the physiology, such as wider feet.

Barefoot walking in the dewy grass was one of the typical recommendations of the famous naturopath Sebastian Kneipp. He often advised patients to walk barefoot outdoors in nature, preferably in moistened conditions. The contribution of water while barefoot walking (e.g., on the beach or after a rain) should increase electrical conductivity which permits more effective grounding. For more about Kneipp’s hydrotherapy, please check the “Hardening section” in our Applied techniques list.

Author of the review: Kristina Höschlová