A Guide To Grounding: Restoring Your Mind-Body Connection

In today’s world, our attention is constantly in demand by everything from screens to commutes. And in cities, big and small, the taxing effects of those demands are compounded by bright street lights, street and construction noise, and vast stretches of concrete. In some cities, it’s easy to go days, weeks, even months without slowing down or getting into nature. 

It is in large part this daily hustle and bustle that makes us so susceptible to stress, adrenal fatigue, burnout, and associated inflammation. In short, we’re out of touch with the natural world around us. Because our minds and bodies are intricately connected, when we are physically detached from the natural world we can experience stress, anxiety, and a sense of disconnection overall. 

This is where grounding comes in: as a powerful tool for restoring balance and harmony to the relationship between our bodies and our minds. Let’s talk about how grounding (or earthing) works, and how you can incorporate it into your life.

What Is Grounding?

Grounding, also known as earthing, is the practice of making direct contact with the Earth’s surface to promote physical and mental well-being. By reconnecting with the natural world, we can calm our minds, reduce inflammation, and improve our overall wellness. 

Grounding is based on the idea that the Earth’s surface has a negative electrical charge, and by making contact with it, we can neutralize positive electrons (free radicals) in our bodies, leading to a range of health benefits.

Grounding, or earthing, has its roots in ancient Chinese medicine, where the concept of connecting with the natural world to promote health and balance has been practiced for thousands of years. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the Earth is considered a vital source of energy, or “qi,” that flows through all living things.

Qi and the Earth 

In TCM, qi is the life-force energy that flows through the body along specific pathways, or meridians. The concept is that when qi flows freely, the body is in balance and health is maintained. However, when qi becomes blocked or stagnant, disease and illness can occur.

The Earth is considered a source of yin qi, which is calming, cooling, and nourishing. By connecting with the Earth’s energy, we may be able to balance our own qi, harmonize our body’s energy with the natural world, and restore balance to the body’s yin and yang energies. 

Modern Grounding Practices

While modern grounding practices may not explicitly reference TCM, they draw upon the same principles. By making direct contact with the Earth’s surface, we can balance the body’s energy, reduce inflammation and stress, and improve sleep and overall well-being. 

The connection between grounding and Chinese medicine highlights the timeless importance of connecting with the natural world for our health. By embracing this ancient wisdom, we can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things and promote balance, harmony, and health in our modern lives.

The Benefits of Grounding

Research on grounding is limited, but based on the studies we do have, as well as anecdotal evidence and clinical observations, this alternative therapy may have a profound impact on both physical and mental health. Studies have shown changes in several different kinds of biomarkers, illustrating the benefits. (1) 

I’ve observed many of these with my functional medicine telehealth patients, and can say from personal experience that I always feel more balanced when I practice grounding. Here are some of the potential benefits: 

Reduced Stress and Anxiety 

Grounding may reduce anxiety and stress levels by lowering cortisol (the primary stress hormone). It may also help to improve mood and reduce irritability. 

A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that grounding significantly reduced cortisol levels and improved mood in individuals with chronic stress (2).

Grounding may also help to reduce blood pressure and improve heart rate variability. (3)

Improved Sleep Quality

Grounding, especially when combined with sleep-supportive supplements, may improve sleep quality by increasing melatonin production (the hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle), and enhancing deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. (4) 

Reduced Inflammation and Pain

Grounding may have an anti-inflammatory effect, decreasing biomarkers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein. Some research has shown it may help to reduce autoimmunity. (5) It may also help to reduce pain levels in individuals with chronic pain, and improve wound healing for those with diabetes. (6) 

Improved Immune System Function

Grounding may improve immune function by reducing oxidative stress. Research has shown that grounding can increase white blood cell count (indicating an enhanced immune response) and enhance natural killer cell activity (important for fighting infections). (5) 

With more research, we will likely uncover more evidence for the benefits of grounding. But in the meantime, pay attention to how you feel when you do it! This is your mindfulness practice, and your experience is what really matters. 

Grounding Methods

Incorporating grounding into your life is easy, accessible, and (unless you choose to buy a grounding device) totally free. Here are some simple methods to get you started:

Physical Grounding

Physical grounding or earthing, as we’ve been talking about, involves making direct contact with the Earth’s surface. Try these methods:

• Walking barefoot: This is one of my favorite methods. Spend time walking barefoot outdoors, whether it’s in your backyard, a park, or on a hiking trail. Of course take safety precautions and closely observe the ground you walk on for anything that may cause harm.
• Grounding mats: Use a grounding mat or grounding sheet while sleeping or working to make contact with the Earth’s energy. Other earthing products include grounding patches and grounding rods. Just remember that none of these are necessary in order to experience the benefits of connecting with the earth. 
• Grounding exercises: Try activities like yoga, tai chi, or qigong while barefoot to combine physical movement with the positive effects of grounding.

Mental Grounding

If you’re stuck away from nature and feel ungrounded, there are still things you can do to connect with the earth and with yourself energetically. Mental grounding essentially involves using your mind to focus on the present moment and connect with your body. Try these methods:

• Mindfulness meditation: Practice mindfulness meditation to focus on your breath and bring awareness to your body. There are a ton of free resources online to help you get started.
• Deep breathing exercises: Engage in deep, slow breathing to calm your mind and connect with your body. Ditto with the free guides and resources from meditation, you can get started with a quick web search.
• Sensory exploration: Pay attention to your five senses to bring yourself back to the present moment. This is one of my favorite hacks for fitting in some mindfulness literally anywhere— waiting in line for coffee, sitting in traffic with the windows rolled down, or while making your morning coffee.

READ NEXT: Here’s How Meditation Improves The Health Of Your Body & Mind 

By incorporating grounding into your daily routine, you can begin to restore balance to your mind-body connection, which can greatly improve your overall wellbeing and response to stress. Grounding is a simple, powerful tool that can have a big payoff to your health and happiness. 

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.

Sources

• Koniver, L. (2023). Practical applications of grounding to support health. biomedical journal, 46(1), 41-47.
• Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S. T., Oschman, J. L., & Delany, R. M. (2013). Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity—a major factor in cardiovascular disease. The journal of alternative and complementary medicine, 19(2), 102-110.
• Elkin, H. K., & Winter, A. (2018). Grounding patients with hypertension improves blood pressure: a case history series study. Altern Ther Health Med, 24(6), 46-50.
• Martel, J., Chang, S. H., Chevalier, G., Ojcius, D. M., & Young, J. D. (2023). Influence of electromagnetic fields on the circadian rhythm: Implications for human health and disease. Biomedical journal, 46(1), 48-59.
• Oschman, J. L., Chevalier, G., & Brown, R. (2015). The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Journal of inflammation research, 83-96.
• Estiningtyas, E., Novitayanti, E., Proborini, C. A., Cahyaningtyas, A. Y., & Muflikhun, M. A. (2024). Earthing Method as a Lifestyle Medicine to Accelerate the Healing of Chronic Diabetic Wounds. Journal of Health Science and Prevention, 8(1), 1-8.