Grounding: one with the earth

Grounding - Hippie or Revolutionary?

The term grounding is becoming increasingly popular. And with good reason. More and more studies are being published about the positive effects of grounding on health. Our clients and we ourselves are also surprised by the pleasant feeling it gives; the feeling can be almost addictive. It also makes you feel that shoes are a prison for your feet.

What exactly does grounding entail? It is essentially nothing more than being in contact with the earth with your bare feet. Natural water, sand, and rocks also serve this purpose. Although we may appear to be promoting a hippie lifestyle (and it may not seem like sleep advice), we encourage you to continue reading attentively. After all, we all want to take our health and sleep quality to the next level!

Why ground?

What actually happens is that a kind of electron exchange takes place. When you 'ground' yourself, you pick up negative electrons from the earth. These neutralize your positively charged body. Why would you want to do that? Well, because we live in a world full of electromagnetic fields that 'charge' us, so to speak, it makes sense that we need to 'discharge' ourselves from time to time. Think of things like devices plugged into sockets, electricity pylons, and telephones. Electromagnetic radiation (EMF) is quite a thing, but we will go into that in more detail in this blog about EMF. It may sound a bit woolly, but there is now a lot of scientific evidence to support it. When you 'ground' yourself, you absorb those negative electrons, which neutralize the positive ones in your body. It's a bit like antioxidants in food that neutralize free radicals (harmful substances). By neutralizing that positive charge, we have less inflammation in our bodies. And inflammation is actually the basis of almost every disease. So, 'grounding' is actually a free and calorie-free source of antioxidants.

Watch the following video, which clearly shows that electrons are transferred during grounding: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/swdVPOBLYP

We weren't born 100,000 years ago with Nike Air Max shoes on our feet. We were born barefoot. It makes sense that we should be in contact with the source of life: the earth. In 1960, synthetic rubber was invented, which was soon used in most shoes. However, this material does not conduct electricity. As a result, we can no longer discharge... And this causes problems for our sleep quality, for example.

How does Grounding work?

Chemical reactions involving electrical charges are constantly taking place in our bodies. Some of these reactions can lead to the formation of free radicals. Free radicals are atoms or molecules with an unpaired electron, which makes them highly reactive and prone to reacting with other molecules in the body. This causes inflammation in the body. Inflammation causes stress, both physically and mentally. This is because the body's natural response is to produce cortisol when there is inflammation in the body. Grounding reduces inflammation and therefore reduces stress. It is well known that stress is not good for a good night's sleep. Would you like to know everything there is to know about stress? Then click here. This means that grounding can offer a way out of stress and provide a good night's sleep!

Origin of Grounding

The concept is not new, but the importance of this practice has grown again in modern times due to the many benefits it offers. The history of grounding dates back to ancient times, when people walked barefoot and made direct contact with the earth. In ancient cultures, the earth was considered sacred and great value was attached to contact with the ground. In the Indian Ayurvedic tradition, for example, walking on grass was considered an important part of daily health practices. But there are many more examples from history of peoples who wore grounded shoes. These shoes often contained copper and had a copper piece that was in contact with the earth. Did they know more than we think?

Improving Your Biorhythm

By connecting with the earth, we can balance our circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is our internal clock that regulates our sleep-wake cycle and helps us maintain a normal sleep pattern. Exposure to natural light during the day and darkness at night helps to maintain this rhythm. Grounding can also help with this, as it puts our body in a state of relaxation and enables us to sleep better. A better internal clock ensures a deeper night's sleep. Contact with the earth resets our internal clock and better attunes it to the environment, which is why grounding can also help against jet lag, for example... But that's a topic for the blog about Bio-Rhythm. (PMID: 22291721)

Here you can see what four nights of "grounded" sleep can do for a person. Bizarre! It is abundantly clear that the amount of inflammation has decreased significantly.

What is the best way to ground yourself?

The most common technique is simply walking barefoot on grass. Twenty to thirty minutes a day is enough to absorb all the electrons needed to rebalance the body. Grass is one of the best ways to ground yourself, because everyone has access to grass within a five-minute walk. Please note: artificial grass is not a good conductor and will therefore have no effect.

Rocks can also be used for grounding, especially rocks that are naturally electrically charged, such as granite or quartz. Walking on rocks is therefore also a good form of grounding. It is best if the stones are slightly damp, as this makes them easier to slide on. (Hopefully you paid attention in science andchemistry class😉)

However, there is nothing better than the sea. This is where electrons are most easily absorbed and the body is neutralized. In addition, the sea is good for the skin and (a lot of) magnesium is absorbed. There are more than 70 minerals that the body can absorb during a dive in the sea. In short, you kill several birds with one stone.

We understand that it is not pleasant to go into the water or walk barefoot on the grass in winter. Three options: do it anyway, go to a warm country in winter, or use a grounding sheet!

A solution for everything

Grounding, grounding sheets... You're probably wondering what this hippie is talking about. But these grounding sheets can make a huge difference to your sleep. These mats are made of conductive material and can be connected to a grounding point or grounded outlet. When a person touches the mat, it allows them to ground themselves and absorb electrons. Many people are afraid of this, as the mat is connected to the power outlet. However, apart from contact with the grounding pins, there is no contact with the power grid. So there is no risk of electric shock. In fact, if you do get an electric shock while lying on the mat, this energy will be passed through the power outlet to the ground. The mat is therefore completely safe. (PMID: 36672565)

So, the grounding mat is the solution! Time-saving? Check! You can use it while you sleep. Efficient? Double check! Grounded sleep means reducing stress and tackling inflammation for 1/3 of your life. So, while you get your beauty sleep, the grounding mat works behind the scenes to lower your stress levels. Sleep well and wake up with less stress!

The Alina grounding sheet is designed to fit around a double bed. We are seeing more and more grounding sheets on the market, but these are separate mats. We used these in the past, but they are not an option for those of us who toss and turn in our sleep. That is why we now have a grounding cover that stays in place.

Conclusion

By connecting with the earth, we can balance our circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is our internal clock that regulates our sleep-wake cycle and helps us maintain a normal sleep pattern. Exposure to natural light during the day and darkness at night helps to maintain this rhythm. Grounding can also help with this, as it puts our body in a state of relaxation and enables us to sleep better. Contact with the earth causes a reset, which not only reduces sleep rhythm disruption but also reduces jet lag. Grounding provides information about the time zone you are in.

All in all, grounding is an ancient practice that can help us balance our bodies and connect with the natural energy of the earth. It can help us balance our circadian rhythm and reduce inflammation. It is a simple way to relax our bodies and minds and thus provide a great night's sleep!

In the documentary about Clint Ober's discovery of earthing, you can see, among other things, the story of a study he conducted in collaboration with an anesthesiologist in which 60 people with all kinds of conditions and complaints were grounded. This documentary can clear up any possible ambiguities surrounding grounding. We recommend watching the documentary to get a better understanding. Reading about it can seem rather vague and woolly. If you have any questions, we are of course always available and happy to help. Looking for a grounding routine? We are happy to help you find one. Because there is no such thing as no time, only no priority.

Interested in more sleep advice and personalized tips? Sign up for ournewsletterandreceive a 10% discount on your first order. Let us guide you to a world of deep sleep and energy throughout the day!

Alina - Sleep advice for the hustle and bustle of everyday life!