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Barefoot earthing has been hitting the headlines recently and for all good reasons. Several studies have proven the extraordinary physiological benefits of earthing barefoot.
The best part is – it’s simple and easy to practice, and it’s free too!
To understand the benefits of earthing, it helps to first understand what is earthing, or grounding as it’s also called.
What Is Earthing Or Grounding?
Earthing is simply the practice of putting your body in direct contact with the earth’s surface. This could be any part of your body and any type of surface. You can walk barefoot through a grassy meadow, build sandcastles with your hands, or immerse yourself in a water body.
The easiest and most common way to practice earthing is by walking barefoot on any surface. Yes, it really is that simple.
The key to getting the benefits of barefoot earthing is to be more connected with nature. When you’re grounding, you’re physically touching a natural Earth’s surface. This could be sand at the beach, grass in your backyard, water in the ocean, or dirt in the forest. This simple act has been proven to support natural health and strengthen the healing response of the body.
Just spending time in nature offers profound benefits. Barefoot grounding with nature takes the practice to the next level.
Barefoot Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever!
That’s the name of the book written by Clint Ober, the pioneer behind the Grounding Movement. The book ‘Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?’ goes into great detail about the massive benefits of earthing barefoot.
The book has earned amazing reviews from readers who have actually tried earthing therapy and vouch for the fact that it works! Many readers started out with some amount of disbelief that something this simple and easy would actually work. But after spending some time practicing earthing, their pain reduced considerably. Others said that earthing helped them beat insomnia and sleep better.
Many got the benefits of grounding using indoor earthing products to supplement their outdoor earthing practice. The author, Clinton Ober, has a range of indoor earthing products including Single and Double Ground Therapy Sleep Mats, Grounding Universal Mat, Grounding Pillow Cover, Grounding Coil Rods, and Grounding Patches. These are put together in a starter kit along with a few other essentials. The items can be bought individually too. Clint Ober’s Ground Therapy products have received rave reviews from people who have tried them.
If you’re unsure about how it works, start by reading the reviews and buy the book to learn more about the benefits of earthing barefoot.
You can read the book free with a 1-month free Audible trial. With this offer, you can learn about barefoot earthing and also get the benefits all for free.
Barefoot Earthing The Right Way
To get the benefits of barefoot earthing, you must stand bare feet on a natural surface such as soil, grass, sand or water. Standing on a tarred or concrete road or pavement is not considered direct contact with the earth. You won’t get the benefits of grounding if you stand on this type of surface.
What The Research Shows About The Benefits Of Earthing Barefoot
This is just one of many studies that prove the many benefits of grounding. According to this study, standing barefoot on an outdoor natural surface puts us in direct physical contact with the abundant electrons that lie on the surface of the Earth.
This direct connection with the Earth’s electrons brings about a range of physiological changes that promote well-being. The benefits of earthing range from better sleep to lower pain.
The same study suggests that the modern lifestyle separates humans from such contact. This disconnect may be a major contributor to physiological dysfunction and un-wellness.
If you live in a concrete city or can’t spend time outdoors because of the weather or any other reason, you can practice indoor earthing. This is by sitting, working, or sleeping indoors on an earthing mat. This is a specially designed mat that connects to conductive systems that transfer the Earth’s electrons from the ground into the body.
8 Surprising Benefits of Earthing Barefoot
With a little more understanding of what earthing is and the basic concept of how you can do it, here are some of the benefits of barefoot grounding.
1. Regulates cortisol and lowers stress levels
Cortisol is the body’s main stress hormone. Better regulation of cortisol production shifts the body from the stressed fight-or-flight mode to the restorative rest-and-relaxation mode.
Research shows that feeling stressed over long periods of time can be disastrous to our mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. Barefoot earthing helps you recover from stress quickly, instead of feeling anxious long after the event.
You may have experienced it but the connection may not have registered at the time. When you spend time at the beach with your bare feet in the sand you can actually feel the stress slowly fading away and you start to feel more relaxed.
2. Balances circadian rhythms and improves sleep
Grounding boosts the production of melatonin production, which is a powerful natural sleep aid. Grounding also helps regulate cortisol levels, which are related to stress. Both of these work together to balance circadian rhythms, reduce sleep disturbances, and promote better sleep.
3. Boosts circulation
The negatively-charged electrons of the earth improve blood flow and reduce blood viscosity. Higher blood viscosity is associated with cardiovascular disorders and diabetes. Better blood flower and lower blood viscosity potentially reduces the risk factors for these two deadly conditions.
4. Neutralizes free radicals
Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that damage cells, resulting in premature aging. Neutralizing these free radicals can stave off premature aging-related disorders.
5. Reduces chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is the main factor that causes pain and speeds up the aging process. Barefoot earthing can reduce or even prevents the signs of inflammation that typically result after an injury: swelling, pain, heat, and loss of function.
6. Lowers pain levels
Most pain is either directly or indirectly related to increased inflammation. Because reducing inflammation is one of the benefits of earthing, it also helps to reduce pain.
7. Accelerates healing from injury
Lower inflammation and improved circulation, both help accelerate healing from injury because they help healing factors reach the injured site faster. Because grounding reduces inflammation and improves circulation, it indirectly helps to heal wounds faster too. This includes all types of wounds caused by injuries, burns, or surgeries.
8. Helps you feel centered
Want to feel more centered and in control? Try grounding. Get outside, walk in the grass without shoes on, and you’ll find yourself feeling more in control of things.
9 Amazing Benefits Of Being In Nature & 20 Easy Ways to Connect With Nature
Easy & Fun Ways to Get The Benefits Of Grounding Barefoot
It is actually really easy to start grounding or earthing on a regular basis. The best and easiest way to do it is by going out into your backyard in bare feet. Of course, you want to do this safely. Check the area first before you take your shoes off.
Don’t restrict your earthing practice to your backyard only. Here are some other ways to get the benefits of earthing barefoot.
Stand or walk bare feet on sand, soil, or grass – One of the easiest ways to practice earthing for grounding yourself is to stand or walk on any natural surface. The only thing to keep in mind is that it must be a natural surface. Sand, soil, and grass are all fantastic natural surfaces for earthing. Standing or walking on manmade surfaces such as concrete, granite, turf, or tile won’t give you the benefits.
Lay down on the sand at the beach or the grass on your front lawn – Spending a day at the beach? For at least a few minutes ditch that beach towel and lay down on the sand directly. On non-beach days, get outdoors and feel the freshly mowed grass on your body as you lay down on the lawn.
Stand, wade through, or submerge yourself in a natural body of water – Water also counts as the earth’s natural surface, so you can stand in a natural ocean, lake, or river, as long as it is not manmade.
Touch your hands to the ground – Finally, you can use other parts of your body for earthing and grounding as well. If you are sitting on the ground, touch your hands to sand or dirt to help ground yourself.
Catch some rays while you’re outdoors – Sunshine in small doses offers some powerful health benefits. If you can schedule your outdoor time for early morning or late evening, you’ll get the benefits of sunlight as well as the benefits of grounding.
Going camping? Ditch your shoes when you find a bare spot of ground that looks safe to stand on.
These are easy ways to get more grounding, relax, and live a more natural lifestyle by being one with nature and the earth.
Skeptical about the benefits of earthing barefoot?
Why not put it to the test to see if it works? Spring and summer are the perfect seasons to test out this theory.
Simply stand or walk with your bare feet on a natural surface for 15 minutes a day. You can also sit or lie down on the surface without a mat underneath for 15 minutes a day.
After a few days of barefoot earthing, take some time to reflect on how you feel. You may notice the effects in different ways – you feel calmer, you sleep better or your pain feels more manageable.
Ground Yourself Indoors
Unfortunately, there are times when we just can’t practice earthing outdoors. For example, during winter, you don’t want to go outside and stand on freezing grass or soil with no shoes on.
If you want to try earthing but can’t spend time outdoors barefoot for whatever reason, check out these two indoor grounding mat kits. Both of these kits include a copy of the book, ‘Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever’.
Earthing mats are made specifically for earthing when you can’t get outside or don’t have any natural surfaces outside your home. These are great for people who live in apartments or condos without their own lawns.
Fill a large shallow basin or deep tray with natural materials from the earth’s surface, such as sand from the beach, or soil from your backyard. Keep the tray or basin on your porch or someplace where it won’t make a mess, making sure it is large enough and stable enough for you to stand on for earthing purposes.
FAQs about Barefoot Grounding
How long should I spend barefoot to get the benefits of earthing?
According to Clint Ober, you should spend at least 30 minutes barefoot earthing to see significant results.
Do I have to be barefoot for grounding?
Yes, you do. Earthing works only if your skin is in direct contact with the earth’s natural surface. If you don’t like the idea of going outdoors without footwear, you can get the benefits of grounding by playing in the sand, splashing around in the water, or even working in your garden without gloves.
If you spend too much time earthing in the sunlight in summer and your skin gets sunburnt, this article may be helpful – Home Remedies For Sunburn Relief: Soothe Skin Fast.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before using any natural medication or if you experience any unusual symptoms. See Full Disclaimer here.
