Science now offers evidence for this unconventional, modern therapy.
Written by Susan Parker | Updated on May 28, 2025
Reviewed by Susan Parker
Key Takeaways
Earthing is a free source of healing energy.
Direct skin contact with the ground is beneficial.
Grounding improves sleep, reduces pain, and lowers stress.
Benefits of grounding include improved general health.
Electrons from the earth restore body's electrical rhythms.
Test grounding concept by barefoot contact with the earth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways
Earthing is a free source of healing energy.
Direct skin contact with the ground is beneficial.
Grounding improves sleep, reduces pain, and lowers stress.
Benefits of grounding include improved general health.
Electrons from the earth restore body's electrical rhythms.
Test grounding concept by barefoot contact with the earth.
Frequently Asked Questions
For over twenty years, an individual has been dedicated to educating a skeptical world about a potent healing energy source.
This energy source is free of charge, yet remains largely undiscovered by many.
Known as earthing, the concept is simple: to reap its benefits, one simply needs to place their bare feet on the ground.
Remarkably, there is scientific backing for this unconventional therapy...
Clinton Ober, a successful cable TV entrepreneur from Colorado, faced a severe illness that was considered fatal. Against all odds, he survived.
After his recovery, he made life-changing decisions like quitting his job, selling his house, and embarking on a journey across the country in search of deeper meaning.
Five years later, he discovered what he had been seeking.
This realization came to him through a simple question: Do rubber or plastic-soled shoes, which insulate us from the ground, affect our health?
Despite encountering skepticism and mockery from "experts," Ober gathered substantial scientific evidence to support his unconventional idea.
Today, his concept is gaining acceptance among those who have embraced it, noticing improved sleep, reduced pain, and resolution of various health issues.
To validate his theory, Ober conducted a study in 2000 involving 60 individuals dealing with insomnia, joint, and muscle pain. They were split into two groups.
One group slept on a bed with a conductive pad connected to a wire running to a ground rod inserted in the Earth outside the bedroom window. This grounded the participants similarly to standing barefoot on grass.
The other group had the same setup with a minor alteration to prevent grounding, and neither group knew their assignment.
After 30 days, the outcomes were remarkable.
Compared to the ungrounded group, 85% of the grounded individuals fell asleep faster; 93% experienced improved sleep throughout the night; 82% reported significant reduction in muscle stiffness; 74% had less back and joint pain or none at all; 100% felt more refreshed upon waking up; and 78% noted enhanced overall health.
Since then, a dozen researchers have conducted studies on grounding, publishing 21 peer-reviewed pilot studies that demonstrate the benefits of grounding, such as improved sleep, pain reduction, and stress relief.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) - This medical test measures stress in the autonomic nervous system. A study revealed a significant improvement in HRV only in grounded participants, indicating that grounding can balance the nervous system and support cardiovascular health.
Cortisol - Researchers measured this stress hormone before and after grounding during sleep.
The findings suggested that grounding "decreases nighttime cortisol levels and aligns cortisol hormone secretion more closely with the natural 24-hour circadian rhythm."
Inflammation - Images showed a decrease in inflammation following injuries, and medical infrared imaging confirmed rapid resolution of chronic painful inflammation in 20 case studies.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), common after intense physical activity, was reduced in the grounded group compared to the ungrounded group, as indicated by a decrease in white blood cell response, signifying minimal inflammation.
Blood viscosity - Red blood cells' negative charge significantly increased after two hours of grounding, leading to improved blood flow and fluidity. Researchers concluded that "Grounding seems to be one of the simplest yet most effective interventions for reducing cardiovascular risk and events."
How does grounding produce these benefits? Here's the theory...
Humans are not just biochemical entities but also electrical beings, with electricity powering all bodily functions.
The earth is a rich source of free electrons, and both the earth and the human body are excellent conductors of electricity.
Advocates of earthing believe that negatively-charged electrons from the ground can be easily transferred to the body through direct skin contact, addressing an unknown electron deficiency.
By replenishing these electrons, the body's natural electrical rhythms are restored and stabilized, promoting the proper functioning of bodily systems such as cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, nervous, and immune systems.
Electrical engineer Roger Applewhite documented the flow of electrons from the earth to the body in 2005, demonstrating that earthing (or grounding) also reduces harmful electromagnetic fields on the body.
"The joy I have experienced seeing individuals alleviate their pain and feel better is indescribable," states Mr. Ober. He even claims to have witnessed remarkable recoveries in individuals on the brink of death...
Unfortunately, large, rigorously controlled human trials that science requires are not yet available and may never be due to their high costs. Hence, each individual must determine the credibility of the presented evidence.
Fortunately, you can test the concept at no cost. Simply make direct contact with the earth - grass, soil, or even concrete - for 40 minutes daily and observe the effects. Many individuals report experiencing benefits within minutes.
If the results are positive, you can sustain grounding for most of the day by using grounding shoes for outdoor activities and other grounding products for home use.
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