Why ground? Being connected to the earth has always been important for our well-being, but with an overabundance of man-created electrical currents coursing around and through us, it is now more important than ever. When you are connected to the earth, not only are you shielded from potentially harmful electro-magnetic pollution, or dirty electricity, but you readily absorb healthful negatively charged ions from the earth’s surface. The earth’s abundant supply of electrons and subtle energy fields act as antioxidants that protect us from inflammation and its health consequences. There is also a growing body of evidence that the energies of the earth improve blood viscosity, sleep, immune function, biorhythms, heart rate variability and our response to stress. Some people swear by earthing as a pain reliever. How do you ground? All you have to do to ground is place any bare part of your body (usually your feet!) on grass, dirt, sand, or unsealed concrete. It’s as simple as that. Leather-soled shoes or those fancy flip-flops with a grounding disk in them work, too. If the surface is damp or wet, or the air is humid, and you are well hydrated, that helps because water conducts electricity. Yes, the beach is the perfect place to ground! To optimize health benefits, ground for at least 30 minutes. 90 minutes is better, especially if you have health challenges. Earthing for even a few minutes at a time is better than not earthing at all. If it isn’t practical for you to go outside, you can earth from inside your home. Grounding mats, body bands, and bed sheets with silver mesh are available for sale. Since metal is a great conductor of electricity, these aids usually ground you via a copper wire to a grounded electrical outlet or grounding rod outside your home. Earth energy literally travels up the wire and creates a field with the mat and you in it. In a sense, you literally become one with the earth. Challenge When was the last time you connected to Mother Earth? For health and well-being, ground yourself every day, if you can, for at least 30 minutes at a time. This is easier than it sounds if you use an earthing mat inside, or sit outside with your feet on dirt, grass or cement. Experiment with keeping painful or compromised parts of your body in direct contact with the earth and see how you feel afterwards. If you are at the beach, take advantage of the water or wet sand to enhance your efforts. Don’t you just feel great after a day at the beach – maybe earthing is why! Even when you’re not earthing, it is wise to reduce your exposure to dirty energy. Stay as far away from electrical fields as you can- think lamps, alarm clocks, circuit boards, power poles…. Use your laptop on battery power.  Perhaps most importantly, don’t push the head of your bed up against a wall-the further away you are from all those electrical wires behind the wall boards the better – unless you want to turn the power off to your bedroom while you sleep. Earthing for health and studying its positive effects on health are still in the early stages. If you have insights into how to enhance your results, or experience positive results for yourself, please share them on our web site in the comments below this article. Views:]]>