The Astonishing Effects of Grounding On Chronic Inflammatory Conditions

Grounding has gained significant attention from researchers, with scientific studies strongly supporting its benefits. Research shows compelling evidence that daily grounding can positively impact chronic inflammatory health conditions. As interest in grounding grows, the market has expanded. New innovative indoor equipment allows people to stay grounded throughout the day. Many early adopters of this practice report remarkable health improvements, claiming the effects of grounding have transformed their health. Both scientific research and participant experiences suggest that grounding may be an effective method for reducing chronic inflammation.

What Is Grounding?

Grounding is the practice of connecting bare skin directly with the earth, allowing the body to sync with Earth’s natural electromagnetic waves. This connection includes exposure to Schumann resonances—low-frequency electromagnetic waves in Earth’s atmosphere that create a global electrical circuit¹. This global electrical circuit is powered by three main sources: solar winds interacting with the magnetosphere, winds in Earth’s ionosphere (the upper atmosphere), and thunderstorms creating thousands of lightning strikes per minute. Together, these sources generate a positive charge in the ionosphere and a negative charge on Earth’s surface.

The global electrical circuit maintains the primary frequency underlying the grounding phenomenon. Earth’s natural electric charge, carried by electrons, is thought to produce anti-inflammatory effects in the body. Direct contact with the earth allows these electrons and natural electrical rhythms to flow into the body, aligning it with Earth’s diurnal cycles.

Chronic Inflammatory Health Conditions

It is a common mindset that inflammation is only the cause of issues such as joint pain. However, biomedical research has identified inflammation as the main factor contributing to nearly all modern chronic illnesses² including but not limited to:

• Cardiovascular Diseases – heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, heart attack, stroke
• Metabolic Conditions – type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, gout, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis
• Mental Health Conditions – depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), schizophrenia
• Respiratory Conditions – asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis
• Gastrointestinal Diseases – Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel disease
• Neurodegenerative diseases – Alzheimer’s (type 3 diabetes), Parkinson’s disease
• Autoimmune Diseases – rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis
• All Cancers

Global Health Crisis

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to trauma and infection. In acute or short-term conditions such as superficial wounds, broken bones, and infectious diseases, inflammation is vital for proper healing and protection³. After the threat has passed and the body has healed acute inflammation resolves.

Unlike acute inflammation, which heals the body, chronic inflammation wreaks havoc on every organ and tissue in the body. Chronic inflammatory diseases are the leading cause of death globally. The World Health Organization identifies them as the greatest threat to human health. Worldwide 3 out of 5 people die from chronic inflammatory diseases.

Effects of Chronic Inflammation

Long-term inflammation attacks everything from immune response⁴ to cellular function. People with chronic inflammation are at a much greater risk of acquiring infectious diseases⁵, tumors (leading to cancer), and have poor responses to vaccines⁶. Meanwhile, as the immune system weakens, tissues, organs, and cellular functions are enduring continuous damage. This damage significantly raises the risk of developing chronic inflammatory health conditions⁷.

Chronic inflammation can impact health even before birth. Research shows that inflammation during pregnancy can increase a child’s lifetime risk of developing chronic inflammatory conditions (listed above). In childhood, inflammation often appears as visceral, or belly-centered, obesity⁸, which may contribute to cognitive developmental issues. Over time, chronic inflammation damages every cell in the body, including brain cells⁹, which begin to malfunction as a result.

Chronic Inflammation and Mental Health

Research has proven a strong connection between inflammation and brain functioning. Chronic inflammation leads to specific biobehavioral effects¹⁰, including a range of energy-conserving behaviors referred to as “sickness behaviors” that include but are not limited to:

• Sadness and depression¹¹
• Anhedonia – lack of interest and enjoyment from life’s experiences or an inability to feel pleasure and happiness
• Poor sleep and fatigue
• Reduced libido
• Reduced food intake
• Social withdrawal

In the presence of chronic inflammation, metabolic and neuroendocrine changes occur as the body tries to conserve energy needed for healing¹². Unfortunately, unless the source of chronic inflammation is removed the body remains in a state of low metabolic-rate survival resulting in long-term energy-conserving sickness behaviors.

Grounding – A Nonpharmaceutical Anti-Inflammatory

In 2014, nearly 60% of Americans had at least one chronic inflammatory condition. Among them, 43% had one or more conditions, and 13% were affected by five or more chronic inflammatory issues¹³. The human population is facing an epidemic of inflammation.

The current hypothesis is that connecting the body to the Earth’s electromagnetic vibrations enables free electrons to spread throughout the body. Free electrons are believed to have an anti-inflammatory effect¹⁴. Recent cell biology research has discovered that the human body contains a system-wide semiconductor network known as the “living matrix,” made up of liquid crystalline structures.

Proteins, called integrins help cells attach to each other and to the extracellular matrix¹⁵. Integrins are believed to enable the conduction of electrons into the cell’s interior. The living matrix is believed to distribute electrons throughout the body, providing protection against inflammatory damage to cells, tissues, and organs.

Grounding Equipment

The main challenge with grounding is that it doesn’t provide an instant fix. The body needs to be grounded for extended periods to experience potential relief from chronic inflammatory conditions.

As grounding gains popularity, new technologies have emerged to enable longer periods of grounding. Indoor grounding products connect to the earth through grounded wall outlets16. While the legitimacy of these products is understandably questioned, many have received strong positive reviews from verified customers, supporting their effectiveness. Some examples of indoor grounding equipment include:

• Grounding mats – These mats can be placed under your desk, keyboard, or mouse. It is best to allow the mat to touch bare skin or other conductive material such as cotton, wool, or other natural fibers.
• Grounding sheets/pads – Grounding sheets and pads are placed where you sleep to allow the body to be grounded throughout the night.
• Wearable grounded accessories – Wearables can include wrist bands, foot bands, socks, and patches. All wearable grounding accessories have to be plugged into a grounded wall outlet so they might not be the most convenient method of grounding.

Lifestyle Factors

It’s important to note the impact of lifestyle factors on chronic inflammation. A complete lack of connection with the earth is recognized as unhealthy. However, chronic inflammation is largely a result of a lifestyle that is unnatural in terms of nutrition and activity level, in combination with time spent outdoors. Grounding can be a powerful tool with proven benefits for reducing inflammation, but it cannot, on its own, resolve the underlying issues.

Chronic inflammation is largely driven by diet. If your meals are high in processed foods, fast foods, and sugar, grounding can only do so much to alleviate the issue. While grounding may offer substantial benefits, it needs to be part of a broader commitment to health that includes a diet rich in whole foods, mainly protein and healthy fats, and regular exercise.

Effects of Grounding On Chronic Health Conditions

The healing power of grounding is yet to be fully understood. Currently, there is strong evidence suggesting powerful health benefits resulting from connecting with the earth on a daily basis.

The best way to practice grounding is by combining natural methods with grounding equipment. Begin each day by standing on the grass for a few minutes, and, if possible, repeat this throughout the day and before bed. This practice deepens your connection to the earth, promoting relaxation and stress relief as you reconnect with nature. During busier times, use grounding mats, wearables, or grounding sheets while you sleep to maintain grounding benefits.

While still considered experimental, grounding falls into the category of low risk, potentially high reward. It’s a natural, nonpharmacological approach that you can try for free or at a relatively low cost if you choose to use grounding equipment. Given the potential for life-changing benefits for major health conditions, grounding may be well worth incorporating into your daily routine.

Supporting Research