Grounding: Power from Below
Grounding, also known as earthing, refers to the practice of connecting with the Earth's surface by walking barefoot, sitting, or lying down on the ground. It involves direct skin contact with the Earth, such as grass, soil, sand and sometimes even concrete. When was the last time you walked barefoot? For most people this does not happen very often. But we are learning there might be more of a reason for you to start making these types of activities a priority.
You can get grounded outdoors and indoors. Either way, you will feel better, have less pain, sleep better, look better, and have more energy. Outdoor grounding is free, does not require any equipment and can be done anywhere you can contact the earth. However, depending on where you live and what season it is, it is not always possible to be outdoors barefoot every day. That is why we expanded our offerings and created a tranquil grounding area at Break Free Health & Wellness. What could be more enticing than an environmentally controlled, bug-free oasis where you can peacefully read a book, meditate, and ground all at the same time?
How Electrons from the Earth can Potentially Help the Body
Inside our bodies, there are tiny, highly reactive molecules known as free radicals. These molecules are formed during various chemical processes, including the ones essential for our survival, like turning food into energy. However, when produced in excess or not properly balanced, free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause cellular damage and are associated with inflammation, aging and various health issues.
Free radicals are unstable because they have an unpaired electron in their outermost shell. To stabilize themselves, they seek out and steal electrons from other molecules in the body. This "electron theft" can damage these other molecules, including vital cellular components like DNA, proteins, and cell membranes. This damage is known as oxidative stress.
To counter the harmful effects of free radicals, our bodies have a defense system that includes antioxidants. Antioxidants are molecules that can safely provide the free radicals with the electrons they need to become stable without becoming unstable themselves. In essence, antioxidants neutralize free radicals and help prevent cellular damage.
How does the Earth get its Negative Charge
In simple terms, the Earth gets its negative charge from electrons that are stripped from air molecules by cosmic rays and solar energy. These electrons settle on the Earth's surface, creating a negative charge. This natural process is happening all around us and is responsible for the Earth's negative electrical state.
Grounding and Free Radicals
Now, let us connect this to grounding or earthing. When you ground yourself by making direct contact with the Earth, you are exposing your body to an abundant source of free electrons, as the Earth is negatively charged. These electrons can act as natural antioxidants.
When you touch the Earth with your skin, the excess electrons from the Earth are absorbed into your body. These electrons can then potentially help neutralize free radicals. By donating their extra electrons, these electrons from the Earth can stabilize the free radicals in your body, preventing them from causing oxidative stress and damage.
This process is often referred to as "electron donation" or "electron transfer." It is thought that grounding can help bring the body's electrical charge back into balance, reducing the need for the body to "steal" electrons from its own molecules to neutralize free radicals.
While more research is needed to fully understand the extent of these effects, some studies have shown that grounding may indeed have antioxidant effects, potentially reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
Grounding is among the most natural and safest thing you can do to improve your health; something simple yet astoundingly profound. It is not a treatment but a hugely rewarding return-to-a-core aspect of Nature that we have abandoned. Grounding is a missing link in the health equation.
“When I am grounded, I am resetting my entire biological clock so that it is in harmony with universal, cosmic rhythms and that is the basis of healing.” − Deepak Chopra, M.D.
