“Return?” You may ask, “I don’t ever recall
leaving the Earth!”
Well, technically, it is more of a physical distancing from the Earth,... this beautiful planet and home,...rather than an actual movement off the planet. And it has happened in a very subtle and insidious manner over the last 400 years.
First, take a moment to look at your shoes.
Most likely they are rubber, or synthetic materials making up the sole of your shoe. Unfortunately, this is just the start of a person’s separation from their planet’s energy source. A Free energy source, by the way.
Rubber, or latex products, and most plastic based synthetics, do not conduct electricity, or allow electron flow. And the Earth generates negative ions, in a frequency called the Schumann Resonance. This vibrates through the dirt, mud, and sand, trees and plants,animals,…and humans, when in contact with our bare skin. It is a regenerative flow of electrons that is life sustaining and healing energy, which Earth naturally provides to it’s living inhabitants.
And our separation from this healing energy started hundreds of years ago as our feet ceased to contact the surface of Earth as latex based products, which is found naturally in plants and trees, found its way onto our footwear.
So, how does this all work?
A great website to check out for information and resources is https://www.earthing.com .
On their home page it states:
‘The earth’s surface has a virtually limitless supply of mobile electrons that gives the ground we walk on (as well as lakes and oceans) a natural negative electric charge. When you touch your body to the ground, it dissipates static electricity and extraneous environmental electrical charges that are on you. At the same time, you receive a charge of energy in the form of free electrons and your body synchronizes with the natural frequencies of the earth."
The majority of people living in industrialized countries have moved to the rubber and non-conductive based materials already mentioned, with our bare feet rarely, if ever, touching the ground during the entire day. Meanwhile, we merrily go through our work, play and sleep surrounded and exposed constantly to high doses of Electromagnetic Frequencies (EMF) that radiate off our cell phones, computers, cell towers (now on every street corner) and most of our household electrical devices.
This steady EMF exposure builds up excess charges in our bodies which has actually been associated with increased inflammation and reduced ability to self-heal. The human body is designed beautifully to repair and dissipate inflammation, however, it was designed to work in concert with the surface of the Earth.
This ‘Grounding’ or ‘Earthing’, is known within indigenous cultures, and even in the writings of the Bible:
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. Psalm 23
An important part of the Bible’s teachings, and of many ancient writings, is that humans are of the Earth, made of the same stuff that oozes up between our toes when standing in mud and feeling the cool waters of the ocean and streams, the soft moss and grass that you know are alive. So, to heal,…shouldn’t we allow ourselves to mingle a bit more with all this Divine given Earth energy?
“Our ancestors were grounded 24/7, so generally the more you get grounded the better. That being said, 30 minutes is the minimum amount of time recommended to be grounded each day.
Grass, Sand, Dirt & Soil
Plants & Living Trees (Especially With Wet Bark)
Gravel & Rock (That Is Touching The Earth)
Unsealed Concrete (Or Coated With A Water-based Sealant
Unsealed Brick (Or Coated With A Water-based Sealant)
Bodies Of Water (Like Oceans, Lakes, And Streams)” Earthing.com
Footwear used to be all natural fibers, or animal skins that are conductive and allowed the traveler and worker to stay connected to the Earth’s natural power grid,…energized, and healing through the day. The floors to most homes were compact dirt, woven mats made of fibrous plants, slate, stone, or wood slats placed directly on the dirt; all of which are conductive. Now, most homes are elevated away from earth contact, our water pipes are made of plastic versus conductive copper, floors are covered in synthetic carpets, or laminates… and we wear rubber soled house slippers. Our walls are filled with electrical wiring for all our gadgets and gizmos that we have become dependent upon, living in a virtual box of irritating and inflaming EMF radiation. So, if you are not feeling very comfortable within your home,…this may be the reason.
Earthing, or Grounding, is easy to regain. Remember, grounding is also a used in buildings to manage all this electrical flow surrounding us, as it disrupts anything, and anybody that gets excess charge build-up. You use a surge protector so your computer and TV can function properly and don't become disabled,..however, we don't apply this same common sense about EMF to ourselves. YOUR natural surge protector, is the Earth itself!
Modern homes using electricity are designed so that if there ever is a fault in the electrical system it will direct that excessive current to the ground, or earth, to dissipate that energy. It is a safety valve to prevent fires and potential shocks to you. Another way to think of electricity, is it is like water. If, you have a leak in a pipe, it sprays out everywhere.
This can happen with electrical currents as well,…just visualize lightening, which is the atmosphere ‘grounding’ to the Earth when it has built up excessive charge. With electricity there are several back up and safety systems, such as circuit breakers, along with the grounding system, that is often a grounding rod near the meter box.
We too build up electrical charges and excess static that are unhealthy for our human wiring. Your body sees this as invasive and damaging, which it is, so the initial immune response is to create inflammation. Why? Because this in turn sets off the alarms to bring your normal army of house cleaners to get rid of whatever is threatening your home,…your precious human body.
So, think about all this amazing free energy with healing properties, literally at your finger, and toe, tips. Seems too simple and easy, right? Now, before you poo-poo all these tree-hugging facts,…ask yourself one honest question,…
How do you feel?
Are you constantly tired, achy, brain fogged and feeling overwhelmed? Do you take medications for any number of diseases, or disorders, that are related to inflammation?
A wonderful, and unfortunately downplayed, study published in Nature Medicine magazine in 2019, outlined how acute inflammation, which is generally a short-term episode in life, such as a sprained ankle, progresses into chronic inflammation, that lingers and creates low level damage which the body can’t seem to fully clear out. The results includes diabetes, heart disease and a multitude of arthritis conditions.
This inability to eliminate inflammation occurs if there is interference to the body’s natural responses and methods to heal fully. The body can't dissipate the steady accumulation of toxic substance associated with inflammation (EMF), so it steadily builds up! Our immune and inflammatory responses are supposed to be short term, to jump start the healing process, but then becomes blocked. These obstacles to healing can be caused by numerous physical, mental, or environmental stressors present in our daily lives, including our electronics.
I have already mentioned some of the ways we have isolated our contact with the Earth surface, which is becoming more and more apparent as the missing link to recovery, not the medical treatments that focus on the symptoms. How about eliminating the problem itself? The article in Nature Magazine goes on to note the following:
“Several causes of low-grade systemic chronic inflammation (SCI) and their consequences have been identified. As shown on the left, the most common triggers of SCI (in counter-clockwise direction) include chronic infections, physical inactivity, (visceral) obesity, intestinal dysbiosis, diet, social isolation, psychological stress, disturbed sleep and disrupted circadian rhythm, and exposure to xenobiotics such as air pollutants, hazardous waste products, industrial chemicals and tobacco smoking. As shown on the right, the consequences of SCI (in clockwise direction) include metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, sarcopenia, osteoporosis and immunosenescence.” https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-019-0675-0#Tab1
This is article lists many factors, all within our control to some extent. And how can you quicklyn; cheaply and consistently; break this cycle of distress, dis-ease and disruption... all inflammation related problems?
Grounding and Earthing!
Find some unpolluted piece of ground, sidewalk, grass or natural water site, take off those shoes elevating you above your planet Earth and let your feet make contact... or, simply place your hands on the trunk of a tree, or concrete surface that is embedded in the ground. ( Yes, you can actually promote healing by hugging a tree!)
That’s a starting point, and your body will immediately eliminate inflammation, Really! Then, it has to be repeated regularly to start chipping away at the build-up interfering in your healing.
Important to remember this key point: The inflammation is underlying most of the medical issues plaguing Americans day in and day out. However, grounding is NOT THE CURE! You must also look very honestly, at any and all contributing factors to how your inflammation problem developed and is now being sustained! Take steps to eliminate the causes and prevent re-occurrence from happening each day!
So, now what? My house is off-Earth, my feet are off-Earth, I don’t have regular access to standing in grass or bare earth, and maybe you don’t want to go barefoot. Maybe you think your options are limited because you haven’t walked at all in quite a while.
How can I Return to Earth?
There are multiple Grounding/Earthing products for use inside the home and work place. Most are in the $30 range, which is likely less in cost than most prescriptions you are taking to control pain from inflammation. I have listed several resources below to check out.
What do these devices do? It almost instantly stops all inflammation from occurring in your body by discharging the destructive electron charges you’ve accumulated from internal and external factors.
I also encourage you to purchase a grounding meter, a simple hand-held device that measures if you are actually making the Earth connection.
My husband and I had tons of fun playing with varied surfaces, including checking out the conductivity of all our shoes (all were terrible!) different surfaces in our home (also without conductance) and then making sure the grounding mats we purchased were working.
I was disappointed when my wool blanket I regularly meditate on in the backyard was not conductive because it was too thick, however as soon as one of my hands touched outside the blanket onto the ground… Shazam! I was instantly grounded! That is how beautiful and simple God has made it for us to heal!
Darrin and I both are sleeping better, and have noted improved energy, plus we find it extremely calming to walk outside barefoot to dissipate the static and inflaming charges we have accumulated all day. Then, as we return inside for the evening, we rest our feet and legs on grounding mats while doing computer work, eating, chatting or meditating before bed. We have ordered a grounding sheet to lay on, and I will update in a future blog how that works. Most of the products are fairly low cost, so order one or two to try and find what works best for you. I ordered a kit that had two grounding mats, the needed wiring connectors, and two wrist grounders, which allow you to keep your shoes on if in a public or work environment indoors.
Educate yourself! There are numerous research studies on how regularly grounding your body reverses many inflammatory disorders. This occurs as the body is given a chance to do its natural thing,…heal and repair. That is, of course, if you have minimized the initial causes that perpetuate the chronic inflammation, and you know what I am referring to.
Modern society has promoted numerous ways we can conveniently and easily poison our bodies 24/7.
Fast food, alcohol, all inhaled chemicals and drugs...which does include prescriptions that are supposed to make you feel better, except for all the side effects. However, please DO NOT suddenly stop any prescribed medications as this can promote disastrous withdrawals and injury to your self!! Please! Always work with a willing health care provider, and sometimes is means moving on to another practitioner that is listening to you, not insurance for your health and quality of life! Start by eliminating all genetically modified foods,(GMO), all processed foods that have typically have a 3 year shelf life because there is no ‘life’ left in it to even support bacteria. - See my previous blog, Saute' it... Don't Spray It!, December 18, 2022.
Move away from these dead foods, which are slow acting poisons disguised as colorful, sugary, chemical laden snacks. Your body was not designed to clear out all the toxic effects involved. The return to Earth also imparts remembering the unaltered foods that grow in natural environments is what we were created to thrive on. It gives us power to live and create! This leads to the most important factor of why your life-style choices are to be contemplated,...Toxicity affects not only you, research finds, these health changes it are directly being passed to your children,..Mom and Dad! And not just second-hand smoke that we now acknowledge.
The actual DNA is changed! The obesity and lowered inflammation tolerance that impacts the majority of adults, is not isolated to self-imposed damage,..your children are now predisposed to this through genetic changes that occur within you, male and female. Have you noted
Key point: Predisposed…NOT pre-destined!…Nothing is set in stone, yet our children are being set up to go the same path of inflammation, pain and disease, unless you step in and educate yourself, and thus your children, through example in healthier ways to live. Because, children learn by example.
Show them happier ways to live, without pain, disease and stressors from the environment.
Get Grounded, break the Dis-Ease cycle, and,…Return to Earth!
Best Wishes in Health, and please provide feedback on this Blog, letting me know if you found it helpful!
Karen A. Shupp
Physical Therapist, Biologist, Modern Day Medicine Woman
Resources in Grounding and Earthing ~ Enjoy!
Documentaries to check out and Learn More:
“The Grounded”, by Steve Kroschel
“The Earthing Movie”, by Josh and Rebecca Tickell
Tools for Grounding and Earthing:
*These are the two Original Sites that sell Mats, bedding, footwear/shoes, reading material/education, supplies.
40 Winks - https://40winks.io/category/grounding/
“Best Grounding Mats of 2022”, a nice review! - https://40winks.io/best-grounding-mats-v2/
Education:
The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases J Inflamm Res. 2015; 8: 83–96
Note: The link I have listed below, goes directly to the article noted above, however allows you to also directly search the many references and other research studies related to Earthing and Grounding. 😉 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4378297/
I had heard about grounding from Karen a few weeks ago and bought one of the grounding mats to use because I am unable to walk or get outside. I have had poor sleep and insomnia lasting for days most of my life, but within the first couple of days i had realized i slept most the night with only a half an hour awake. usually I would be awake for hours andbe miserable. I use the mat under my knees at night and have had no knee pain when I wake up. This is also amazing to me. I will continue to use this and am grateful for Karen's advise. Donna D.
Thank you Karen for this article, its spot on! I am going to watch the info on grounding in your resources. May need a foot bath at the door step to keep the house clean!!
Our cat is definitely more grounded than I!
So we are living in a private woodsy acreage, good thing no one will see me living like a Hillbilly!
God bless and keep you
P with T
Excellent piece. It reminds me of how often my mom used to take of her shoes and walk on the grass each day. I tend to forget. Thanks.
Interesting concept. I like it