radicals, bringing the body back to ho- meostasis. It is that state of equilibrium that allows the body to heal.” Today’s lifestyles have nearly elimi-
nated that natural healing effect, says James Oschman, director of the Nature’s Own Research Association, in Dover, New Hampshire. “When I was a kid, my shoes came off in the spring and didn’t come back on until fall,” Oschman recalls. Today, almost everybody wears plastic-soled shoes, rides in vehicles and hangs out indoors on carpet and wood or tiled floors, completely blocking these free electrons, which Oschman main- tains are the most effective and efficient antioxidants available. He states, “We’ve experienced a total disconnect.” His claim is supported by small studies that are beginning to accumu- late, indicating the potential benefits of grounding. Here is a sampling of the findings, from The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Helped the body’s natural healing
response. Researchers compared physi- ological changes during a two-hour grounding session of 14 men and 14 women and then a two-hour sham ses-
sion. Changes in respiration and heart rates plus blood oxygenation within 20 minutes of grounding appeared to aid the healing process, reports lead author Gaetan Chevalier, Ph.D., director of the Earthing Institute. He notes that as in previous studies, subjects with acute inflammation experienced less swelling, redness, heat and pain. Improved sleep and reduced pain
and stress. Researchers grounded 12 patients looking for these benefits while they slept. Comparing their cortisol lev- els (a stress-related hormone) prior to the eight-week study with results from peri- odic retesting and follow-up interviews, they found that grounding reduced nighttime levels of cortisol and better aligned its secretion with the body’s natural 24-hour circadian rhythm, which is important for sleep. Subjects reported improvements in all three areas. Decreased muscle pain. Research- ers looked at blood counts and chemis- try in eight active exercisers, following routines that assured muscle soreness. Four subjects treated with grounding techniques showed a boosted immune response and reported reduced pain.
Oschman says that some profes- sional athletes swear by the practice, including members of four U.S. Tour de France teams (between 2003 and 2007) that were grounded nightly dur- ing the competitions. Gallagher, who estimates that 70
percent of his patients consciously practice grounding, sees improvement in conditions including heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, attention deficit disorder, allergies, asthma, menopausal symptoms, sleep apnea and jet lag. Judged safe for all ages, blood-thinners present the only known complication, so heart patients should consult their doctors. “This is like the relationship of vitamin D from sunlight,” concludes Gallagher. “We are receiving something that is integral to our design, part of our nature. Earthing isn’t an intellectual concept; it’s a necessity of life.”
Freelance journalist Debra Melani writes about health, medicine and fit- ness from Lyons, CO. Connect at Debra
Melani.com or
DMelani@msn.com.
natural awakenings
August 2012
15
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