Earthing and the benefits to our skin
They say life is a rollercoaster. Especially with stressful moments that cause emotions to go up and down. These last few weeks especially for myself have been particularly hard. My Grandad passed away, he was an amazing man and being his first Grandchild we shared the same birthday, which I felt was a special bond between us. Many people have experienced loss and will understand when I say time does not stand still while you try to process this loss. For me, my kids still need taking to school each day, taking to afterschool clubs, the house needs cleaning, dinner needs to be made, I need to continue to work each day while also remaining conscious of other people’s emotions within the situation especially my Grandma, Dad and Mum. It all seems to pile up and the stress keeps building. Physically, feeling more tired and drained.
I was visiting my relatives and a book caught my eye on their coffee table …. ‘ I wish my Doctor had told me this’ by Kate Chaytor-Norris. I started to read a few pages and being so engulfed, my relative said I could take it. It’s an interesting read and is focused on the fact there is more to our healing than medication.
One of the points in the book that resonated with me was earthing or grounding. I had always enjoyed exploring nature and had a huge appreciation for the wonders that surround us, but feel over the last years with modern technology, two kids, busy work life etc I have lost touch with this element of life. So, very simply, and as the book has suggested I have made a conscious effect to be more present and take moments to connect with the world. I have spent less time on my phone and taken time to do a walk and look around, feel textures of the earth – leaves, bark, soil and breathe in the air. The more and more I have been reading of the benefits of earthing, the more I realise how important this is to our physical and mental wellbeing. In addition, the benefits this also has on our body’s inflammation and our skin health.
So, what is Earthing or Grounding?
Grounding, also called earthing, is a therapeutic technique that involves doing activities that “ground” or electrically reconnect you to the earth.
This practice relies on earthing science and grounding physics to explain how electrical charges from the earth can have positive effects on your body.*1
Such activities as walking bare foot on soil, laying on the grass or beach, Submersing in water (only where is safe do so) or using things such as grounding mats.
Where’s the evidence and science to back this up?
Most of the studies on grounding are small and rely somewhat on subjective measures, such as self-reported feelings, mood, or even self-administered treatment. There have been some studies that rely on blood markers that have shown an improvement in inflammation markers, but again these studies are small.
While studies are small, they do indicate improvement and even if subjective improvement surely this is a positive step.
There was no reports I saw of any negative impact or side effects to this approach. So, while the research is limited I think this will be a personal approach as to whether you feel this will benefit YOU and only you can make that decision.
Personally, I do not believe this is the answer to everything, but I do see benefit in connecting with the world, not the modern world of technology and fast pace and stress, the world itself – the earth, the flowers and plants, the animals, the insects and beauty that surrounds us.
“If future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve more than just the miracles of technology. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created, not just as it looked when we got through with it.”
Lyndon B. Johnson, Former President of the United States of America
What’s the theory behind Earthing?
The act is simple, letting your skin be in direct contact with the grass or dirt. This body-earth connection is meant to be powerful because the makeup of your body is primarily water and minerals. This makes it an incredible conductor of electricity. Your body makes energy all the time and has the ability to receive it from the earth to encourage balance and tranquillity.
Soils are composed of a mixture of sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Both the clay and organic matter particles have a net negative charge. Thus, these negatively-charged soil particles will attract and hold positively-charged particles. When your body comes into contact with the ground, it acts as a sponge and soaks up negatively-charged electrons. According to a study in the Journal of Environmental Public Health, the act of earthing can “neutralize positively charged free radicals.” The same study revealed that earthing resulted in significant changes in minerals in the blood, including essential electrolytes such as calcium, potassium, sodium, and magnesium.
In 2014, an earthing study in the Online Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications reported that earthing greatly improves blood flow in facial skin by documenting skin changes in thermal images. The study concluded that earthing may “improve blood circulation in the torso and face, facial tissue repair, skin health and vitality and optimize facial appearance.”
We also know that our mental and physical health have an impact on our skin. Inflammation on the body can increase skin concerns and impact our rate of ageing, so things that help reduce our inflammation levels help our skin health too.
*1 –What Is Grounding and Can It Help Improve Your Health? (healthline.com)