Earthing Products – Are They Useful for Inflammation?

Earthing products include mats, shoes, sheets, throws and disposable adhesive patches. Earthing as a strategy and a treatment modality gives you ways to re-establish contact with the earth.  This can reduce inflammation, improve sleep, and help relieve chronic aches and pains. People with electromagnetic sensitivities may also benefit.

The main idea in earthing is that modern people spend most of their time out of contact with the actual ground (the earth). This lack of direct contact with the earth leads to a wide range of health problems, including many caused by increased inflammation in the body. The goal of earthing is simply to restore your body’s natural interaction with the earth and the beneficial environmental effects that this contact offers.

The easiest way to get in touch with the earth is to take off your shoes and socks and spend time with your feet in contact with the ground every day. For people who cannot do this type of activity enough, there are a number of options for improving your contact with the earth indoors.

What may surprise you is that there is some scientific research to back up these types of claims. For instance, a 2013 study demonstrated that the red blood cell stickiness that can contribute to abnormal clotting, heart attacks, and strokes was reduced in people who wore conductive patches grounded to the earth for a 2 hour period. Objective measurements of the electrical properties on the surface of the red blood cells (the ones that carry oxygen to your cells) showed that the grounding improved their ability to avoid clumping.

An earlier research study demonstrated that people with diabetes who did earthing had decreased blood glucose levels. Earthing had the opposite effect on calcium and phosphate balance in the blood to what astronauts experience during weightlessness in space. This improved chemistry balance in the body is better for maintaining healthy bones. Finally, this study found evidence for modulation of endocrine hormones and nervous system function, including thyroid hormone levels. Many people with inflammation from autoimmune thyroiditis may benefit from this approach.

Is the evidence definitive? Not yet. But it is worth a close look, especially for people who report experiencing sensitivities to multiple drugs, chemicals, and/or foods — and electromagnetic energy.  Earthing is a drug-free alternative treatment that may be helpful as part of a total program of care. For people who want a good review, check out Chevalier et al at J Environ Public Helath 2012; 2012:291541 (open access free journal article).

If you have to be indoors a lot and still want to benefit from earthing, learn about the several different ways in which you can get yourself grounded with specific easy to use earthing products. Here are some options below: