Grounding, also known as "earthing" is a technique frequently used in psychology and wellness practices to help individuals reconnect with the present moment, offering a sense of security and calm. It’s especially useful for managing stress, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed.
There are several grounding techniques, each engaging different methods to redirect focus and foster a calm state.
Physical grounding engages the senses to connect with the physical environment, calming the mind quickly. Examples include feeling the ground beneath your feet, touching a textured object, or running cool water over your hands.
Mental grounding involves mental exercises that help shift focus away from distressing thoughts and back to the present, such as naming five things you can see, counting backward from 100 by sevens, or repeating a comforting phrase.
Sensory grounding, or "earthing," emphasizes physical contact with natural elements, such as grass, soil, or water, to promote relaxation and stress reduction. Walking barefoot on grass or sand is a common example.
These grounding techniques provide numerous benefits, from decreasing inflammation, to reducing anxiety, to helping to manage intrusive thoughts. Grounding can help create an overall sense of calmness. Widely used in therapeutic settings, particularly for trauma, PTSD, and anxiety, grounding is a practical tool for anyone looking for immediate ways to reduce stress and stay present.
Several studies have investigated the potential effects of grounding (or earthing) on inflammation, stress, and general health. Although this field of research is still developing, early studies published in peer-reviewed journals suggest that grounding may offer physiological benefits, including reduced inflammation, though larger-scale research is needed for broader acceptance.
One significant study, The Biophysical Basis of Grounding the Human Body to Earth (2012), published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health, explored how grounding affects the body. The researchers found that grounding practices were associated with reductions in pain, lower cortisol levels, and improvements in inflammation markers, sleep quality, and blood viscosity, which affects circulation. This study is accessible on PubMed Central.
Another study, Earthing (Grounding) the Human Body Reduces Blood Viscosity—a Major Factor in Cardiovascular Disease (2013), published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, examined grounding’s potential to reduce blood viscosity. Lower blood viscosity is beneficial for circulation and cardiovascular health and may reduce inflammation. This study can also be found on PubMed.
In 2019, a pilot study titled Reduced Blood Viscosity and Improved Red Blood Cell Dynamics Following Short-Term Grounding explored grounding’s effect on red blood cell dynamics and blood viscosity—both indicators of inflammation. Researchers reported that grounding practices improved red blood cell aggregation and lowered blood viscosity. This study is available through the National Institutes of Health.
Additionally, a 2015 review article, The Effects of Grounding (Earthing) on Inflammation, the Immune Response, Wound Healing, and Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases, summarized research on grounding and inflammation, proposing that grounding might reduce inflammation through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This article can also be found through the NIH.
For those interested in exploring these studies, they are available on resources like PubMed Central (PMC), a free digital archive from the National Institutes of Health, as well as university library databases. Additionally, some researchers share their work on ResearchGate, a platform dedicated to scientific research. These resources provide access to in-depth information on grounding and its potential impact on inflammation and overall health.
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