July 26, 2018

The Healing Diaries: Earthing

Hi Everyone!

Have you noticed how amazing you feel after swimming in the sea? Or after spending a couple of hours gardening or walking barefoot?

This is due to a genuine phenomenon called Earthing.

 

What is Earthing?

Earthing, also known as grounding, is a simple yet powerful practice of physically connecting your body to the Earth’s natural energy. When you walk barefoot on natural surfaces such as grass, sand, soil, or stone, you absorb the Earth’s subtle electrical charge, a natural, balancing energy that supports your body’s systems.

The Earth carries a gentle, continuous flow of free electrons. When our skin comes into direct contact, these electrons interact with our bodies, helping neutralise excess positive charge and reduce internal inflammation. Scientific research suggests that grounding may lower stress levels, improve sleep, stabilise cortisol, enhance circulation, and support recovery from pain and fatigue.

Modern life often keeps us disconnected, insulated by shoes, concrete, and technology. Earthing helps reconnect you to nature’s electromagnetic field, restoring balance on a physical and energetic level.

Even a few minutes a day spent barefoot outdoors can help you feel calmer, more centred, and more alive.

Incorporating grounding practices alongside the Eat Burn Sleep anti-inflammatory lifestyle enhances overall well-being, supporting not just the body but also the mind and nervous system.

Reconnect, recharge, and let nature rebalance you.

 

What are the Benefits of Earthing?

The benefits of Earthing are plenty:

  • inflammation-reducing
  • improving sleep
  • immune boosting
  • wound healing
  • reducing pain and stress
  • increasing blood flow
  • general good health and vitality.

 

People report balanced moods and feeling younger and healthier when they have earth connections – not just because of the wonders of being outside and away from technology.

Earthing was an everyday reality in the past when people used animal skins as footwear and to sleep on.

With our lifestyles now and our elevated beds and insulated footwear, we are separated from the skin/earth connection. 

 

Tapping into the Memories of the Beach

I started looking into earthing nine years ago, a couple of years after being diagnosed with an auto-immune disease. I was trying different diets, testing other things to get better, as I remembered vividly the fantastic feelings I felt every day we spent at the beach as a child in Morocco.

We would spend our summers barefoot, running around, swimming in the sea, getting sun on our skin, and sleeping like logs.

 

Why Does the Beach Make Us Feel so Good?

This feeling of wellness likely comes from a mix of factors, such as movement, sunlight for vitamin D, magnesium from seawater supporting sleep, earthing, fresh air, and happiness. Being outdoors restores balance to both body and mind; around 80% of children’s neurotransmitters and 60% of adults’ are produced in the gut, showing how closely our mood and health are connected. When you’re grounded, you can almost feel the Earth recharging your electromagnetic field. Flying has the opposite effect, so a warm bath afterward is a perfect way to reset your system and bring your body back into harmony.

 

Kick off your Shoes to Connect to the Earth

Whenever I am in the countryside or by the sea, I take off my shoes and get my kids to take them off.

Even a walk in the park helps invigorate the mind, body, and soul. Go barefoot when you can.

As I said, this is all we did at the beginning of time. We walked everywhere barefoot and slept on the ground. Because we live so far away from the ground, it is essential to reconnect when possible.

There’s a growing body of research about how losing contact with the earth could contribute to illnesses and imbalances in the body due to missing out on electron transportation.

Electrons from the Earth may be the best antioxidants, with zero adverse effects. This is because our bodies evolved to use them over eons of skin/earth connection.

Disconnection from the Earth may be an overlooked contribution to physical dysfunction. A lack of these earth antioxidants could contribute to chronic fatigue and weakened immune systems. 

It certainly lifts moods!

 

Nature is a Wonderful Healer

I try to swim in the sea as much as possible (except when it is too cold!) and feel the positive effects on my system.

I advise everyone to practice earthing whenever they get a chance, too. Why deprive ourselves of the fantastic effects of what a barefoot walk on the grass or beach will do?

There is no downside to a good plunge in the magnesium-rich sea, as it makes us feel good immediately!

The psychological and physical benefits of relaxing in the park or on the beach are incredible.

I realize that this all depends on your current climate, but if it is accessible, I urge you to partake in earthing regularly at your earliest opportunity.

Have a truly wonderful day!

Yalda Alaoui

Author

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