I think we can all agree that in a world of digital EVERYTHING, it’s pretty easy to get disconnected from nature. We move to big cities, depend on our phones for pretty much everything in our daily lives and spend a lot of our time on mainstream entertainment. We have forgotten how important it is to ground ourselves every day to the Earth in order achieve and maintain optimal health.

As an Ayurvedic, Sports and Holistic Nutritionist and Idiot’s Guide to Ayurveda Author, health is of upmost importance to me  So when I first heard about the Grounded Wellbeing Sleep Mat from the Jiyo team (Deepak Chopra‘s amazing social network where I host an Intro to Ayurveda show!) I wasn’t sure it’d do anything for me since I’m already a healthy person, but I decided to give it a try anyway.

After the first night of using it, I immediately noticed that my lower back pain, something I’ve been dealing with for the last couple of years, had significantly reduced. This was an eye-opener for me because it was then that I realized that perhaps this pain was actually due to the lack of grounding in my body.

How It Works

Grounding yourself connects you electromagnetic frequencies of Earth to receive its healing energies. Historically, we walked barefoot on the soil and were constantly receiving the negative ions the Earth provides us with to balance out the positive ions in the atmosphere. However, research shows that since the invention of rubber soles, our health has deteriorated, which may be attributed to not receiving the balancing negative ions Earth naturally provides us with.

Benefits of Earthing & Grounding

According to emerging research, earthing may be beneficial in:

  • Reducing inflammation
  • Reducing chronic pain
  • Improving Sleep (I totally experienced this!)
  • Increasing Energy
  • Lowering stress and promoting calmness by reducing stress hormones.
  • Normalizing biological rhythms including circadian rhythm
  • Normalizing blood pressure and blood flow
  • Relieving muscle tension and headache (I noticed this)
  • Improving menstrual and female hormone symptoms
  • Speeds healing- used in some places to prevent bed sores
  • Reducing jet lag
  • Protecting the body from effects of EMFs
  • Shortening recovery time from injury or athletic activity
  • Reducing  snoring
  • Helping  support adrenal health

 

For a person like me that lives on the 16th floor of an apartment building with over 40 Wi-Fi connections channeling through me day-in and day-out, you really notice how much Electromagnetic Frequencies (EMF) actually affect your health. EMF is electromagnetic radiation that runs through your body because of wifi, laptops, cell phone reception, etc. It can affect your energy levels, clarity of thoughts and in worst cases lead to long-term illness without manifesting any symptoms for years. Crazy right? Grounding helps you reverse those frequencies so you can think clearer, feel more energetic and balanced in your body.

The Mat Brings Earth To You

So you may be thinking “Yes I know spending time by the Earth is so good for me, but how can I do so when I’m working in an office all day and by the time I get home I have tons of chores to attend to?”

That’s exactly why the grounded sleep mat was invented. It recharges your system with negative ions, just like the Earth, so you can experience the benefits of grounding in your sleep. I don’t think it can get any easier than that! Take it from me, I live in the middle of the city and it’s rare for me to be able to walk on the earth barefoot (without stepping on dog poop or a rat) so this brings the earthing to me. Yes!

Research and Evidence

Skeptics have claimed there isn’t any scientific evidence to back up this practice- however, there is anecdotal evidence that proves otherwise.

In one study, 60 people with chronic pain and sleep trouble were examined. Half of the participants slept on a grounded sheet to simulate earthing. The other half slept on a placebo sheet.

The participants who slept grounded reported reduction in chronic pain, respiratory problems, arthritis, apnea and hypertension while the control group did not.

Another study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed that the grounding that earthing reduced blood viscosity, which decreased risks of  cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide.

Another study published in Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine indicated that “grounding the human body to earth (“earthing”) during sleep reduces
night-time levels of cortisol and resynchronizes cortisol hormone secretion more in alignment with the natural 24-hour circadian rhythm profile. Changes were most apparent in females. Furthermore, subjective reporting indicates that grounding the human body to earth during sleep improves sleep and reduces pain and stress.”

An Ayurvedic Perspective

In Ayurveda, Kapha is Earth energy. Just like the Earth, it is giving, calming and comforting. I like to call Kapha “grandmother” energy because it feels exactly like what- a big, warm hug at the end of your day, tuning you back in with your roots.

Most of us are disconnected from Kapha, living totally Vata (air) and Pitta (fire) lives. We multitask, which increases Vata and leaves us feeling anxious. We do things in a rush, which increases Pitta and leaves us feeling stressed. What we need is more Kapha: rooting, grounding, Earthing.

All in all, this grounding bed mat has worked wonders for me in the short time that I’ve had it. I have deeper sleep, which in turns leaves me feeling renewed in the morning, it’s cured my back pain and has me more creative than ever. When you connect yourself to the Earth you allow way for your divine talents and gifts to manifest. All this leads to you being your highest self, which you know I’m all about (check out my Highest Self Podcast here).