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After years of hearing over and over again that a trip to Hawaii was often the catalyst for improving difficult to treat medical conditions, realized there was something special about going on vacation there…
And it had less to do with the Aloha “low stress” vibe ever present in those beautiful islands and more to do with reconnecting to nature.
In addition to escaping into nature, if you add on the Grounding component, which is really connecting to earth energy and Schumann Frequency (or resonance), this is a phenomenal way to help bring the body and mind back into a state of balance.
And balance is what we need most in our busy, ungrounded, and technologically driven lives these days.
Grounding is a “treatment” that anyone can do every single day to benefit their health, and it’s free! Then why don’t we do this more often? Well, as with anything in life, when we are disconnected from Source energy as many of us have become, and fixated on the next dopamine rush through a text message, a “liked” post, or an email, it can be hard to return back to that which truly fuels our body and mind.
For more information on what my brother Step Sinatra calls Intermittent Phone Fasting, check out his article here.
I find that dedicating a short period of time (at least three days out of the week) to leave technology behind and delve into nature recharges my batteries, even more so when I also Ground my feet on the earth.
If we look at the scientific studies, Grounding has been shown to reduce inflammation and pain, regulate cortisol levels, decrease red blood cell clumping (i.e. thin the blood), improve sleep, and even neutralize free radicals.
Plus, some studies have shown in improvement in heart rate variability – a marker of health of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
According to Gaeton Chevalier, a Ph.D in engineering physics, and leading author on many Grounding research articles, Earthing increases the electrical charge of red blood cells (i.e. zeta potential).
This effect thus leads to a corresponding decrease in blood viscosity, which can actually reduce cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular events.
Think about that finding for a moment – something as simple as placing our feet on the earth can literally change the viscosity of our blood thus lowering cardiovascular risk.
Now, what do you do if you cannot escape into Nature on a regular basis and “ground out?”
If getting outside to regularly ground oneself is not available as in wintertime or for those living in apartment buildings, there are so many alternative ways to practice grounding including grounding sheets, pads, body wearables, and even footwear. These devices all help the body connect to the beneficial effects of the Earth’s energy, and most studies on Grounding or Earthing use these types of devices.
In fact, where I see patients at our clinic in Northern California, we have a Grounded reclinable chair where our patients can relax and “Ground Out” while getting a vitamin C infusion.
To bring this whole concept to another level, when I practiced acupuncture I would Ground patients by connecting Grounding cords from the needles to a Grounding pad. I had patients tell me in all the years they received acupuncture they never felt so relaxed and pain free after a Grounded acupuncture treatment. I encourage you to think outside the box with Grounding methods, and try new techniques when possible.
As a doctor, my suggestion is to make Grounding a routine like drinking water, so that every opportunity you have to harmonize your body with nature, you take advantage of it.
Remember, the key here is to disconnect from things in your life that don’t serve you, and connect again with Source energy to fuel your body and mind and bring balance back into your life.
-Dr. Drew Sinatra, N.D.
Dr. Drew Sinatra is a board certified and California licensed Naturopathic Doctor, and licensed acupuncturist in Washington State. You can learn more about Dr. Sinatra’s practice at the CLEAR Center of Health in Mill Valley, California at www.drdrewsinatra.com or www.clearcenterofhealth.com. You can also listen to the podcast, BeHealthistic, co-hosted with his father Dr. Stephen Sinatra where they discuss cutting edge information on all things integrative and natural health.
References:
Oschman JL, Chevalier G, Brown R. The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. J Inflamm Res. 2015;8:83-96. Published 2015 Mar 24. doi:10.2147/JIR.S69656.
Chevalier G, Sinatra ST, Oschman JL, Sokal K, Sokal P. Earthing: health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth's surface electrons. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:291541. doi:10.1155/2012/291541
Chevalier G, Sinatra ST, Oschman JL, Delany RM. Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity-a major factor in cardiovascular disease. J Altern Complement Med. 2013;19(2):102-110. doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0820
Gaétan Chevalier, PhD; Stephen T. Sinatra, MD, FACC, FACN, CNS Emotional Stress, Heart Rate Variability, Grounding, and Improved Autonomic Tone: Clinical Applications Integrative Medicine • Vol. 10, No. 3 • Jun/Jul 2011