Earthing aka grounding: a preliminary speculation

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10 citations are retrieved by the Pubmed search

autism reactive oxygen species

I have been reading the book entitled " Earthing... " , which refers to

physiologic, healthful changes subsequent to periodic grounding of the

human body. The book is well-written and presents an increasingly

researched hypothesis regarding intra-body free radicals and their role

in injury-related and chronic inflammation. The book also presents a

virtually painless way to ameliorate electron imbalance. I can't help

but wonder if any healing-oriented clinicians has tried Earthing and

also wonder if the technique would be beneficial in at least some

autistic children, with reduction of reactive oxygen species being among

the goals. The book's inspiration germinated in the mind of a

nonscientist who gradually has found scientists willing to research the

principles involved. A sampling of studies found in Pubmed is included

herein, but I strongly recommend the book. Its rationale and basis are

compelling.

//

*/Earthing.../*

http://www.amazon.com/Earthing-Most-Important-Health-Discovery/dp/1591202833

Chronic disease: are we missing something?

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21438673>

Oschman JL.

J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Apr;17(4):283-5.

pdf http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3151462/?tool=pubmed

excerpt:

" A report in this issue of the /Journal/ by two physicians, Pawel and

Karol Sokal (301--308), relates to all of the chronic issues mentioned

above. These authors point out that our preoccupation with treating

symptoms may have distracted us from noticing that there is a common

denominator to many diseases: Our contemporary civilization may be

depriving us of something our bodies require if we are to be healthy.

Perhaps this missing " something " is directly associated with all of the

costly and uncomfortable chronic diseases mentioned above.

" The Sokals looked for universal regulating factors in nature that are

related to the chronic diseases they see every day in their clinics.

They concluded that interaction of the human body with the electrical

charge of the earth is such a factor, and they present evidence that a

connection to the earth (sometimes referred to as Earthing or grounding)

is essential for normal physiology. Our shoes, with their insulating

soles made of plastic or rubber, and our contemporary homes and

buildings have disconnected us from a vital " nutrient " in the form of

electrons from the earth. The Sokals measured parameters that are used

routinely to diagnose many of the diseases listed above. Specifically,

diabetes, osteoporosis, hyperthyroidism, and related metabolic,

endocrine, and regulatory disorders produce characteristic changes in

blood chemistry. The Sokals studied the effects of connecting the human

body to the earth on various aspects of blood chemistry and urinary

excretion, using well-controlled double-blind study designs. "

Can electrons act as antioxidants? A review and commentary.

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18047442>

Oschman JL.

J Altern Complement Med. 2007 Nov;13(9):955-67

A previous study demonstrated that connecting the human body to the

earth during sleep (earthing) normalizes the daily cortisol rhythm and

improves sleep. A variety of other benefits were reported, including

reductions in pain and inflammation. Subsequent studies have confirmed

these earlier findings and documented virtually immediate physiologic

and clinical effects of grounding or earthing the body. It is well

established, though not widely known, that the surface of the earth

possesses a limitless and continuously renewed supply of free or mobile

electrons as a consequence of a global atmospheric electron circuit.

Wearing shoes with insulating soles and/or sleeping in beds that are

isolated from the electrical ground plane of the earth have disconnected

most people from the earth's electrical rhythms and free electrons. The

most reasonable hypothesis to explain the beneficial effects of earthing

is that a direct earth connection enables both diurnal electrical

rhythms and free electrons to flow from the earth to the body. It is

proposed that the earth's diurnal electrical rhythms set the biological

clocks for hormones that regulate sleep and activity. It is also

suggested that free electrons from the earth neutralize the positively

charged free radicals that are the hallmark of chronic inflammation. A

relationship between cortisol and inflammation was established in the

pioneering work of H. Selye published in the 1950s. Current biomedical

research has led to an inflammation hypothesis that is establishing

chronic inflammation as the culprit behind almost every modern chronic

illness. The research summarized here and in subsequent reports provides

a basis for a number of earthing technologies that restore and maintain

natural electrical contact between the human body and the earth

throughout the day and night in situations where going barefoot on the

earth is impractical. It is proposed that free or mobile electrons from

the earth can resolve chronic inflammation by serving as natural

antioxidants.

The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as

measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and

stress. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15650465>

Ghaly M, Teplitz D.

J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Oct;10(5):767-76.

" Results indicate 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. "

Changes in pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygenation, perfusion

index, skin conductance, and their variability induced during and after

grounding human subjects for 40 minutes.

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20064020>

Chevalier G.

J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Jan;16(1):81-7.

" Previous studies have shown that grounding produces quantifiable

physiologic changes. This study was set up to reproduce and expand

earlier electrophysiologic and physiologic parameters measured

immediately after grounding with improved methodology and

state-of-the-art equipment. "

Pilot study on the effect of grounding on delayed-onset muscle soreness.

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20192911>

Brown D, Chevalier G, Hill M.

J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Mar;16(3):265-73.

pdf http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3116537/?tool=pubmed

" The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether there are

markers that can be used to study the effects of grounding on

delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS).... Parameters that differed by

these criteria included white blood cell counts, bilirubin, creatine

kinase, phosphocreatine/inorganic phosphate ratios,

glycerolphosphorylcholine, phosphorylcholine, the visual analogue pain

scale, and pressure measurements on the right gastrocnemius.... In a

pilot study, grounding the body to the earth alters measures of immune

system activity and pain. Since this is the first intervention that

appears to speed recovery from DOMS, the pilot provides a basis for a

larger study. "

Earthing the human body influences physiologic processes.

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21469913>

Sokal K, Sokal P.

J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Apr;17(4):301-8.

pdf http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3154031/?tool=pubmed

" This study was designed to answer the question: Does the contact of the

human organism with the Earth via a copper conductor affect physiologic

processes? Subjects and experiments: Five (5) experiments are presented:

experiment 1-effect of earthing on calcium-phosphate homeostasis and

serum concentrations of iron (N = 84 participants); experiment 2-effect

of earthing on serum concentrations of electrolytes (N = 28); experiment

3-effect of earthing on thyroid function (N = 12); experiment 4-effect

of earthing on glucose concentration (N = 12); experiment 5-effect of

earthing on immune response to vaccine (N = 32). Subjects were divided

into two groups. One (1) group of people was earthed, while the second

group remained without contact with the Earth. Blood and urine samples

were examined.... Earthing of an electrically insulated human organism

during night rest causes lowering of serum concentrations of iron,

ionized calcium, inorganic phosphorus, and reduction of renal excretion

of calcium and phosphorus. Earthing during night rest decreases free

tri-iodothyronine and increases free thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating

hormone. The continuous earthing of the human body decreases blood

glucose in patients with diabetes. Earthing decreases sodium, potassium,

magnesium, iron, total protein, and albumin concentrations while the

levels of transferrin, ferritin, and globulins ?1, ?2, ?, and ?

increase. These results are statistically significant.... Earthing the

human body influences human physiologic processes. This influence is

observed during night relaxation and during physical activity. Effect of

the earthing on calcium-phosphate homeostasis is the opposite of that

which occurs in states of weightlessness. It also increases the activity

of catabolic processes. It may be the primary factor regulating

endocrine and nervous systems. "

The neuromodulative role of earthing.

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21856083>

Sokal P, Sokal K.

Med Hypotheses. 2011 Nov;77(5):824-6.

Neuromodulation is a process of inhibition, stimulation, modification

and regulation or therapeutic alteration of activity, electrically and

chemically in the peripheral, central or autonomic nervous systems.

Direct electric current or electric field alternates the function of

nervous system. Coupling the human organism with the Earth directly or

via a wire conductor changes the electric potential not only on the

surface of the body but also inside it, changing the potential of

electric environment of the human organism. Earthing refers to a direct

contact with the Earth with bare feet or contact with the Earth with the

use of conductive wire attached to the human body during sleeping, or

daily activities. During earthing this electric potential equals to

electric potential of the Earth and the value of it depends on location,

time, atmospheric conditions, moisture of the surface of the Earth. The

earthing which changes the density of negative charge in electric

environment of the human body influences physiological processes. Our

medical hypothesis states that contact with the Earth (earthing)

directly or via a conductive wire plays role as a neuromodulative

factor, probably primary, which enables the nervous system to be better

adapted to the demands of organism and ambient environment. It helps to

restore natural, electrical status of the electrical environment of the

organism and thus the nervous system. Earthing generates immediate

changes in electroencephalography (EEG), surface electromyography

(SEMG), and somato-sensory evoked potentials (SSEPs). We hypothesize

that earthing through its complex action on bioelectrical environment of

human organism and alternations in electrolyte concentrations regulates

correct functioning of the nervous system. Earthing significantly

influences on the electrical activity of the brain.