From forest bathing to farmcationing, the latest wellness trends are all about re-connecting with Mother Nature and the newest incarnation follows suit.
‘Earthing’ is a new wellness trend that not only connects us to nature, but is also scientifically-proven to help insomnia, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases and anxiety – and it’s so easy to master.
Essentially, earthing is connecting our bare skin directly to the earth’s surface – and the benefits are said to be quite literally life-changing.
What is Earthing?
Earthing is creating a connection between our bare skin and the earth; basically, the premise is absorbing charge in electrical products. Experts do recommend that the way to get the best results from this wellness practice is to connect to mother nature using our bare feet so literally standing out on fresh earth sans socks and shoes.
As humans, we are conductors and our bodies hold electrical charge, too, so earthing helps our bodies neutralise the electrical currents that are zooming around us.
As Earthing.com states: “Just as the sun gives us warmth and vitamin D, the Earth underfoot gives us food and water, a surface to walk, sit, stand, play, and build on, and something you never, ever thought about—an eternal, natural, and gentle energy.”
So how do you do it? The experts at Barefoot Healing share a few simple tips:
- Go barefoot outside for at least half-hour and see what a difference it makes on your pain or stress level.
- Sit, stand, lay or walk on grass, sand, dirt, or plain concrete. These are all conductive surfaces from which your body can draw the Earth’s energy. Wood, carpet, asphalt, sealed or painted concrete and vinyl won’t work and will block the flow of electrons as they are not conductive surfaces.
- Experience for yourself the healing energy of the Earth at work next time you are stressed, in pain or unwell.
Its life-changing impacts
As a wellness trend, it seems like earthing is ticking all the boxes for modern life. As humans, we are constantly standing on carpets and concrete flooring (most regularly wearing shoes), so our bodies are continually building electrical charge. Earthing could even provide a healthy release to our screen time obsessions, as we step away from manmade electrical currents and step into the earth-based electrical system.
The experts at Barefoot Healing explain: “To put it briefly, when your bare feet or skin comes in contact with the earth, free electrons are taken up into the body. These electrons could be referred to as nature’s biggest antioxidants and help neutralise damaging excess free radicals that can lead to inflammation and disease in the body. The Earth is a conductor or free electrons and so are all living things on the planet, including us. The body is composed of mostly of water and minerals which in combination are excellent conductors of electrons from the Earth providing there is direct skin contact or some other conductive channel for them to flow through.”
Scientists are reporting various results of the wellness ritual, including soothing our nervous systems, reductions in blood viscosity and reducing inflammation; given that inflammation is now linked scientifically to diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s, we are seriously intrigued.
Many ‘first time eathers’ report that they immediately saw the benefits, reporting a better night’s sleep, better skin due to increase in blood flow, reduced heart rate and blood pressure, as well as a more positive mental state.
Hey, even Gwyneth Paltrow has preached its benefits and if it’s good enough for Gwynnie….
