Earthing, or grounding, is the process of bringing the earth's free electrons into the human body to improve chronic pain, inflammation, sleep, circulation, emotional stress, wound healing and more.
Though it may sound too good to be true, grounding the human body is a simple and effective way to improve your health.
In this blog, we will explore the powerful health benefits of earthing therapy, if there are any negative side effects of earthing, and how you can incorporate earthing into your infrared sauna routine for even greater sauna benefits!
What are the Health Benefits of Earthing Therapy or Grounding?
Grounding the human body has been shown to have a wide range of health benefits. The list of potential benefits of grounding therapy is:
- Regulating the autonomic nervous system
- Wound healing
- Pain relief and improved blood pressure
- Support cardiovascular health
- Prevent delayed onset muscle soreness
As you can see the list of benefits are long and profound and are very similar to infrared sauna health benefits. Let's take a closer look at some of these benefits in more detail:
1. Emotional Grounding: Mental Health Treatment?
Several studies found that earthing therapy can help to reduce physical and emotional stress, improve sleep quality, and promote general well-being.
Neuromodulation is a process of modifying or altering activity in the nervous system, either electrically or chemically. Grounding techniques cause neuromodulation to restore the natural electrical environment of the body.
Emotional stress alters our nervous system and is measured by electroencephalography (EEG), surface electromyography (SEMG), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) - brain tests. Grounding human subjects has been shown to reverse these alterations from stress and provide a positive, calming effect on the nervous system.
Consequently, earthing therapy may offer a simple and effective way to reduce stress and improve mental health by calming the autonomic nervous system.
Another treatment that has been proven to be effective at improving the symptoms of depression and anxiety is infrared saunas. Infrared sauna mental health benefits are well documented, and are an easy, enjoyable, and simple way to improve your mental health without any adverse side effects.
2. Can Grounding Therapy Speed up Wound Healing?
Nature’s Own Research Association conducted a study in 2015 that looked at the efficacy of grounding mats for healing wounds. They hypothesised that Earthing creates antioxidant effects, slowing reactive oxygenated species (ROS) from causing collateral damage to healing tissue and reducing inflammation.
The body's immune response to wounds is the release of white blood cells (WBCs). An increase in white blood cell counts also increases ROS as a part of their defence mechanism for healing, but too much ROS prevents new white blood cells from reaching the needed area. By slowing the release of ROS from WBCs, more WBC can work to fight off infection.
Another application that has been proven to improve wound healing is near-infrared light. Near-infrared wavelengths have been shown to stimulate the mitochondria in our cells, effectively helping them to work at the optimal output. This is slightly stimulated from the benefits of full-spectrum infrared saunas because they contain 1/3 near-infrared wavelengths.
More notably this is shown in the health benefits of Red Light Therapy, in that the near-infrared wavelength and the red light wavelength combined create photobiomodulation in the body, and subsequently a much greater improvement in wound healing.
3. Grounding Effects on Cardiovascular Disease
Grounding has also been shown to reduce blood viscosity. Blood viscosity is the aggregation of red blood cells or red blood cell fluidity. By reducing blood viscosity you lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. By also reducing stress and improving mood and relaxation, earthing can dramatically impact ones risk of cardiovascular disease.
This is similar to infrared sauna benefits on the heart, and when combined, both therapies can make a long-lasting lifestyle change that can see you living out to your later life stages!
4. Grounding Therapy for Chronic Pain and Blood Pressure
A major factor of chronic illness is chronic inflammation. Earthing results in better blood flow, which helps to reduce chronic pain and chronic stiffness.
A recent pilot study demonstrated that grounding people with hypertension improves blood pressure. In patients with moderate to severe hypertension, the reduction in pharmaceutical support has also been realised when grounding the patient.
In addition to lowering blood pressure, many patients commented that arrhythmia awareness was attenuated as well. As a result, earthing may be one of the easiest and most effective ways to lower blood pressure and improve chronic health conditions, similar to infrared sauna benefits on chronic pain, and saunas benefits on blood pressure.
5. Grounding for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
Delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS, is a type of muscle pain that can occur after exercise. It is often accompanied by stiffness and inflammation and can last for several days. While there is no cure for DOMS, there are ways to manage the pain and help the muscles recover.
One promising new approach is grounding or earthing. In a pilot study, grounding the body to the earth altered 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.
Again, this is very similar to infrared saunas benefit for muscle soreness, especially after a workout or the gym. This is due to the added benefits of vessel dilation and an increased heart rate, which both provides oxygen and nutrients to the muscles for repair, and also removes any waste products such as lactic acid and other causes of inflammation, from the muscles and joint areas.
Combining Earthing Therapy and Infrared Sauna Therapy
We strongly believe that a combination of different therapies can be beneficial for improving overall well-being. One particular combination we recommend is the use of both Earthing Therapy and Infrared Sauna Therapy.
Exposing your skin directly to the ground has been scientifically proven to have many health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, improving sleep, and increasing energy levels.
Similarly, an infrared sauna is also beneficial by aiding detoxification, improving circulation, inducing relaxation, and relieving pain.
If these two methods are combined, a holistic approach can provide amazing results. By following this step-by-step guide, you can significantly enhance your physical and mental wellness.
Step 1: Creating a Sauna Earthing Routine
It is important to have a schedule that includes both therapies at the right frequency so you can get the most benefit from them. Here is a suggested weekly plan:
- Earthing Therapy: Aim for at least 30 minutes of direct contact with the Earth every day. This can be done by walking barefoot on grass, sand, or soil.
- Infrared Sauna Therapy: Start with 2-3 sessions per week, gradually increasing to 4-6 sessions as your body adapts. Each session should last 20-45 minutes.
Step 2: Infrared Sauna Session Guidelines
When using an infrared sauna, try starting with the below sauna practice:
- Temperature: How hot should your sauna be? Begin at a lower temperature (38-49°C) and gradually increase it over time. The optimal temperature range for most people is 49-60°C.
- Hydration: Drink plenty of water before, during, and after each session to stay hydrated. How much you should drink after sauna will depend on how much you sweat you perspire each session.
- Clothing: What should you wear in a sauna? Wear minimal clothing or a bathing suit to allow maximum exposure to infrared heat.
- Time: Start with shorter sessions (20 minutes) and gradually increase the duration as your body adapts. How long you should spend in an infrared sauna for benefits depends on your needs and capabilities.
Step 3: Combining Earthing with Infrared Sauna
Integrate them into your daily routine in a way that harmonises with your schedule. For instance:
- Begin your day with a 30-minute walk barefoot in nature to practice Earthing Therapy.
- After work or in the evening, spend 20-45 minutes in an infrared sauna to relax and detoxify.
- On weekends, consider spending more time outdoors, connecting with nature, and incorporating additional Earthing Therapy.
By following this holistic approach, you can greatly improve your overall physical and mental well-being. Remember to listen to your body and make adjustments as needed.