Forest bathing and Earthing are among the best ways ever to tap the benefits of nature. In fact immersing your cells in nature is a must.
A lot of folks have already heard about Earthing, Grounding, and the benefits of getting outdoors, but according to research it’s a must for human health.
In fact studies have shown that the simple act of connecting your body—usually the surface of your skin—to the frequencies of Earth, creates an electrical charge jam-packed with essential health benefits.
On the contrary, not getting enough nature and time outside is linked to inflammation, oxidative stress, mood disorders, reduced immunity, and mitochondrial fatigue.
According to this report:
“The disconnection from the Earth may be an important, insidious, and overlooked contribution to physiological dysfunction and to the alarming global rise in non-communicable, inflammatory-related chronic diseases. A lack of electrons can de-saturate the electron transport chains in mitochondria, leading to chronic fatigue and slowing the cellular migrations and other essential activities of the cells of the immune system.”
Indeed who would’ve known that something as simple as hanging indoors could produce such life-changing, biochemically altering effects?
What Is Earthing?
Earthing is when you connect your body, usually the surface of your skin, to the surface of the Earth. You can do this by standing barefoot on grass, soil, sand, and other conductive surfaces. It’s a popular wellness strategy that’s been shown to reconnect the body to Earth’s electrical charge.
Forest Bathing & Benefits of Earthing
So we all know that camping, hiking, and getting outdoors is fun, but most folks still aren’t doing it enough. In fact over two million Americans nationwide die annually from poor indoor air quality alone.
Toss in some EMFs, bad ventilation, and big city vibes, and you’ve got a whole crockpot of inflammation and oxidative stress.
The good news is it can flip, and especially with Earthing, by placing your feet on some grass, humus, sand, soil, moss, river rock, clover, or stones, which can upload a charge:
“Earthing simply means reconnecting the conductive human body to the Earth’s natural and subtle surface electric charge, an effortless lifestyle activity that systemically influences the basic bioelectrical function of the body. Doing so surprisingly stabilizes the physiology, reduces inflammation, pain, and stress, improves sleep, blood flow, and lymphatic/venous return to the heart, and produces greater well-being.”
Earthing & Forest Bathing
There are powerful benefits to communing, just being in nature, and studies have shown that only two hours a week can substantially boost health.
According to one report, “those who spent two hours a week in green spaces — local parks or other natural environments, either all at once or spaced over several visits — were substantially more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those who don’t.”
In addition, forest bathing—walking, hiking, hanging in the woods—is a hands-down win for your immune system: “Aerosols from the forests, inhaled during a walk, are behind elevated levels of Natural Killer or NK cells in the immune system, which fight tumors and infections,” says Japanese researchers.
And ions—the negatively charged molecules in nature—boost serotonin, angiogenesis, and mitigate stress. They number in the trillions in natural environments, while positive ions, which are harmful, proliferate in EMF-saturated indoor air. Not to mention in blue light, dirty electricity, piping, and molds.
So getting outdoors is key.
Earthing Benefits
- Lowers blood pressure.
- Fights oxidative stress.
- Reduces inflammation.
- Enhances immunity.
- Improves mood states.
- Soothes pain and tension.
- Boosts the biome.
- Calms the nervous system.
- Ramps cognition and learning.
- Reduces anxiety and depression.
- Aids wound healing.
- Curbs aggression.
- Increases self-esteem.
- Improves performance.
- Promotes restful sleep.
Nature Benefits
One researcher compiled over 1,000 studies on the effects of nature and grounding benefits on human health and concluded that “nature is not only nice to have, but it’s a have-to-have for physical health and cognitive functioning.”
Another report describes its ability to shift the autonomic nervous system from sympathetic toward parasympathetic, improving heart rate, blood viscosity, and wound healing.
And perhaps most intriguing is the hypothesis that connecting the body to Earth “enables free electrons from the Earth’s surface to spread over and into the body, where they can have antioxidant effects” produced by a conductive charge—in essence creating a microenvironment of mobilized electrons.
Such hypotheses are supported by multi-disciplinary research showing impacts on immunity, inflammation, and chronic disease. Various analyses have demonstrated that an electrical charge does exist between human bodies and the Earth’s surface.
Indoor grounding equipment like this PEMF Mat (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) from HigherDOSE immerses you in Earth’s healing magnetic field:
Grounding Benefits—Hardwiring Nature
One study showed that in order to obtain observable benefits of Earthing and Grounding, cells need a recharge. The minimum is 120 minutes a week.
In fact the study showed that folks that didn’t meet that requirement had no positive effects, while participants that did experienced myriad benefits.
Happily, there are tons of ways to pull more nature into your life if you don’t already live in the woods like me.
Tapping Nature
- Take walks and hikes in natural settings.
- Exercise outdoors on trails or in nature.
- Fill and surround your home with plants.
- Grow a garden and expose your skin to soil.
- Go to water—lakes, rivers, streams, beaches.
- Swim, surf, kayak, submerge in safe water bodies.
- Walk barefoot or lie on soil, grass, sand, stones.
- Move to a natural setting.
- Travel to natural settings.
- Ramp outdoor barbecues.
- Get a porch swing.
- Get indoor grounding equipment (see below).
- Spend time in your yard if there’s nature.
- Take a job that exposes you to nature.
- Meditate & do breath work in nature.
- Create a nature bath—infuse your tub with botanicals.
- Go camping (even in your own backyard!).
- Expose your hands to soil (get them dirty).
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The medical and health topics covered on the Plate of Grass website and blog have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to prevent or cure any disease. This article and its content is presented ‘as is’ for informational purposes only.
