What is earthing? And why is it one of the simplest, free things you can do to promote good health?

So, in an increasingly electrified world, we’re becoming more connected digitally—but more disconnected from the Earth beneath our feet.

Enter earthing (also called grounding)—a practice as ancient as it is revolutionary.

From ancestral rituals to contemporary science, earthing is the art of reconnecting with the Earth’s subtle energies to restore balance, reduce inflammation, and return to our natural rhythm.

In this article, you’ll learn about the historical, cultural, mystical, and scientific meanings of earthing, as well as its potential physical and metaphysical benefits.

What Is Earthing or Grounding?

Earthing or grounding refers to direct physical contact with the Earth’s surface.

That means walking barefoot on natural ground, lying on grass, swimming in oceans, or using conductive systems that connect your body to Earth.

Simple, right? So how does it work?

The Earth carries a negative electric charge, rich in free electrons.

These electrons can be absorbed into the body upon contact, helping to neutralize harmful free radicals and stabilize the body’s bioelectrical systems.

Grounding is both a biological and energetic process.

It links us back to nature, supports our health, and nourishes our spirit.

Grounding Through History and Across Cultures

Human beings lived grounded to the Earth for most of our history.

It’s only in the last century—with rubber-soled shoes, high-rise living, and synthetic flooring—that we’ve become electrically insulated from our planet.

Connecting to the Earth is Actually an Ancient Practice

• Indigenous cultures around the world understood the Earth as a living, breathing being. Walking barefoot, sleeping on the ground, and conducting ceremonies in nature were essential for health and spiritual alignment.
• In Traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of Qi (life force) flows through the meridians, many of which begin or end at the soles of the feet. Walking barefoot stimulates and regulates these energetic pathways.
• Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, emphasizes the connection to the elements, particularly Prithvi (Earth), as a way to balance doshas (bodily energies).
• The Greeks and Romans worshipped Earth goddesses such as Gaia and Terra and built temples and sacred spaces directly into the Earth.

Modern Science Meets Ancient Wisdom

Over the last few decades, scientific research has started to catch up with what mystics and shamans have known for ages: Physical contact with the Earth can promote healing.¹

Some Key Scientific Findings on Earthing

• Grounding reduces inflammation, improves sleep, and normalizes cortisol levels.²
• It reduces blood viscosity, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.³
• Grounding may enhance immune response, support wound healing, and alleviate chronic pain.⁴
• Evidence shows improved HRV (heart rate variability) and autonomic nervous system balance, indicating enhanced stress resilience.⁵

Earthing is Also a Metaphysical and Mystical Practice

Grounding isn’t just physical—it’s spiritual.

Many people believe that the Earth is a conscious being, known in various traditions as Gaia, Pachamama, or Mother Earth.

So, when you ground, you enter into energetic reciprocity with this living being.

Earthing is Energy Work

• Root Chakra Activation: Grounding stimulates Muladhara, the root chakra, associated with safety, stability, and physical embodiment.
• Energetic Detoxification: The Earth is a vast energetic filter. When we touch it, we discharge toxic energies like fear, anxiety, and electromagnetic stress.
• Sacred Exchange: Grounding is an offering. We give the Earth our tension, and she returns us to harmony.

Shamans often begin ceremonies by touching the Earth, calling upon Earth spirits, and aligning their energy with the ground.

Grounding creates the sacred container for spiritual work.

Psychological and Emotional Healing

From a psychological standpoint, grounding reconnects us to our bodies and the present moment.

In a world that’s full of overstimulation, anxiety, and disconnection, this is HUGE. (And it’s a free practice that you can do almost anywhere.)

Earthing Can Help:

• Reducing rumination and mental overactivity¹
• Alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression⁷
• Enhancing body awareness and sensory integration⁸
• Increasing emotional stability and resilience^7,5

Many therapists now integrate somatic grounding exercises into trauma recovery work, teaching clients to connect with the Earth as a stabilizing and centering force.

Health Benefits of Earthing

Grounding has been associated with numerous physical health benefits, supported by both anecdotal and peer-reviewed sources:

• Better Sleep: Grounding normalizes circadian rhythms and reduces nighttime cortisol spikes.²
• Improved Circulation: Blood flow and viscosity improve, reducing cardiovascular risk.³
• Immune Support: Inflammation markers decrease, enhancing immune regulation.⁴
• Hormonal Balance: Cortisol and other stress-related hormones become more balanced.²
• EMF Protection: Grounding helps discharge excess electromagnetic fields (EMFs) absorbed by the body.⁶
• Pain Relief: Studies show reduced chronic pain and muscle tension after grounding sessions.⁴

How to Practice Earthing

Simple Techniques

I mean, it’s really so, so simple.

And I’m gonna say it again: Unless you take your grounding practice indoors with earthing mats and other gadgets, it’s basically FREE.

• Walk barefoot on grass, soil, sand, or stone
• Sit or lie down directly on the ground
• Swim in natural bodies of water (lakes, oceans)
• Garden with your bare hands
• Use grounding tools like mats, sheets, or rods indoors (connected to a grounded outlet)

Tips:

• Aim for 20–40 minutes per day for noticeable effects
• Natural environments (forests, beaches, meadows) are usually more potent than urban parks
• Focus on breath and presence while grounding for best results

Grounding Rituals and Practices

Adding grounding to magical and spiritual rituals can enhance their potency:

• Earthing Meditation: Visualize roots growing from your feet deep into the Earth, drawing up grounding energy
• Grounding Baths: Add salts, clay, or herbs like sage, mugwort, or vetiver
• Crystal Grounding: Use stones like hematite, smoky quartz, black tourmaline, or red jasper
• Moon Rituals: Stand barefoot under the full moon, offering gratitude to the Earth

The Earth as Teacher and Healer

In many traditions, the Earth isn’t a resource to be used.

It’s a teacher to be honored.

Earthing is an act of reverence, a way to listen to the planet’s wisdom and recalibrate our rhythms.

When you ground, you remember that you’re not separate from nature. You’re an extension of it.

Healing, both personal and collective, can begin with reconnection.

Getting Back to Your Roots

In a world where disconnection, overstimulation, and stress are rampant, earthing offers a simple, profound therapy.

It’s accessible. It’s ancient. It’s backed by science.

But more than anything, it’s an invitation:

To remember your roots. To return to your body. To touch the Earth and come home to yourself.

References

1. Oschman, J. L. (2007). Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis. Churchill Livingstone. ↩
2. Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S. T., Oschman, J. L., & Delany, R. M. (2012). Earthing: Health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth’s surface electrons. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/ ↩
3. Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S. T., & Oschman, J. L. (2013). Grounding the human body reduces blood viscosity—a major factor in cardiovascular disease. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 19(2), 102–110. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18395698/ ↩
4. Brown, D., Chevalier, G., & Hill, M. (2010). Pilot Study on the Effect of Grounding on Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(3), 265–273. ↩
5. Chevalier, G., Mori, K., & Oschman, J. L. (2006). The effect of earthing on human physiology. European Biology and Bioelectromagnetics, 31–47. ↩
6. Ober, C., Sinatra, S. T., & Zucker, M. (2010). Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever? Basic Health Publications. ↩
7. Monti, D. A., et al. (2012). Grounding for mental health: Integrating somatic techniques. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 11(3), 35–39. ↩ ↩²
8. Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation. Norton. ↩