By Tom Moorcroft, DO
Have you ever taken a walk on a sandy beach or through tall, green grass moistened by the morning dew and felt a slight tingle in your feet? Maybe you felt it up your legs or even throughout your body. Do you remember that invigorating moment? That sensation of pure, natural energy and aliveness? Do you remember how, maybe just for a moment, you were care-free and filled with an indescribable, overwhelming sense of happiness?
Some describe this as being present or grounded in the here and now. Being grounded in this moment, from a spiritual or metaphysical viewpoint as well as a practical one, allows us to fully experience life as it is occurring. We are free from the worries of past failures or future difficulties. It is an opportunity to be a child again; to express the unfettered freedom and happiness that the rest of the natural world experiences on a continual basis. But, are there other benefits to being grounded in this moment? Why do so many cultures and philosophies speak about being grounded? What does being grounded mean in more physical, concrete terms?
Whenever I see a word that is used in so many ways I find it useful to go to a dictionary and see what the word actually means.
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Ground (noun)
1. the bottom of a body of water
2. a basis for belief, action, or argument.
3. a basic metaphysical cause
4. a surrounding area : background
5. the surface of the earth
6. an object that makes an electrical connection with the earth
-Merriam-Webster online
Ground (verb)
1. to bring to or place on the ground.
2. to provide a reason or justification for, to furnish with a foundation of knowledge.
3. to connect electrically with a ground.
-Merriam-Webster online
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The word ground seems to point to three main things: 1. a physical structure, 2. a mental belief or viewpoint, 3. a connection to the physical structure or mental belief and an ensuing action. The first two are fairly straightforward concepts. There is the ground we walk on, the surface of the earth. Many of the beliefs we have, such as 1 + 1 = 2, are grounded in knowledge or past experience, or what we have been taught by others. The third is the action step: The electrical outlets in our homes are grounded to the earth. Our personal belief systems are an accumulation of past experiences that we structure in such a way that supports the truest expression of who we are at our core. This action step is what I’d like to explore.
The action of grounding is extremely interesting to me. For many years I have thought of grounding or being grounded as a way of bringing me into greater mental and emotional balance. If I were grounded I would be more calm, less stressed and happier. I found that time with my family, playing with the dogs, cooking a healthy meal from scratch and practicing yoga were profoundly grounding activities for me. I could come home feeling the effects of the stressors of the day and just a few moments of one of these activities helped relieve a lot of the built up stress of the day. This type of grounding seemed to be like a mental anti-inflammatory. Interestingly, as a child, teen and young adult I found being outdoors in nature had a similar calming effect. The older I got, the more the demands of being a physician resulted in me spending more and more time indoors. This connection to nature was never lost, but was certainly strained a large amount of the time.
As a physician, I frequently see patients who suffer on a daily basis. They have seen many specialists, yet still suffer tremendously. Since most patients have had an extensive hi-tech work up prior to seeing me, I found myself wondering what was left. What could I offer that others had not. I’m a firm believer in looking at the simple things that are often overlooked and creating a strong foundation in the basics. Whether it’s in relationships, sports, or life in general, the basics are generally the best place to start. In other words, you should be grounded in the basics.
Back to the Basics
Eating, sleeping, eliminating, breathing, relaxing and enjoying are some of the most fundamental basics of human existence. Observing wild animals or little children will illustrate what I mean. However, in this day and age, it is difficult to find the time to cook healthy meals, get 8-9 hours of sleep per night, have 2-3 bowel movements per day, spend 20-30 minutes per day focusing on our breathing and allowing our nervous systems to rebalance, or allowing ourselves to have some time for plain old fun when there are so many things we need to get done. While these are general recommendations that are likely to be helpful to everyone, I realize that the effectiveness of a recommendation is only as good as each person’s ability to implement it. So how can we implement these basics in a simple and effective manner despite our hectic schedules?
Getting Grounded in the Basics
Rather than trying to live the life of a monk, nun or renunciate yogi, start with simple steps that you can implement today and easily fit into your life 3-4 days per week. For example, you can choose to start off each meal you eat with a handful of raw veggies or a piece of fresh fruit. Drink an 8 ounce glass of filtered or spring water with each meal. (These first two ideas will help you achieve more regular bowel movements as well as improve your immune system function and overall detoxification abilities.) Every time you stop at a red light use it as a signal to take 2 long, slow deep breaths and remember that you’re alive. Smile at yourself in the mirror every time you brush your teeth. The possibilities are endless, but the key is keeping it simple. Getting grounded in the basics should be fun, that way you don’t even have to come up with an idea for how to do the enjoying part; it just happens naturally.
Sleep is perhaps the most difficult of the basics to implement in your daily routine, though it is vitally important to your health. Observe how wild animals and young children sleep a significant amount of the day. It is estimated that over 60 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder each year. There are many factors that lead to sleeplessness and there is not one cure-all. I recommend going back to the basics. Turn off all stimulating electronic devices at least 30, but preferably 60, minutes before your planned bedtime. During this time, dim the lights. No television, radio or reading in bed. Your bed is for two things only: sleep and sex. If you can’t sleep and feel you must do one of these other things, get out of bed and go into another room. This is called sleep hygiene. Spend 5-10 minutes before going to sleep observing the natural rhythm of your breathing. There is no need to change the breath, just observe it. This is a great way to decrease stress and rebalance the nervous system, preparing your body and mind for sleep. It is normal and natural for it to take 5-15 minutes to fall asleep. Falling to sleep immediately upon laying down is a sign of exhaustion and significant sleep debt. Going back to the basics is the simplest, most effective way to improve your sleep.
Reconnect with the Earth
We were designed to walk barefoot on the Earth and sleep in direct contact with it at night. Thousands of years ago people were in touch with the ground nearly 100% of the time. Throughout history, humans have slowly become more and more disconnected from the Earth. Today it is possible for a person to never come in direct contact with the Earth. That may sound ridiculous, but if someone wears insulated, rubber soled shoes and sleeps on a conventional bed they may literally never be directly connected to the Earth.
What’s the big deal with direct connection to the Earth? Our bodies are full of electrons. They allow for nearly instantaneous communication throughout the body. They also are the most fundamental anti-inflammatory substance in our bodies. Electrons are required parts of the communication system that turn inflammation off. Over the last several decades medical researchers have started to realize that the common thread of nearly every disease and illness that causes suffering today is inflammation. So why are we exposed to so much inflammation if something as simple as an electron can help turn it off?
Going back to the basics, the simple answer is most of us are not grounded. Literally we are not grounded to the Earth. Think of yourself as a rechargeable battery. You have to store energy in order to do things. Once that stored energy is used up, you need to recharge. Coming in direct contact with the Earth allows us recharge our level of electrons. That’s why some of us feel a tingly feeling when we walk on the beach or across the lawn. The direct connection between your feet and the Earth is allowing your body to recharge with electrons.
The Role of Electrons in the Body
All of us are exposed to a tremendous amount of free radicals on a daily basis. Free radicals are felt to contribute to aging and possibly the formation of cancer. We are exposed to them from environmental pollutants, such as chemicals, heavy metals and other physical toxins. Mental and emotional stressors can also form free radicals in our bodies. Electrons help us combat free radicals. Free radicals also are associated with inflammation. As inflammation is a main factor in almost all diseases, free radicals will likely be found to be significant factors in most diseases as well. Going back to the basics, walking barefoot on the earth is the most primitive form of healing. Many people use the term grounding to describe this action of directly connecting oneself to the Earth.
Studies have shown significant benefits of grounding. The blood becomes thinner, thereby combating the hypercoaguability (thickening of blood) that accompanies chronic illness. Free electrons intercept free radicals. Less free radicals equals less inflammation and a decreased chance of developing cancer. Heart rate variability, a key indicator of good health, is shown to improve in as little as 20 minutes. In the same amount of time, researchers have seen a balancing of the autonomic nervous system. Other studies have shown a stabilization and rebalancing of natural cortisol rhythms. Cortisol is one of our main stress, energy and immune hormones. Increased levels of melatonin also have been seen. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate sleep and is an anti-oxidant that has anti-cancer properties. Grounding has been shown to decrease delayed-onset muscle soreness following exercise. Grounding improves sleep, decreases insomnia and improves daytime energy levels. Grounding has even been shown to increase the healing speed of diabetic ulcers; these are notoriously difficult to treat and frequently lead to the loss of part of a limb.
Grounding also has been shown to help protect us from the adverse effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). This is a truly significant finding as it seems that every few weeks there is a new study that comes out showing how our health is in jeopardy from all the technology we use today. Cell phones, wireless technologies, computer screens and the like are all being linked to significant health problems. While we may never go back to a world free of harmful electronics, we can certainly work to negate some of their adverse effects. Going back to the basics, unplug your wireless when it’s not in use and ground yourself as much as possible.
Grounding 101
While walking barefoot on the beach or taking a mid-day stroll across the grass in a park sound like great ideas, they can be difficult to implement in today’s extremely busy world. Not to mention most of us in Connecticut probably are not up for a mid-winter’s day stroll across the snow barefoot. Is there a simple way we can integrate this concept of grounding into our daily lives? Thankfully the answer is Yes! The best way to do this is to take that walk across the lawn or on the beach whenever you can (and when the weather permits); swimming in the ocean or a lake also count. The next best thing is to utilize grounding pads. These pads are generally made of cotton and polyester with a silver thread woven throughout. They can be connected to the Earth directly through a simple grounding rod or by plugging them into a properly grounded wall outlet. By coming into contact with the specially designed pads you become grounded to the Earth and recharge with electrons.
I sleep on a grounded bedsheet every night. My keyboard pad at work is actually a grounding pad, so I’m grounded much of my workday. When I’m particularly stressed physically or mentally, I have a grounded sheet that doubles over and acts like a sleeping bag so I am completely enveloped in healing electrons as I sleep. I especially notice the benefits during times of increased physical stress and when I cannot get as much sleep as I know I need. When my schedule gets crazy, I reach for my grounded sleeping bag, which I also find to be a great travel companion. Sleeping in a strange place, several time zones away has become a much more pleasant and healthy experience.
Grounded in the Basics
The true origins of health lie in the simple things that are right at your fingertips. Add a few more veggies to your diet. Drink 60-70 ounces of pure water per day. Find the amount of sleep between 7-9 hours that feels right for you. Take a few moments each day to realize you are a living, breathing organism that is full of life; allow your breath to be your guide. Smile and laugh whenever you can. Move, however you like. Dance like a child, take a walk barefoot, jump up and down. Movement is invigorating and is one of the most effective and natural means of detoxification known. If you can, ground yourself while you sleep.
Some of the most radical healing ideas are simple. Take a break from our hi-tech world. Try grounding yourself and you will begin to experience new levels of health, well-being, and prosperity.
Dr. Tom Moorcroft, DO grounds himself at Origins Of Health in Glastonbury, CT. For more information you can visit his website www.OriginsOfHealth.com or call 860-430-9790.