Walking barefoot and having direct contact with the planet may offer health perks. A grounding mat is designed to mimic this earth connection and may boost mood, sleep, and reduce pain or inflammation.
It’s well known that spending time outdoors brings numerous health advantages, from elevating serotonin and vitamin D to lowering stress and anxiety.
Some proponents argue that reconnecting with nature — especially barefoot — can neutralize the electrical charge in our bodies. The idea is that when skin meets the ground, the earth’s charge helps alleviate various ailments.
This concept is often called “earthing.” While you can’t always go barefoot on a beach or in your yard, grounding mats are marketed as a way to reproduce that same effect indoors.
That said, whether grounding mats truly deliver remains a topic of debate.
To better understand the science — or lack thereof — behind these products, we asked two clinicians — Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, a professor and holistic healthcare practitioner, and Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, COI, a nurse educator with expertise in complementary and alternative medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, and cardiology — to share their perspectives.
Here’s their input.
How does a grounding mat work?
Debra Rose Wilson: A grounding mat aims to substitute for the direct earth contact you’d get from walking barefoot. In much of modern Western life, we rarely go outside shoeless.
The earth’s surface carries a negative electrical charge, and when it touches human tissue, an equalization can occur. The body can absorb extra electrons and dissipate static electrical buildup. This idea is referred to as the Earthing hypothesis.
A grounding mat simulates the earth’s electrical environment and lets someone bring that experience into their home or workplace. Many biochemical processes in the body depend on electron transfer.
That being said, it isn’t risk-free. There’s potential for drawing current from nearby electrical sources, so be mindful of ungrounded electrical devices around you. That could lead to a hazardous electrical shock.
Debra Sullivan: Grounding or earthing mats form an electrical link between your body and the earth. The goal is to recreate the physical contact you’d have from walking barefoot. This link supposedly allows electrons to move from the earth into your body and help establish a neutral electrical charge.
Because people spend most time indoors or wear rubber-soled shoes outside, we seldom physically connect with the earth. These mats let you re-establish that connection indoors and re-create the balance of electrical charge.
Typically, the mats attach via a cord to the grounding outlet of an electrical socket. They can be placed on the floor, desk, or bed so a user can rest bare feet, hands, or body on them and conduct the earth’s energy.
Is walking on natural surfaces like grass and dirt important for health?
DRW: Being in nature carries many health benefits by itself. People often report a strong sense of well-being when walking barefoot. There have been reports indicating improvements in blood glucose, bone health, immune function, circulation, and stress reduction.
Decreases in inflammation have been measured, with benefits for muscle recovery and platelet counts.
DS: As studies increasingly show beneficial effects of grounding on the body, it’s reasonable that barefoot contact with natural surfaces would be helpful. Still, shoes were invented to protect feet, so exercise caution when going barefoot.
You can also establish a connection to the ground while wearing footwear if you use leather-soled shoes or specially made grounding shoes.
Is there solid research on grounding mats?
DRW: Evidence supporting grounding mats is accumulating. There are suggested benefits for sleep, circadian rhythms, and hormone release.
We understand how electrons from antioxidants neutralize free radicals. Free radicals influence immune function, inflammation, and chronic illnesses.
A 2011 paper described four experiments evaluating grounding’s effects on human physiology. Electrolytes, thyroid hormones, glucose, and immune responses to vaccines showed improvement with grounding.
Walking barefoot outdoors — when conditions allow — has benefits that appear to transfer to grounding mats, which are often used in such studies.
I’m eager to see more research; meanwhile, I recommend walking barefoot when you can and intentionally releasing stress.
DS:Research on grounding or earthing indicates real evidence for enhancing overall health through improved sleep, reduced inflammation, and better circulation.
These studies usually measure effects during sleep, but some impacts were detected while participants were awake. It sometimes took as little as one hour to see changes.
Does the body’s electrical activity reflect stress levels?
DRW: From a holistic viewpoint, everything is interconnected. Stress pushes us into imbalance and triggers changes at the cellular level.
DS: I didn’t find direct evidence tying electrical currents to heightened stress, but this review shows that using a grounding mat during sleep reduced stress levels.
More research is needed to determine whether these effects are directly correlated.
Can grounding help anxiety, depression, autism, or Alzheimer’s?
DRW: There isn’t enough research to comment on autism and Alzheimer’s specifically, but in theory, anyone could benefit from reconnecting with the earth. Stress reduction from walking barefoot, engaging with nature, and mindful walking supports general health.
For anxiety and depression, practices like interacting with nature, exercising, and mindfulness are well-established ways to help manage these conditions. One study found mood improvement after an hour of grounding.
More studies are required to fully grasp the effects, but in the meantime, trying grounding is unlikely to harm.
DS: Anxiety can present in many ways, including sleep problems like insomnia. Grounding during sleep has been shown to help regulate sleep and subjectively improve rest.
Because insomnia is associated with depression and cognitive decline, grounding therapy may have potential benefits for those issues as well.
Can grounding therapy help with insomnia?
DRW: Positive effects have been measured for grounding improving sleep depth and duration, lowering pain, and reducing stress.
One of the earliest studies from 2004 found that grounding enhanced sleep and lowered cortisol, a stress hormone.
DS: About 30% of Americans experience sleep disturbances.
Grounding has been shown to assist multiple aspects of sleep:
- reduced morning tiredness
- less night pain
- more daytime energy
- lower cortisol levels
- faster sleep onset
Grounding vs. earthing: Any difference?
DRW: In electrical terminology, “earthing” refers to physically connecting a circuit to the ground to prevent electrical hazard. When discussing humans as electrical beings or using a grounding mat, either term fits, though I see grounding more commonly. I personally prefer earthing.
DS: The two words are used interchangeably and don’t have a meaningful difference. I often say ‘earthing’ for the practice and ‘grounding’ for the act. For example: The practice of earthing is accomplished by grounding your body’s electrical charge to the earth.
How can I tell if my grounding mat is effective?
DRW: To notice changes and progress in healing, observe subtle shifts. Quiet meditation can be a good moment to detect small improvements in health, mood, challenges, and thought patterns.
Keep a journal of your experience so you can track changes over time. If you’re addressing pain, for instance, record daily pain scores (1 to 10) and describe your experience.
DS: I agree with Dr. Wilson that journaling will be your most valuable tool to assess grounding’s impact.
Begin by journaling each day before you start grounding. Note items like:
- your mood
- the weather
- any pain
- sleep issues
- the amount of exercise you did
Then begin your grounding routine and journal daily. After a few weeks, review the entries to determine whether it’s improving your daily life.
How long should you use a grounding mat?
DRW: Follow the product instructions, which commonly recommend starting with 10 to 40 minutes a day and gradually increasing. Some people use grounding mats during meditation, others during naps. Time needed will vary by person.
DS: Start with no more than 40 minutes daily and work up to longer periods. After you’ve increased duration, some people choose to sleep on the mat for full nights, up to eight hours. Ultimately it depends on you and your outcomes, but allow time to see results.
How soon will grounding produce effects?
DRW: Don’t expect dramatic overnight changes. Such complementary approaches often work subtly and may take time to become noticeable. Some people notice benefits within 24 hours; others observe changes after several weeks.
DS: Everyone’s response differs, and grounding isn’t a cure for disease. It helps restore natural electrical balance, which may reduce stress and inflammation. Some report immediate effects within a day, some after a few days, and some experience slow, subtle improvements.
Takeaway
Based on expert opinion and available studies, grounding mats appear to have beneficial effects on human physiology.
They function by creating an electrical link between your body and the Earth, imitating the influence of walking barefoot on the ground.
Evidence suggests they can aid sleep, reduce stress, improve mood, ease pain, and support brain-related concerns. Outcomes are individual, and grounding mats should not substitute for professional medical care.
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