Studies prove: You need your feet on the ground to be healthy….

The simple act of placing bare feet on natural ground has huge physiological benefits.

An independent 2011 study published in the journal of homeopathic and complementary medicine showed how having contact with the Earth had some interesting healing consequences for the individuals in the trial. The researchers concluded:

“Earthing the human body influences human physiologic processes. This influence is observed during night relaxation and during physical activity. Effect of the earthing on calcium–phosphate homeostasis is the opposite of that which occurs in states of weightlessness. It also increases the activity of catabolic processes. It may be the primary factor regulating endocrine and nervous systems.”

Another study (not so independent) shows that grounding or Earthing can have good outcomes for people with inflammatory conditions. They concluded that:

“The living matrix (or ground regulation or tissue tensegrity-matrix system), the very fabric of the body, appears to serve as one of our primary antioxidant defense systems. As this report explains, it is a system requiring occasional recharging by conductive contact with the Earth’s surface – the “battery” for all planetary life – to be optimally effective.”

The idea that we are part of our natural environment and that we need nature to sustain good health, is not new.

A classic example is the work of Sir Edward Mellanby, (who discovered that Rickett’s was caused by nutritional deficiencies) and the subsequent discoveries related to the role of sunshine and how it is crucial for synthesis of vitamin D.

We know now that skin exposure to the sunshine subsequently influences calcium uptake and bone health; and conversely affects diseases like Rickett’s.

We also know that even a view of nature can have healing effects. A study in the eighties showed how surgical patients had better outcomes if they could recover in a room with a view of nature.

It is recommended that each person puts their feet on the ground for several minutes a day.  It may sound like a silly prescription if you are lucky enough to have a garden of your own or live in a pristine environment, but when you consider the millions of individuals living in concrete city structures how often do they get to literally “put their feet on the ground”?

In our striving to accommodate billions of people, are we ignoring the simple fact that we are Earthlings? Those in the Know say we need the electrical impulses of our planet to stay well.

Perhaps it comes down to living and being in a natural environment that is the healing factor. We know this instinctively too – we naturally gravitate to the seat with a view, homes in tree-lined streets fetch higher prices, properties and institutions bordering parks and nature are always lighter, brighter and somehow feel healthier to be in.  New design criteria for hospitals and schools include nature, trees and areas of natural beauty.  Conserving our pristine environments and encouraging being outdoors in fresh air creates good health – naturally… It’s a win-win situation.

©Buteyko South Africa