Grounding
Evidence is thin. Human studies enrolled 8 to 84 people, and five of the eight here include an author who disclosed work for the company sponsoring grounding research. Small sham-controlled studies reported better sleep and mood and less muscle damage, with no change in anxiety or depression. No study measured C-reactive protein. No harms were reported.
- Status
- A practice, not a regulated product.
- Also called
- grounding, earthing, barefoot walking, walking barefoot on grass, grounding mat, earthing mat, grounding sheet, earthing sheet, grounding patch, conductive bed pad, grounding shoes
- Practiced for
- sleep, pain, inflammation, stress, cortisol, mood, anxiety, muscle soreness, recovery, blood viscosity, heart health, blood sugar, thyroid, immunity, wound healing, free radicals, energy
Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on
Shown to help4
- LimitedLimited evidence: a sham-controlled pilot in 15 people with mild Alzheimer's disease and an uncontrolled study of 12 adults reported better sleep while grounded at night.
- LimitedLimited evidence: two small studies reported less pain while grounded, one in 16 massage therapists compared with ungrounded weeks and one uncontrolled study of 12 adults.
- LimitedOne uncontrolled study of 12 adults found saliva cortisol at night fell after 6 weeks of sleeping grounded, and self-reported stress eased.
- LimitedOne uncontrolled study of 10 adults found red blood cells carried more surface charge and clumped less on slides after 2 hours grounded. Blood viscosity itself was not measured.
Reported risks1
What people practice it for, and what was found
Shown to help4
Sleep
Limited evidence: a sham-controlled pilot in 15 people with mild Alzheimer's disease and an uncontrolled study of 12 adults reported better sleep while grounded at night.
Compared with sham grounding [1]; before grounding, in the same people [2]
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- In patients with mild Alzheimer's disease, 12 weeks of grounding improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores more than sham grounding (p = 0.006) [1]. Twelve adults with sleep problems, pain and stress who slept on a conductive mattress pad for 8 weeks reported sleep dysfunction reduced or eliminated in nearly all of them [2].
- Population
- 22 patients with mild Alzheimer's disease enrolled, 15 completing [1]. 12 adults with sleep dysfunction, pain and stress [2].
- Sources
- [1], [2]
- Caveats
- Seven of 22 patients did not finish the sham-controlled study [1]. The 12-person study had no control group and relied on self-report [2].
Pain
Limited evidence: two small studies reported less pain while grounded, one in 16 massage therapists compared with ungrounded weeks and one uncontrolled study of 12 adults.
Compared with weeks without grounding, in the same people [3]; before grounding, in the same people [2]
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- In a stepped wedge design, massage therapists reported significant decreases in pain, fatigue, tiredness and depressed mood and increases in physical function and energy while grounded at work and during sleep, compared with weeks not grounded [3]. Self-reported pain was reduced or eliminated in nearly all of 12 adults who slept grounded for 8 weeks [2].
- Population
- 16 massage therapists, mean age 42.8, at one wellness center in California [3]. 12 adults [2].
- Sources
- [3], [2]
- Caveats
- Sixteen and 12 people. The massage therapist trial was led by an author who, in another paper, disclosed work as a contractor for the company that sponsors grounding research [3][4]. Outcomes were self-reported.
Stress and night-time cortisol
One uncontrolled study of 12 adults found saliva cortisol at night fell after 6 weeks of sleeping grounded, and self-reported stress eased.
Compared with before grounding, in the same people [2]
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- Saliva cortisol measured every 4 hours over 24 hours was significantly lower during night-time sleep at week 6 than before grounding, and 24-hour profiles trended toward a typical daily rhythm. Self-reported stress, anxiety, depression and irritability were reduced or eliminated in nearly all subjects, most clearly in women [2].
- Population
- 12 adults with sleep problems, pain and stress [2].
- Sources
- [2]
- Caveats
- No control group, 12 people, and cortisol was measured in saliva [2].
Red blood cell clumping
One uncontrolled study of 10 adults found red blood cells carried more surface charge and clumped less on slides after 2 hours grounded. Blood viscosity itself was not measured.
Compared with blood samples taken before grounding, in the same people [8]
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- After 2 hours with conductive patches on the hands and feet wired to a rod in the earth, red blood cell zeta potential rose by an average of 2.70 and red cell aggregation on microscope slides fell significantly [8].
- Population
- 10 healthy adults recruited by word of mouth [8].
- Sources
- [8]
- Caveats
- No control condition. Fingertip blood on a slide is not blood flow in the body, and no cardiovascular outcome was measured. Two of the authors disclosed contracts with and shares in the company sponsoring grounding research in a later paper [6].
Mixed results4
Muscle damage and soreness after exercise
One sham-controlled trial of 32 young men found creatine kinase did not rise after damaging exercise with grounding, while it rose with sham. Pain occurred in both groups.
Compared with sham grounding, with the same equipment not connected to the earth [4][5]
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- After 200 half-knee bends, men grounded for 4 hours on days 1 and 2 had no significant rise in creatine kinase on day 2, while the sham group did (P < 0.01). The between-group difference was significant (P = 0.04). Both groups had pain on every day after exercise [4]. In an 8-person pilot, pain scores and creatine kinase were among the measures that differed by 10% or more between grounded and sham groups [5].
- Population
- 32 healthy young men, 16 grounded and 16 sham [4]. 8 healthy adults, 4 per group [5].
- Sources
- [4], [5]
- Caveats
- The trial was funded by Earth FX Inc., which also supplied the products, and both authors named in its disclosure worked as contractors for Earth FX. The authors state the funder had no role in the study [4]. The pilot set its own 10% threshold rather than testing significance [5].
Inflammation and white blood cells
Limited evidence: small company-funded trials found white blood cell counts shifted after damaging exercise with grounding. No study measured C-reactive protein or an inflammatory disease.
Compared with sham grounding [4][5]
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- On day 3 after exercise, neutrophils were higher in grounded than sham-grounded men (P = 0.05), and platelets rose significantly in the grounded group on days 2 to 4 [4]. White blood cell counts were among the measures that differed by 10% or more in the 8-person pilot [5]. A review by researchers holding shares in the sponsoring company states that grounding alters circulating neutrophils, lymphocytes and inflammatory factors [6].
- Population
- 32 healthy young men [4]. 8 healthy adults [5]. Studies summarized in a review [6].
- Sources
- [4], [5], [6]
- Caveats
- A higher neutrophil count is not a lower level of inflammation, and the trials did not say whether these shifts help or harm. The review's authors disclose contracts with and shares in the company sponsoring grounding research [6].
Mood
Mixed results: one sham-controlled study of 40 adults found 1 hour grounded lifted mood, while a 12-week pilot found anxiety and depression did not differ from sham.
Compared with sham grounding [7][1]; weeks without grounding, in the same people [3]
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- In a double-blind pilot, pleasant and positive mood improved after 1 hour of grounding in a recliner and did not improve with sham grounding [7]. Massage therapists reported less depressed mood while grounded [3]. In patients with mild Alzheimer's disease, Beck Anxiety and Beck Depression scores did not change significantly with grounding compared with sham [1].
- Population
- 40 adults [7]. 16 massage therapists [3]. 15 patients with mild Alzheimer's disease [1].
- Sources
- [7], [1], [3]
- Caveats
- Very small studies with short exposures. The 40-person study was by a researcher who has worked as a contractor for the sponsoring company [7][4].
Blood chemistry and thyroid tests
One set of small experiments found grounding during night rest lowered serum iron, free T3 and several electrolytes and raised free T4, TSH and ferritin.
Compared with a group not in contact with the earth [9]
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- Earthing during night rest lowered serum iron, ionized calcium and inorganic phosphorus, and lowered urinary calcium and phosphorus. It decreased free T3 and increased free T4 and TSH. Continuous earthing decreased blood glucose in patients with diabetes. Earthing decreased sodium, potassium, magnesium, total protein and albumin, and increased transferrin, ferritin and globulins [9].
- Population
- Five experiments of 12 to 84 people each [9].
- Sources
- [9]
- Caveats
- The abstract gives no sizes, no durations for each experiment and no clinical meaning for the changes. Nobody uses grounding to shift these tests, and the direction is neither a benefit nor a harm that the authors define. One author is a co-author of a review of grounding's proposed benefits [10].
Claimed, not studied in people1
Antioxidant effect of the Earth's electrons
Not studied in people. Grounding researchers propose that electrons from the ground act as antioxidants around injured tissue, a mechanism no human study has measured.
No study in people. This rests on how it acts in the body.
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- The main hypothesis of one review is that free electrons from the Earth's surface spread into the body and have antioxidant effects, creating an antioxidant microenvironment around injury that limits damage from reactive oxygen species [6]. An earlier review proposes that losing contact with the Earth's electrons contributes to physiological dysfunction [10].
- Population
- No people. Hypotheses in reviews [6][10].
- Sources
- [6], [10]
- Caveats
- The authors of both reviews have ties to the company sponsoring grounding research [6].
Protocols studied
Studies grounded people while they slept on a conductive mattress pad for 8 weeks [2], for 12 weeks in patients with Alzheimer's disease [1], and at work and during sleep for 4 weeks [3]. Others used conductive patches on the hands and feet wired to a rod in the earth for 2 hours [8], a conductive pillow, mat and patches for 1 hour [7], and grounding for 4 hours on each of 2 days after exercise [4]. Sham conditions used the same equipment not connected to the earth [5].
Risks
Reported risks1
Funding and authorship ties to a grounding product company
Several grounding studies and reviews disclose funding from, contracts with or shares in Earth FX Inc., the company sponsoring grounding research.
The numbers and sources
- How common
- How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
- Effect
- The muscle damage trial was funded by Earth FX Inc., with products supplied by earthing.com, and both authors named in its disclosure were contractors for Earth FX [4]. Two authors of the inflammation review disclose that they are contractors for Earth FX and own a small share of the company [6]. An author of the muscle soreness pilot lists an affiliation with Earth FX [5].
- Population
- Published grounding studies [4][5][6].
- Sources
- [4], [5], [6]
- Caveats
- One unrelated sham-controlled study reported no conflict of interest [1]. Disclosure does not show a result is wrong, but few groups outside this network have tested grounding.
Not yet researched1
Electrical hazard from grounding products connected to household wiring
We haven't sourced research on this yet.
Claims tested and not found
Sources
- Lin CH, Tseng ST, Chuang YC, et al. Grounding the Body Improves Sleep Quality in Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease: A Pilot Study. Healthcare. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10030581
- Ghaly M, Teplitz D. The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2004. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2004.10.767
- Chevalier G, Patel S, Weiss L, et al. The Effects of Grounding (Earthing) on Bodyworkers' Pain and Overall Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Explore. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2018.10.001
- Brown R, Chevalier G, Hill M. Grounding after moderate eccentric contractions reduces muscle damage. Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine. 2015. https://doi.org/10.2147/oajsm.s87970
- Brown D, Chevalier G, Hill M. Pilot study on the effect of grounding on delayed-onset muscle soreness. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2010. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2009.0399
- Oschman JL, Chevalier G, Brown R. The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Journal of Inflammation Research. 2015. https://doi.org/10.2147/jir.s69656
- Chevalier G. The effect of grounding the human body on mood. Psychological Reports. 2015. https://doi.org/10.2466/06.pr0.116k21w5
- Chevalier G, Sinatra ST, Oschman JL, Delany RM. Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity: a major factor in cardiovascular disease. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2011.0820
- Sokal K, Sokal P. Earthing the human body influences physiologic processes. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2011. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2010.0687
- Chevalier G, Sinatra ST, Oschman JL, et al. Earthing: health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth's surface electrons. Journal of Environmental and Public Health. 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/291541