Have you heard of Earthing (also called grounding)? I recently read some articles about the use of earthing where it is described as “direct physical contact with the vast supply of electrons on the surface of the Earth. ” In other words, walking outside barefoot, lying on a beach, or sitting on the grass. Modern research indicates that our lifestyle, which does not encourage direct contact between our bodies and the earth, may be the disconnect that contributes to “physiological dysfunction and unwellness”.
When I read the articles, I got charged up. Literally! I am a firm believer in energy healing. I have always believed that pain is the result of stagnation of energy along our body’s energy meridians and to release the pain one must release the energy blockage. I have previously utilized healing modalities such as reflexology, acupuncture, and Reiki and believe strongly in the healing nature of plant essences (essential oils). According to my teacher, Dr. Bruce Berkowsky, “Essential oils are both biochemical and bioenergetic entities. Hence, their chemical properties can be used to act upon the biophysical plane and/or their bioenergetic properties can be used to directly interact on the non-material energy plane with human bioenergy.” (For more information on the use of essential oils as an energetic healing modality, please visit my other website, E-Scentially Yours.com).
Many cultures throughout the world have included references to the subtle energy fields that animate our bodies: Chi (Chinese), Prana (India & Tibet), Nefesh (Hebrew), Ki (Japan), Baraka (Sufis), the Holy Spirit (Christians), pneuma (ancient Greeks), with energy pathways also being described as meridians, chakras, or sefirot.
As reported by Dr. Mercola, an article from the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health website entitled Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons, lists the following conditions that can be positively affected by the practice of Earthing:
- Sleep disturbances, including sleep apnea
- Chronic muscle and joint pain, and other types of pain
- Asthmatic and respiratory conditions
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- PMS
- Hypertension
- Energy levels
- Stress
- Immune system activity and response
- Heart rate variability
- Primary indicators of osteoporosis
- Fasting glucose levels among people with diabetes
I was intrigued. Did you know that over 60 Million Americans live with chronic pain? I’ve personally witnessed how chronic pain has affected people that I love. Many pain sufferers have tried everything medically possible to find relief, to no avail. Can you imagine having a headache that lasts for years? I know two people that do.
According to the American Medical Association, approximately 100 million people suffer from one or more chronic diseases and over 180,000 are killed every year by medical care. Nearly 100,000 Americans each year die from errors caused by medical errors. It’s time for safer healing therapies. Every day, more and more people are utilizing alternative therapies for healing.
There are many causes of pain, including arthritis, back pain, bone pain, joint pain and muscle pain as well as pain that is associated with conditions such as fibromyalgia or cancer. Recently, I was told about a technology that is being used by healthcare practitioners to manage pain that has resulted from a variety of conditions. The technology isn’t new, yet it has only recently been approved by the FDA for the treatment of pain. It is electrotherapy. A colleague told me about the incredible results she has witnessed firsthand with people using the machine on ankle sprains, knee injuries, and even Parkinsons. It was time for an experiential field trip and further investigation. Here’s what I found:
- Electromedicine is one of the oldest sciences known. There is a plethora of documentation that dates back to ancient Greece.
- In the 1700s, Benjamin Franklin documented pain relief from “frozen shoulder” by using electrical currents
- In 1891, Nikola Tesla presented a paper about the medical application of high frequency electrical currents.
- In 1908, there was a published paper in Germany on the treatment of joint disease using high frequency electrical currents.
- In 1981, there was a book published in the U.S. called The Body Electric which challenged the understanding of the body and puts forth a theory that electricity is vital to life.
- In 2000, Electrical Muscle Stimulation and hydrotherapy are used to exercise the muscles of a paraplegic of eight years. The patient regained limited movement and sensation in the body.
- In 2007, an electrotherapy machine was approved by the FDA that was designed to provide electrical stimulation to treat chronic pain.
I used the machine to run the liver cleanse program. The experience was quite relaxing and pleasant. I had two electrodes strategically placed on my body and held two stainless steel cylinders in my hands. There was a slight tingling in my hands as the electrical frequencies shifted per the programmed code on the machine. The program lasted for 33 minutes. If you want to know more specific details about how I felt after the treatment, let me know. I’ll be happy to discuss it with you.The technology has been available for over 60 years. It has been used extensively throughout the world and is commonly used in hospitals and clinics in Europe. It is finally available in the US. According to Nenah Sylver, PhD, in the article entitled Healing with Electromedicine and Sound Therapies:
“Every molecule, cell, living body, and object is comprised of energy that manifests as physical matter….With electromedicine therapies, healing is achieved by working with the electromagnetic radiation (emissions) and related energy fields that form, and are emitted by, physical matter.”
As stated in the NIH report,
“Emerging evidence shows that contact with the Earth—whether being outside barefoot or indoors connected to grounded conductive systems—may be a simple, natural, and yet profoundly effective environmental strategy against chronic stress, ANS dysfunction, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, disturbed HRV, hypercoagulable blood, and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease. The research done to date supports the concept that grounding or earthing the human body may be an essential element in the health equation along with sunshine, clean air and water, nutritious food, and physical activity.”
When was the last time you felt the grass under your feet? Maybe it’s time to kick off your shoes (and socks), walk barefoot on the earth, enjoy the sunshine (Vitamin D) and listen to some healing music (more on the benefits of sound therapy later). It’s time to let the healing begin…
References:
Healing with Electromedicine and Sound Therapies, by Nenah Sylver, PhD
Why Walking Barefoot Might Be an Essential Element of Good Health, By. Dr. Mercola
Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons, J Environ Public Health. 2012; 2012: 291541. Published online 2012 January 12. doi: 10.1155/2012/291541
The Heart of Energy and Wellness, A Renaissance of Health and Self-Healing, an article included in the pamphlet I obtained from the manufacturer of the electrotherapy machine I used this in preparation for this article.