Earth Connection: The Missing Link
The human body has evolved means to kill bacteria using reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are delivered to a site of injury by white blood cells. Although very effective at this task, ROS are also highly reactive biochemically and can damage healthy tissues. ROS are usually positively charged molecules that need to be neutralized immediately to prevent them from diffusing into healthy tissues. For that purpose negative charges are needed. Nature has solved this problem by providing conductive systems within the human body that deliver electrons from the feet to all parts of the body.
This has been the natural arrangement throughout most of human history. Negative charges have always been available, thanks to the Earth, to prevent the inflammatory process from damaging healthy tissues. All of this changed when we began to wear shoes with rubber and plastic soles, and no longer slept in contact with the earth.
A variety of measures of physiological stress show that the person who is grounded is less stressed and more relaxed. Earthing generates a shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic activation, reduction in muscle tension, and increased heart rate variability. Regardless of whether or not Earthing reduces exposure to environmental fields, these studies firmly demonstrate that Earthing does not stress the body; in fact, Earthing reduces every measure of stress we have used in our studies. The Earthing book documents cases in which people who are hyper-sensitive to environmental energy fields have benefited from Earthing. Observations over the years also include substantial relief from Earthing among many people who live in homes with very low levels of environmental fields and who developed crippling diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Earthing is an overlooked factor in public health. We regard it as a missing link with broad and significant implications. When Earthing is restored, many people report major improvements in a wide range of ailments, including chronic fatigue. These changes often occur within 30 minutes. Individuals who reported that they had inflammatory issues have benefited from Earthing. This includes people with various severe autoimmune diseases. It can be said without any equivocation that the human body evolved in contact with the Earth and needs to maintain this natural contact in order to function properly.