Earthing eBook

7/27/2019 Earthing eBook

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The New Frontier of Ea

CONTENTS Report Summary ............................................................................................................................................................ 3

Welcome to The New Frontier of Earthing .................................................................................................................... 4

Earthing and Medication ............................................................................................................................................... 5

Is There a Best Way to Get Grounded? ......................................................................................................................... 7

Earthing Speeds Athletic Recovery & Healing ............................................................................................................... 9

Lupus and Other Stories of Relief ................................................................................................................................ 11

Relief from Vitiligo ............................................................................................................................................... 14

Autism .................................................................................................................................................................. 16

Less Pain .............................................................................................................................................................. 16

Caution with Coumadin and Earthing .................................................................................................................. 16

CPAP Machine Side-lined, Less Bowel Irritability ................................................................................................ 17

Barefoot Benefits ................................................................................................................................................. 17

Multiple Benefits ................................................................................................................................................. 17

Benefits for an 86-year-old .................................................................................................................................. 18

More Sleep, Less Snoring ..................................................................................................................................... 18

Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms ............................................................................................................................... 18

Hashimoto-related Fatigue & Husbands Car Accident Pain ....................................................................................... 19

Asthma Flare-Up Abbreviated ............................................................................................................................. 19

Very Happy Marathon Runner ............................................................................................................................. 19

Swelling, Posture, Headaches, and Sugar ............................................................................................................ 19

Salt Reduction Method? ...................................................................................................................................... 20

Fast Hip Replacement Recovery at Age 90 .......................................................................................................... 20

Earthing vs. Good and Bad Free Radicals .............................................................................................................. 21

New to Earthing? Some Important Reminders ................................................................................................... 22

Earthing Care Tips ................................................................................................................................................ 23

The Earthing and Blood Pressure Connection ............................................................................................................. 25

What To Do If Earthing Doesnt Seem To Be Working? ............................................................................................... 28

An Earthing Checklist ........................................................................................................................................... 28

Electrical System Problem ................................................................................................................................... 28

Ground Rod Problem ........................................................................................................................................... 28

Check Your Earthing System ................................................................................................................................ 29

No Direct Skin Contact ......................................................................................................................................... 29

Dehydration ......................................................................................................................................................... 29

Improper Care of Earthing Sheets ....................................................................................................................... 29


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Stress!!!! .............................................................................................................................................................. 30

Medical Considerations An Earthing Advisory .......................................................................................................... 31

Earthing Capital of the World? .................................................................................................................................... 33

Moral of the story: Stay connected! ................................................................................................................... 33

Earthing Tips: Feet Too Cold on The Earthing Mat? .................................................................................................... 38

Grounding and Awareness of Groundedness .............................................................................................................. 40

From Cat Saunders, Ph.D., author of Dr. Cats Helping Handbook: A Compassionate Guide for Being Human

............................................................................................................................................................................. 40

From Rabbi Tmimah Ickovits, Los Angeles ...................................................................................................... 40

From Anders Blomqvist in Sweden .................................................................................................................. 41

From Gerard Bechard, a cranio-sacral therapist in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts .................................. 41

From Rhonda Whittaker, a massage therapist in Fairfield, Iowa ..................................................................... 41

From Clint Ober, who has grounded thousands of people for more than a decade ....................................... 42

Nurturing the Nervous System-Heart Connection .............................................................................................. 42

Dr. Sinatra shared these recent examples: .......................................................................................................... 44

How NOT To Ground ................................................................................................................................................... 46

Nurturing the Nervous System-Heart Connection ...................................................................................................... 48

One Dentists Earthing Experience .............................................................................................................................. 51

Multiple Benefits the Holistic Impact of Earthing ..................................................................................................... 53

Lynn Deene, 65, Milo, MI ..................................................................................................................................... 53

Karen Ball, 60, massage therapist, Beaverton, OR .............................................................................................. 54

Earthing, Inflammation, and Aging Something to Think About ................................................................................ 56

Why is there such a big and growing interest in chronic inflammation research? ............................................. 56

Earthing for Snoring Relief ........................................................................................................................................... 59

Menopause Transformation A Case History ............................................................................................................. 60

How to Optimize the Lifespan of Your Earthing Sheet ................................................................................................ 62

So what can you do to protect your sheet? Here are some anti-aging tips to enhance its longevity: ............ 62

The Bottom Line .................................................................................................................................................. 63

Rapid Benefits: An Earthing 1-hour Time Trial ......................................................................................................... 64

Shifting Lives with Earthing A Psychiatrists Perspective .......................................................................................... 67


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WELCOME TO THE NEW FRONTIER OF EARTHING Gaetan Chevalier, Ph.D., Director, Earthing Institute

As director of the Earthing Institute I look forward to the many exciting discoveriesahead related to the simple proposition that good things happen inside our bodies when

we connect to the Earth beneath our feet.

As a researcher involved primarily with the bodys electrophysiology (how the body

produces and utilizes electrical energy), I find it rather amazing that at this point in the

human timeline we are just starting to scientifically explore the benefits to health that

come from direct contact with the planet we live on. It is obvious that past cultures, and

even indigenous people today, put great emphasis on connectedness to the Earth.

Finally, we are investigating the precise dynamics and benefits of this connectedness.

The studies I have been involved with have yielded an intriguing glimpse at what

appears to be a new, more vital and robust human physiology. The bodys inner

workings are different when we connect to the Earth either by being barefoot outside orsleeping on the Earth as was the case throughout most of evolution until only very

recently, or through the utilization of practical Earthing products indoors that allow us

to sleep, relax, and work grounded. The impact on our body, these initial studies

strongly suggest, is a powerful and positive shift in the physiology that may one day give

rise to a new definition of what is normal.

Earthing restores a lost electrical signal to the body that seems to stabilize the

complicated circuitry of our essentially electrical body. My research shows that this has

head to toe repercussions and many benefits for the hardware and software of our

built-in self-regulating and self-healing mechanisms. For many people the shift is

practically equivalent to charging a failing battery or restoring power after constant

brownouts.

Those of us involved in Earthing research hypothesize that Earthing transfers negatively

charged electrons into the body that are abundantly present on the surface of the Earth.

Electrons are the object of affection, so to speak, of positively charged free radicals,

the biochemical agents causing oxidation in the body. Electrons are the source of the

power of antioxidants. The influx of electrons from Earthing neutralizes or otherwise

satisfies and quenches free radicals, stopping them from stealing electrons from healthy

tissue that results in tissue damage and chronic inflammation at the heart of so many

common and serious diseases. Here, seemingly, is a natural, profound, and simple

remedy for chronic inflammation: connect to the Earth.

Modern living has increasingly separated humans from Mother Earth and its great

natural commodity of unlimited, subtle health-nurturing energy. This energy has nowbeen discovered scientifically and with that discovery the magnificent prospect of doing

great good for the entire population of our planet.

We welcome your comments, questions, and feedback.

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EARTHING AND MEDICATION Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C.

Co-author, Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?

Can Earthing products be used if you are on medication? Thats a question I hear fairly

often. The answer is yes, but with a prudent qualifier. Keep in mind that Earthingreduces inflammation in the body and restores natural internal electrical stability and

rhythms. Any doctor would applaud such benefits and improvements. But because of

such changes, as good as they are, it is possible with continuing grounding, such as

sleeping grounded at night, medication dosages may become excessive, and perhaps

even unnecessary in some cases.

Years ago as a practicing cardiologist in Connecticut, I often found myself having to

reduce the level of Warfarin (Coumadin) for patients coming back to their homes after

snow birding in Florida over the winter months. Their blood coagulability had changed. I

thought it was simply a result of going from warm weather to cold weather. I was

wrong. I didnt know anything about Earthing back then. I now know that the reason for

the change was because they were going barefoot for many hours during the day and

swimming in the ocean or in concrete pools. They were grounding themselves!

There is something very special and healing that occurs in your body as a result of being

in direct contact with the Earth. I regard it as pretty much the equivalent of being on a

treatment table. Your body is absorbing the natural, subtle electric energies

omnipresent on the surface of the Earth. There is an instant shift in your physiology. We

see that happening in laboratory studies that measure the electrical activity inside your

body.

Logic tells us that the normal state of humans is to be grounded, that is, connected

directly with the Earth. Most of us in the so-called developed societies function

ungrounded, wearing plastic and rubber soled shoes, and no longer living on the Earth

but above it and in structures that separate us from the Earth. For millions of years, our

ancestors evolved in intimate connection to the Earth. We think that the evolving body

adapted itself to the energies and frequencies in the ground and that by being

ungrounded the body malfunctions in one way or another, or in many ways. Think of aflickering light bulb that is not fully connected to its energy source.

Humans have increasingly adopted unnatural lifestyles, causing self-inflicted stress and

illness. We regard the separation from Earths natural energies as one example of an

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unnatural lifestyle, along with more familiar factors such as poor diet and lack of

exercise.

Reconnecting to the Earth, such as being barefoot outdoors and sleeping or working

indoors while using Earthing systems, is extremely beneficial. However, our research isin an early stage and we have not completed any direct studies related to medication,

including Coumadin, a commonly used medical blood thinner and anti-clotting agent. In

general, our experience suggests that some patients taking medication are able to

reduce their dosage level. For that reason, we highly recommend that people on

medication and considering Earthing should consult with their doctors first and then

monitor their medication carefully.

Earthing helps balance the nervous system, lower stress, reduce inflammation and

inflammation-related pain, and improve sleep and energy. The research also suggeststhat the electrodynamics of blood, a subject not very familiar to doctors, is also

improved, and this effect may lead to a more desirable blood viscosity (thickness),

reduced aggregation of red blood cells, and better overall circulation.

Your doctor is looking out for your well-being and will naturally be reluctant about

something new that he or she has no knowledge about. If you are under a doctors care,

we strongly advise you to consult with your physician before grounding yourself. If

interested, the doctor can read our book, Earthing: The Most Important Health

Discovery Ever?, as well as check out the research we have posted elsewhere on this

website. Keep in mind that Earthing is nothing more than the equivalent of standing or

walking barefoot or sleeping on the ground. The same natural, subtle electric energy

that your body would absorb from being in direct physical contact with the Earth

outside is the same energy that you receive when sitting or sleeping indoors and using

an Earthing product. It is something totally natural.

For those of you on Coumadin or any critical medication, you should decide with your

health care giver about grounding yourself. If you decide to do it, it may be prudent to

do so for shorter periods in the beginning, such as walking barefoot in the park or in

your backyard, where it is, of course, safe and comfortable to do so, or ground yourselffor a few hours while you watch television. As you slowly increase your Earthing time,

monitor your situation carefully, including how you feel, so as to determine if your

dosage of medication needs to be lowered. Ground with caution, and under the

watchful eye of your physician.

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IS THERE A BEST WAY TO GET GROUNDED?Clinton Ober

Co-author, Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?

Over the years I have been asked many times about which Earthing sleep system is the

best. This is because I have continued to refine the systems for ongoing research and tomeet the demand of people who want to sleep connected to the Earth. So there are

different versionsvariations on a theme.

We have tested many different versions of Earthing sleep systems and confirmed that

reduction of inflammation appears to be consistent with all of them. However, we have

observed that the larger the grounding device the more rapid the results and the more

that sleep is improved.

As I mentioned in the book, attempting to develop sheets with the best function was

very challenging. Some women were concerned about sheet thread count and colour,

issues that I felt added unnecessary cost and complexity to the simple priority of

improving sleep and health. I could understand people wanting to be fashionable and

colour coordinated and all that, but I have to admit it was a source of frustration for me

because my sole objective was to help people feel better. Somewhat out of frustration I

decided to develop a white half-sheet that people could place out-of-sight over their

regular bottom sheet at the leg/foot end of the bed. In this way they could at least

ground their feet and not be concerned about the colour of the sheet showing or about

any less-than-luxuriant tactile feel of lower thread counts on their hands. The ground

plane of the half-sheet is obviously less than a full sheet but nonetheless effective. It

also represents an excellent and more affordable option for most people who want to

sleep grounded for the first time. The use of the half-sheet alone consistently produces

good results, even for people with significant health issues.

After having grounded thousands of people and observed the results, and speaking from

my own personal experience with use of various grounding methods over a period of

twelve years, I believe the most effective and practical Earthing product is a bottom

fitted sheet. The whole body lies on a ground plane during sleep and it stays well in

place throughout the night. This is my preference and what I have primarily used myselffor the last six years. When I travel, my first choice is the recovery bag. I like the

surrounding ground of the recovery bag when you are inside of it, and not just on top of

it. Its like a sleeping bag, only much lighter. Its made of cotton and poly.

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Most of the people I come in contact with regarding Earthing have very compromised

health. If asked which system I recommend, I usually suggest the body bands during the

day and a recovery bag or a bottom fitted sheet at night to sleep on. For individuals with

sleep issues, I recommend the bottom fitted sheets.

Over the years I have also been asked countless times whether connecting to a ground

rod is better than connecting to a ground port of a wall outlet in a home that has been

properly grounded. Both methods produce identical results in reduction of

inflammation. Many people have reported better sleep with use of a ground rod, but

this is difficult to quantify in any way as sleep is so very subjective. Personally I use a

ground rod for my bed and an electrical ground outlet for floor mats when I am working

barefoot at the computer during the day. If you use a ground rod and live in a dry

climate, such as in the Southwest United States, I suggest watering the Earth every week

or two around where the ground rod is inserted, or as often as you remember. Keeping

the ground moist enhances conductivity.

In summary:

1) The bigger the ground plane the better,

2) Direct skin contact with the Earthing device is essential,

3) Any ground is better than no groundthe body always equalizes with the Earths

direct current (DC) and becomes charged with free electrons which we know reduces

inflammation.

In general, I recommend what people can afford and find acceptable aesthetically. All

the systems work effectively to put you in contact with the Earths natural energy.

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associated with faster recovery from day to day activity. People have more energy, less

pain, better function, and require less sleep. All these are indications that the body is

repairing itself and functioning more efficiently.

From my experience, whether you are sick or injured, the more consistently you ground

yourself and the more time you spend grounded, the greater your bodys ability to heal,

repair, and regenerate, and operate optimally.

For athletes, there is clearly a positive effect on biology, leading to heightened recovery

from day-to-day activity that facilitates competing at a higher level. Recovery is

everything. Competition and training tear the body down. Without adequate recovery,

the body will eventually break down or the person sets himself or herself up for injury. If

you can sleep less and respond better, and train harder, which is what we see from

Earthing, than the assumption can be made that you are affecting the recovery

mechanism and repairing the body better and faster.

These kinds of observations are why I tell my athletes to get grounded and get better!

Southern California-based Jeff Spencer, a member of the Earthing Institutes Board of

Advisors, was awarded the 2004 International Chiropractic Associations Sports

Chiropractor of the Year award in recognition of his uniquely effective treatment and

care of world-class athletes to prevent and heal injuries, and maximize performance. Dr.

Spencer, a former Olympic cyclist, has worked with professional golf, baseball, football,

tennis, motorcross, and Formula 1 racing champions, a World Series MVP, rock stars,

and top business executives. He can be reached at

HTTP://WWW .FACEBOOK.COM/CONNECTWITHDRJEFFor

HTTP://WWW .JEFFSPENCER.COM/

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good friend Katie McGuinness, a former general counsel for a Fortune 250 corporation. I

am posting her story here, in her own words, and at length, as a message of inspiration

and hope for individuals who may suffer from lupus or some other debilitating auto-

immune disorder. Heres her story:

The American College of Rheumatology has established 11 different criteria for the

diagnosis of lupus. If you have four of them, you are considered to have the

disease. Some are based on physical symptoms, others on blood tests. The bottom line

is that lupus is an inflammatory process. You may have inflammation in the joints, and

even in all the joints. I personally have had at times both shoulders, both elbows, both

wrists, and both knees involved. It is painful to the point where I took aspirin by the

handful as well as other painkillers. What I learned is that you dont get rid of the pain

but you do get erosive gastritis and mess up the digestive tract.

My informal relationship with lupus began in 1999 with kidney dysfunction. The

symptoms accumulated to the point where the doctors prescribed an anti-malarial drug

for me, which is a first-line medication for dealing with lupus. Why an anti-malarial

drug? Because malaria is an inflammatory disease. And lupus is an inflammatory

disease. This approach worked for me for about 18 months and kept the symptoms

under control.

Lupus, however, has a bunch of different triggers, and you learn what they are over

time. I learned, for instance, that sun exposure could trigger a lupus flare-up. I was living

in California and volunteering at a nature preserve, and getting a lot of sun. That was my

catalyst for starting down a pharmaceutical road to steroids. At first I could get by with a

three-week course of steroids and get my strength and the pain back towards normal.

But then the flare-ups got harder and harder to control. And the dosage of the steroids

got higher and higher.

In December of 2009 I experienced another flare-up. In addition to the pain, I was now

experiencing debilitating fatigue. That was the hardest part. I could sleep 10 or even 12

hours a day, but still not have any energy to do any of the things I liked to do. I couldnt

cook. I couldnt walk the dogs. I couldnt groom my horse. Along with this came mentalfog. Its not dementia and its not any psychoses. Its like the brain doesnt work at the

normal level of RPMs. I was fighting that, and the fatigue, and the pain, and all the while

seeing the steroid level ramp up and up. I had gotten up to 35 milligrams of cortisone a

day. Thats a pretty high dosage. I was getting quite concerned because long-term usage

of cortisone can have very damaging side effectssuch as osteoporosisand I wasnt

really getting relief from it anymore.

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The doctor at this point said he wasnt willing to raise the cortisone level any higher. He

suggested we try something else. So he handed me a prescription for an immune

suppressant called CellCept, a drug they give people with lupus when the steroids dont

help anymore. The drug is aimed at reducing inflammation and autoantibody production

in patients with autoimmune disorders. These, and other similar drugs, are also given to

people who have organ transplants in order to prevent the immune system fromrejecting the organ. The medications, however, can weaken your immune system to the

point where you become more vulnerable to cancer and other very nasty things.

Side effects include high blood pressure, kidney and liver problems, and susceptibility to

infection. These are not drugs you take lightly. I told my doctor I wanted to consider this

option carefully. I also said I was considering an extremely rigorous nutritional approach.

I was desperate. I had already consulted with a nutritional expert who had

recommended two months of an intense diet and nutrient supplementation program

followed by a period of fasting. I needed help wherever I could find it. When I told this

to my rheumatologist, he wanted to take back the prescription.

You cant do both, he said. I told him I wanted to keep the prescription but wouldnt

take the drug if I decided to follow the nutritional approach. I was confused and not

sure what to do.

Luckily, nature intervened in two ways and resolved my dilemma. First, because of

long-term use of pain relievers, I was taking Kapidex, a stomach acid suppressant, which

was interacting with the cortisone and creating constant intestinal discomfort. The

thought of eating a heavily cruciferous diet of broccoli and cabbage, a main feature of

the remedial diet, was out of the question.

Around this time, my husband had a conversation with our friend Marty Zucker, who

thought that Earthing could help me. He strongly urged me to get grounded. We

followed his advice and immediately obtained an Earthing sheet. I was willing to try

most anything at this point. So I started sleeping grounded not knowing what would

happen. I had the CellCept prescription if needed, but I wasnt willing yet to play that

drastic card.

As the days went by I noticed that I started feeling better, having more energy, and

thinking more clearly. This went on for a few weeks and then it was time for my regular

monthly visit to the rheumatologist. I should mention that whenever I saw him I would

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have my blood drawn a week before so that at the time of the office visit he would have

a fresh picture of what was going on in my body.

This time when I walked into his office, he asked me how I was feeling. I said it is really

strange but I honestly feel I have more energy and Im starting to feel like my old self

again. He sat me down and said that this was the first time in the five years I had been

seeing him that my blood work was normal. None of the hallmark factors for lupus were

present, including the primary test for lupusthe antinuclear antibody test. In my case,

the test had been positive for ten years.

Now, six months after I started grounding, I have to admit that Imalmosttaking mygood health and abundant energy for granted. Now, I walk my dogs twice a day,

practice chi gong, study photography, and participate in two weekly strength training

classes to prevent osteoporosis. But every night I sleep on my grounding sheet. The

prospect that I might slip back into the pain, fatigue, and fog of lupus is truly frightening.

I only wish I had started grounding sooner and not lost so much time to lupus. I will be

forever grateful to Earthing for restoring my health and vitality. I dont consider myself

to be cured. But I do consider myself to be in remission. Earthing has given me a second

chance at life.

When I saw Katie recently, she looked vibrant and energetic. She was indeed living

again. She had even gone through a cross-country move and was able to handle the

stress and physical challenges involved. Her husband Frank perhaps put it best when he

said: Katie is doing so well she is shell-shocked with wellness!

RELIEF FROM VITILIGO

As I have gotten older I have begun to experience age-related things like brain fog,

difficulty in dropping excessive weight, and most unexpectedly, not sleeping well.

Better nutrition and higher intensity weight resistance exercises effectively addressed

the first two problems, but I was having difficulty finding a solution to getting good,

sound sleep. I tried many methods, short of taking drugs, but nothing worked. It was

extremely frustrating. I never had difficulty sleeping before.

I decided to try grounding, despite a healthy dose of scepticism. The first night

grounded, I slept as though I had taken some kind of sleeping pill. I slept through the

night and deeper than I had in years. I was stunned by the result. I experienced the

same thing the next night and it continued in the ensuing nights.

The week after I started sleeping grounded I visited my elderly mother who suffers

from an assortment of chronic inflammatory maladies from arthritis to vitiligo, the skin

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disorder made famous by the singer Michael Jackson. (Note: Vitiligo is a relatively

common autoimmune skin disease affecting an estimated one percent of the

population. The immune system attacks and destroys melanocytes, the cells which give

skin its colour, causing the skin to turn white in patches. The condition is associated with

inflammation and often with redness and itching. The medical system does not have

effective treatments for this condition).

I decided to carry my sheet with me to show my mother, since grounding might

possibly relieve her symptoms of chronic inflammation. When I arrived at her home, I

was stunned by a sight I had never encountered before. She was experiencing a full

blown, painful skin flare-up on her left forearm. She had mentioned these episodes to

me in the past. She develops extreme and burning-like pain along with severe itching.

She also has some eczema mixed in. However, I was not prepared for what I saw. Her

arm was so red and inflamed that it looked like a bloody, pulpy, piece of raw flesh. My

stomach turned and my heart dropped at the sight of it. She was obviously in great pain,

and the itching was severe as well. Some of the pain, she told me, could have been

exacerbated by the constant scratching in an attempt to relieve the itching.

I asked her what she normally did to calm down her bodys reaction. She said all she

could do is to take her meds and wait for 10-12 hours for the symptoms to subside. I

felt terrible for her.

I instinctively pulled out my grounding sheet, connected it, and told her to just put it on

her arm to see if it would at least help minimize the itching. She wrapped it around her

arm and we started to talk about other things to take her mind off her discomfort.About 45 minutes into the conversation, I looked at her arm and was shocked. While

still a little red, the pulpy appearance had all but vanished. And so, too, the itching was

almost gone. She said she felt so much better and was relieved by this totally

unexpected development. I have seen a lot of extraordinary things over the years, but I

have never witnessed a dramatic, healing transformation quite like that. I continued to

ground her for the rest of my weekend visit and there was no recurrence of her severe

symptoms.

I subsequently obtained an Earthing system for her and she started grounding on a

consistent basis. In the two months since, she has reported much improved sleep,

greatly diminished itching, and only one flare up. The flare-up happened when she

lapsed in her grounding routine. She quickly got the situation under control by

grounding herself the same way as the first time. She had the exact same relief.

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AUTISM

(In the Earthing book, one California mother described the improvement of her young

son who had been diagnosed with autism two years before. The boy did not sleep

through the night and was subject to behavioural meltdown and crying in the afternoon.

As the following report indicates, he continues to improve).

Our five-year-old son is a completely different kid since he started to sleep grounded.

He is in general education kindergarten this year, steadily making progress with his

speech and behavioural issues, and currently doing school work at a first grade level.

Most importantly, his sleep has been very consistent since being grounded with the

Earthing sheet. He sleeps 10 hours per night without waking up, and rises each morning

feeling refreshed and happy. Sleep is a big issue, a snowball factor. From reading posts

in my autism groups, depression and behavioural problems often occur with lack of

restful sleep. Autistic kids seem to really be affected by bouts of insomnia.

LESS PAIN

I am a non-professional athlete who has been running since my mother said I ran out

of the womb. I had shoulder pain from a fall on a local running trail in August 2009, left

hip pain for years, a tweaked neck, and was recovering from a sprained ankle a month

before (that was not my year!). After one hour of Earthing, the pain in all areas nearly

vanished.

I went through the change three years ago and could not sleep a full night without

waking up multiple times from pain of past injuries and a noisy living environment. Since

sleeping on my Earthing sheet, all has changed. For the first time in three years I havebeen sleeping a full night sleep with dreams. I feel more balanced, my friends say I look

younger now, and I have a renewed zest for life!

CAUTION WITH COUMADIN AND EARTHING I had bypass open heart surgery nineteen months ago and was not able to sleep

through the night without medication. I also developed significant muscle and joint

stiffness. I started sleeping grounded two months ago and within a month was able to

sleep without medications or even herbs. My morning knee and even back stiffness, and

sometimes pain, disappeared. My INR blood test moved from 1.5 to 5.5. Ideally, it

needs to be between 2 and 3. My cardiologist was astounded and had to lower my

dosage of Warfarin by 1.5 g. (Note: Earthing has a blood thinning effect and individualson Warfarin, also known as Coumadin, or any other blood thinner, need to monitor their

blood level very carefully with their doctors in order to prevent excess thinning and the

risk of bleeding. Refer to our earlier Earthing Report on medications).

Five days ago I took the sheet off my bed to launder it and woke up with terrible knee

stiffness two mornings in a row. I had forgotten to put the sheet back on. I immediately

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SALT REDUCTION METHOD? Since sleeping grounded, Ive found prepared foods to be way over-salted. Strange,

because normally I love salt and cant get enough of the stuff.

FAS T H I P REPLACEMENT RECOVERY AT AG E 90 Arvord Belden Ph.D., gave us his inspiring story in the Earthing book how, at age 90,

sleeping grounded has enriched and energized his quality of life. Hes been Earthing for

more than nine years. We spoke to Arvord in mid-2010 to see how he was doing.

Quite well, he said. He had just had a right hip replacement and the doctor and nurses

were amazed at his quick recovery and lack of swelling. He asked the doctor if he could

have his Earthing sheet in the hospital bed with him. No problem, the doctor

said. Arvord was in the hospital for four days and after two weeks reported doing

super-dooper and walking better than before.

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short period of time. Everybody benefits in some way, but each of us is different. The

benefits can come quickly and dramatically, or subtly and gradually over time. Often

people who are very ill or saddled with various symptoms feel the difference

dramatically. One older man adamantly told us he didnt feel any difference but then

admitted that he didnt get up at night to urinate as frequently as he did before, and

often didnt get up at all. Thats a sign of deeper sleep and probably reduction ofprostate inflammation. Both are great benefits!

Someone with radiant health and who sleeps well may not feel any

difference. However, connecting to the Earth helps to preserve and perpetuate good

health. In this situation, regard Earthing as a simple, effortless, and natural form of anti-

aging and preventive medicine, whether you feel benefits or not.

For people taking medication, we always suggest being alert to the possibility that asthey feel better, the dosage level of medication may be able to be reduced. You may

experience signs of overdose. If you do, please see your doctor right away. In any case,

do not reduce medication without consulting with your doctor. If you are taking any

form of blood thinner, whether a prescription medicine like Coumadin, or a nutritional

supplement, remember that Earthing has a blood thinning effect. Monitor your blood

level very carefully and talk to your doctor about what you are doing. You want to guard

against excess thinning and the risk of bleeding.

A new European study published in 2011 indicates that Earthing affects thyroid function.

The precise meaning of the changes is unclear, but quite a few people on medication for

underactive thyroid have told us over the years they been able to reduce their dosage of

medication after starting Earthing. Some reported feeling palpitations, irregular and/or

forceful beating of the heart, an unpleasant symptom reflecting perhaps an arrhythmia

but a common sign also of excess thyroid hormone. We believe that Earthing may

improve thyroid function and thus the regular level of medication may become

excessive. Thus, if you take thyroid medication and start Earthing, be alert to the

possibility of medication overdose. If that happens, you may need to consult with your

physician about adjusting your medication level. Many people have reported being able

to do so.

EARTHING CAR E TIP S We would also like to remind you about taking good care of your Earthing

sheets. Remember NO BLEACH when you wash the sheets. Bleach will destroy the

conductive silver threads in the sheet that carry the Earths energy. Use gentle laundry

detergent, such as the eco-friendly varieties you can purchase in health food stores, or a

product like Tide Free and Clear.

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people start Earthing have been associated with reduction of pain and the anxiety and

fear of chronic illness.

Earthing book co-author and cardiologist Stephen Sinatra remarks: I am convinced that

grounding does indeed lower blood pressure. And, if you are hypertensive and takingmedication for it, and you want to ground to reduce inflammation, you need to tell your

physician. He or she may need to adjust and lower your medication accordingly. Track

your own blood pressure with a monitoring device at home and bring to your doctor a

written record of your readings before and after grounding sessions.

Occasionally, people have reported increased blood pressure after they start Earthing.

Such a situation, however, has nothing to do with Earthing. There is nothing about

Earthing that can cause a rise in blood pressure. Blood pressure either comes down or

stays the same. Our observations suggest that any parallel rise in blood pressure among

people who are Earthing is unrelated to Earthing. Rather, it is likely related to stress in

their lives or where individuals taking blood pressure medication stopped taking the

drugs on their own.

Earthing book co-author Clint Ober, who has inspired and promoted Earthing research

for more than a decade, recalls the case of one male participant in an early study whose

blood pressure was very high and stayed high during the eight week duration of the

study:

His numbers changed very little. He was like 160. Meanwhile, the blood pressure of all

the other people in the study dropped. I asked the doctor involved in the study what

was going on with that individual. He told me that the man was having serious financial

problems.

In my experience, I have seen many people, and especially women, have significant

reductions in their blood pressure. That happens because Earthing is changing the

hormones and having a systemic effect in the body. People have less pain and become

happier.

Mr. Ober also cites the case of a man who has been Earthing for many years who has a

blood pressure that runs normally in the 110 to 130 range. The fluctuations depend on

the time of day the blood pressure readings are taken and how much stress he is dealing

with. When his mate died, the mans blood pressure went to 160 and stayed there for

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almost eight months. It was the trauma of the loss. When his son died suddenly of a

heart attack, the same thing happened. The blood pressure went up and stayed up for

quite a while despite many hours of Earthing during the night and day.

Mr. Ober also recalls an incident from his youth and growing up in rural Montana: Myuncle had a mink farm with several hundred mink. When my city cousins came to visit

once, they were very noisy and rambunctious around the animals. I remember that

several of the mink died, probably from a heart attack. The caged animals had become

stressed, had no defense, and nowhere to hide. My uncle got good and mad at them

and never allowed them into the mink house again.

Some people are in a constant stressed, fight-or-flight mode. They are in a corner. They

cant run, hide, or do anything. They feel helpless. Thats life today for many people.

They get into a sympathetic state and whether they are Earthing or not they manifesttheir predicament as high blood pressure. Think of the word hypertension. Everything is

tight and tense. You are ready to spring, launch, run, or fight.

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One person unknowingly put the rod into what she thought was the ground but which

was actually a thick layer of dirt on a ground floor balcony. When she moved the rod a

few feet away and into actual soil, her Earthing system worked perfectly.

That incident reminds us of situations in the past where people have put ground rods in

flower pots. A flower pot has soil in it, but its not the Earth.

CHECK YO UR E ARTHING SY S T E MCheck the conductivity of the Earthing system, that is, if it is conducting the Earths

energy as it was designed to do. To test the conductivity, use the Earthing continuity

tester. You simply connect the tester to the ground port of a properly grounded wall

outlet and place it directly on your Earthing mat or sheet. A green light will confirm that

your system and wire are in good working order. You may have to press firmly to get

the light to go on when testing the sheet.

NO D I R E CT SKIN CONTACT Sometimes individuals put the grounding half-sheet (also called the bed pad) or mat

under their bottom sheet in bed. This may not work so well. Direct skin contact with the

Earthing sheet or mat is highly recommended (please refer to our Earthing report from

July 2010 on Is There a Best Way to Be Grounded?) Although people sweat during the

night and the moisture can permeate the bottom sheet and create a channel of

conductivity between the body and the Earthing product, the quantity of sweat differs

individually. Thus we urge everyone to make direct skin contact. If you are using the

Earthing mat in bed, you may want to reposition it. Your feet could be coming off of it

during the night.

DEHYDRATION Many people dont drink enough water during the day. They are dehydrated. We have

observed that people who are dehydrated may not experience the benefits of Earthing

as fully as those who drink an adequate amount of water.

IMPROPER CA R E O F E ARTHING SHEETS

Improper laundering of Earthing sheets (including bed pads, full fitted sheets, and the

recovery bag) can result in loss of conductivity and benefits. Launder just as you would

wash other bedding, using a gentle wash cycle and a mild detergent. However,do not

useany chlorine bleach or fabric softener, or any detergent that contains bleach orfabric softener, as these chemicals can ruin the conductivity of your sheet. When

necessary, use hydrogen peroxide-based non-bleach to remove stains and/or to whiten

your sheet. Low-heat drying is recommended. Alsodo not applylotions, creams, or oils

before bedtime to areas of your skin that will come in contact with the sheet. The

reason for this is that such substances can easily become absorbed into the sheets. The

oils they contain become oxidized by the air and can diminish the conductivity of the

silver threads in the sheets.

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MEDICAL CONSIDERATIONS AN EARTHING

ADVISORYEarthing (grounding) refers to the process of establishing conductive contact between

the surface of the Earth and the surface of the human body to allow electrons to flow

from the Earth and maintain the body at Earth potential.

Research indicates that regular Earthing restores and stabilizes a natural state in the

electrical functioning of the body, affects many physiological processes, reduces

inflammation, and improves sleep and energy. Studies providing evidence of Earthing

effects include:

Earthing the Human Body Influences Physiologic Processes

(WWW .NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV/PUBMED/21469913)

Pilot Study on the Effect of Grounding on Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness

(WWW .NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV/PUBMED/20192911)

Other studies are posted atWWW .EARTHINGINSTITUTE.NET/INDEX.PHP/RESEARCH

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE CARE OF A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL , WE STRONGLY ADVISE YOU

TO INFORM YOUR PRACTITIONER ABOUT EARTHING BECAUSE EARTHING CAN INFLUENCE

HOW YOU FEEL, YOUR MEDICAL TEST RESULTS, AND MAY POSSIBLY REQUIRE

ADJUSTMENT IN YOUR MEDICATION.IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT INDIVIDUALSTAKING MEDICATION TO THIN THE BLOOD, REGULATE BLOOD SUGAR, CONTROL BLOOD

PRESSURE, OR TO REGULATE THYROID HORMONE LEVELS, CONSULT THEIR HEALTH CARE

PROVIDER BEFORE EARTHING.

Earthing influences thyroid function, so if you are on thyroid medication you may begin

to feel symptoms of over-medication. Similarly, if you are on Coumadin, you need to

know that Earthing has a blood-thinning effect so there could be a compounded

response, and too much blood thinning. Youll need to monitor your blood carefully and

above all consult with your doctor. We also know that the regulation of blood sugar

improves, so if you take anti-diabetic medication you need to check with your doctor to

see if a medication reduction is in order. Keep in mind also that Earthing reduces

inflammation, so if you are taking any anti-inflammatory medication please be sure to

monitor your dosage with your doctor.

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After one month I noticed that I tend to sleep through the night more and wake with

a more positive attitude.

The first time I used the sheet, I put it over my body and put my hands on top of it,

palms down over my heart area. A sensation began immediately of something flowingprofusely into my palms. It was like Niagara Falls. It was a very pleasant sensation. Its

been four months now and I find I drop off to sleep more quickly and wake up feeling

more refreshed. The quality of my sleep has improved a great deal. Before, falling asleep

was sometimes a problem for me. I noticed also a profound reduction in anxiety within

a month or so. I suffered from a chronic low level of anxiety and it affected my life in

many ways. With less anxiety, my general mood has been more positive and optimistic. I

have felt happier. At the time I started Earthing I was still recovering from a badly

sprained big toe on my left foot. I had sprained it while dancing six months before.

Several different treatments had helped somewhat, but the joint was still stubbornly

inflamed and very tender. Quite quickly I noticed the inflammation went away, and the

sprain began to heal and after four months the joint is almost completely normal.

My intense day and night hot flashes are about 90 percent gone since I started

sleeping grounded two months ago.

I use the Earthing band at night and also during my long sitting period of meditation.

I have noticed significant reduction in pain from a neck injury due to an accident many

years ago. The neck and shoulder pain was almost a daily reality. The pain is now almost

gone. Lower back pain is significantly less and if there is some strain due to prolong

sitting or weather changes, the recovery time is very fast. My sleep quality has

improved almost from the second or third night.

I had some trouble with restlessness and inability to fall asleep for a few years before

I started using the sheet. Now I dont have any trouble and I wake up feeling great. I got

an earthing pad for my 13-year-old dog. For about a year he had had a chronic infection

in one eye. I used antibiotic eye drops from the vet which would clear up the condition,

but when I stopped using them the problem would always come back. When he started

sleeping on the Earthing pad the condition cleared up without eye drops and didnt

return. Before sleeping on the pad he used to jump up suddenly from the lying position

for no apparent reason. He hasnt done this since Earthing.

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hips to help relieve hip pain at night.

Oh yeah, I also got the bands that I wear when Im at the computer. One band is on my

hand and one is on my knee.both inflamed and tender.

Prior to sleeping on the earthing sheet, I had very little sleep at nights due to the

intense pain and hard to get comfortable. Lack of sleep added to my health challenge. It

took at least a month before I started to sleep better after getting the sheet. Then, more

and more I was starting to sleep for 2 or 3 hours at a time. For quite some time now, I

am sleeping longer periods of time, and deep and restful sleep. I have to be reminded to

remember how bad my sleep was prior to grounding. Getting such better sleep no

doubt helps with the other challenges I have.

Wearing the bands has improved the wrist and knee joint, with less inflammation and

more mobility. I am sure there is much more benefits going on in my body from

grounding for 8 months now.

About every 4 months I have blood work done and they check my SED rate to see how

much inflammation I have in my body (0-30) is the average range. I have always been in

the 60-90 range. Since Earthing, the SED rate has come down and this last blood work

done this week, SED rate was at 29!! This is the 1st time in 5 years that I have been in

the average range.

I know I have a ways to go to regain my health but I know Im beating this disease!

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EARTHING TIPS: FEET TOO COLD ON THE EARTHING

MAT?With winter approaching in Australia (summer in the Northern Hemisphere), Earthing

distributor Linda McNair began to feel the chill in her feet.

I love using the Earthing mat and my feet are planted on it every day while Im at my

computer, she says. However, with the chilly winter weather I need to put socks on to

keep my feet warm. I could move the mat to under my hands, but Id rather not. I feel

more strongly grounded when its the bottom of my feet that are connected. So I

decided to do a little experimenting with socks to see how much conductivity would be

lost by wearing them. It made sense to me that socks may be more conductive if they

have a small amount of silver or copper in them. I did a quick search on the Internet and

found both silver- and copper-threaded socks. With a click of a button they were on

their way to me. I then did a little test with my voltmeter and included everyday socks

and stockings to see which ones conducted the best.

Here are Lindas results:

Situation & voltmeter reading (in volts)

Ungrounded

Standing on carpeted floor in office 1.260

Grounded

Standing on mat barefoot 0.016

Standing on mat with an everyday sock 0.420

Sitting, with feet on mat with everyday sock after half-hour 0.100

Standing on mat with nylon stockings 0.100

Standing on mat with silver-fiber socks 0.030-0.016

Standing on mat with copper-fiber socks 0.023

What Linda was doing was testing the induced ambient alternating current (AC) voltageon her body while wearing a variety of socks. She conducted her test in her office where

she has a variety of computer equipment, phones, and lamps. Such electrical

equipment, as well as the wiring in the wall, emits electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

As Lindas experiment reveals, wearing silver and copper socks reduced the AC charge

on her body nearly as well as being barefoot. However, wearing nylons and everyday

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GROUNDING AND AWARENESS OF GROUNDEDNESSNow and then, feedback from the growing global Earthing community includes some

thoughtful comments regarding an increased inner state of groundedness. In this brief

report, we would like to share a few of these comments with you, along with a personal

note at the end from Clint Ober.

FROM CAT S A UN DE R S, PH .D., AUTHOR OF DR . CAT S HELPING

HANDBOOK : A COMPASSIONATE GUIDE FOR BEING HUMAN

Connecting with Mother Earth through grounding allows me to experience the planets

massive support in a literal, physical way. This is much different from keeping my

energy grounded the way Ive been taught by healers and body workers. Thats

important as well, but its like the difference between thinking about water and actually

having a drink.

Earthing is like mainlining an ocean of pure, unadulterated energy. Plugging into the

endlessly sustainable power plant called Earth has not only improved my physical

health, it has also improved my psychological functioning and deepened my spiritual

sense that all is well no matter whats happening in my world or in the world at large.

Being physically sustained by Mother Earth has also given me a sweeter and safer

experience of mothering than Ive ever known. Although many people have positive

connotations of the word mother, I cant say the same has been true for me. Now that

Im experiencing constant support from the electrical field of Mother Earth, the word

mother no longer strikes a note of fear in my heart. Somehow, grounding did what

many years of therapy couldnt do by putting those old mother fears to rest at last.

At home, I sleep grounded and I wear Earthing bands on my feet during the day. I use

an Earthing mat under my feet at the computer, and I keep an extra set of Earthing

bands in my office for counselling clients, so we can both be grounded when we work

together. For me, Earthing bands are like umbilical cords to connect with the Great

Mother that sustains us all. What could be better than that?

FROM RABBI TMIMAH ICKOVITS , LO S ANGELES

After several months of Earthing, I feel a greater sense of well-being and of inner

tangles less tangled. I settle in and rest more deeply. I am simultaneously experiencing a

greater feeling of connectedness to the Earth and to community, and, as a result, a

greater ability to share.

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FROM CLINT OB ER , WHO HAS GROUNDED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE

I grew up in a farming and ranching environment. Surrounded by Earth. I was exposed

a good deal to the Native American culture around us, in which everything is connected

to Nature, to the planet, and the universe.

Many people become more sensitive and aware of their being after spending some

time sleeping grounded. I believe that part of this inner development comes from

reducing environmental noise on the body. Its kind of like being in the woods and

hearing the birds sing. Birds are everywhere. They carry on in all environments, but the

noise of the city drowns them out. Furthermore, when you are connected with the Earth

you are electrically connected with all animals and plants that live on the Earth with you.

I strongly believe there is more to Earthing then reducing inflammation and improving

sleep. There is perhaps a parallel conscious intimacy that grows with Nature and the

living planet.

NURTURING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM-HEART CONNECTION

Perhaps one of the most overlooked Earthing dividends and so beneficial in these

stressful times is the rapid calming influence that takes place within the autonomic

nervous system (ANS) that regulates functions like heart and respiration rates, digestion,

perspiration, urination, and even sexual arousal.

The effect begins pretty much instantly when you connect with the Earth. The ANS shifts

from a typically overactive sympathetic mode, associated with stress, into a

parasympathetic, calming mode.

To help you appreciate this benefit, we would like to share details on a heart rate

variability (HRV) study that we previewed briefly in the Earthing book in 2010. The

study, published recently in Integrative Medicine: A Clinicians Journal, was conducted

by electrophysiologist Gaetan Chevalier, Ph.D., and cardiologist Stephen Sinatra,

M.D. Click here to read the full study.

You may not be familiar with HRV, so heres a quick synopsis, courtesy of Dr. Sinatra:

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In cardiology, a balanced ANS supports good HRV and is an indicator of better heart

health. Conversely, the presence of disturbed ANS and HRV means an increased risk of

arrhythmias, coronary artery spasm, and sudden cardiac death. HRV has also become a

reliable clinical tool for measuring survival potential after a heart attack. HRV is not the

same thing as heart rate. Your heart beats faster when you exert yourself or become

stressed, and it slows down when you relax but thats not HRV. HRV refers to theimperceptible variations in the hearts beat-to-beat interval that result from the basic

breathing process. We refer to it technically as respiratory sinus arrhythmia. You cant

feel the difference, but when you breathe in, your heart rate increases just ever so

slightly. When you breathe out, it decreases ever so slightly. We can see these

fluctuations on an electrocardiogram, and weve learned even more from sophisticated

computer analyses of beat-to-beat intervals.

Let me give you an example here. Have you ever had an electrocardiogram exercise

stress test on a treadmill? If so, you may recall that you remain hooked up for a bit of

time after the test. The reason is that your doctor wants to see what your heart rate is

doing after exertion on the treadmill. Your heart rate may rise to 150 beats a minute

during the test. Afterward, it should drop down into a de-accelerated zone of say 100

beats or less in about six minutes. If not, and it stays higher, you have a classic indicator

of disturbed HRV, and increased likelihood of cardiovascular trouble. You may, for

instance, have a beat rate of 112. Thats not good enough. I remember as a young

cardiologist years ago waiting even a half-hour or so for some patients heart rates to

drop down sufficiently.

Surrounded as we are these days by constant psychological arousal from stressful news

and a volatile world, anything that can improve ANS and HRV function is of great benefit

for overall health. Exercise, tai chi, yoga, and meditation are examples of activities that

improve ANS and HRV. You become more relaxed and you sleep better.

This effect is precisely what many people report after they start Earthing.

The Chevalier-Sinatra study involved monitoring test subjects before, during, and after

40-minute grounding sessions while seated comfortably in a recliner chair. It confirmed

a balancing effect on sympathetic and parasympathetic function and a restoration of

normal tone that reduces the stress response. These improvements go beyond basicrelaxation and may explain in part the repeated feedback from people experiencing

lower blood pressure and improved arrhythmias after they start

Earthing.

Medical research has made it clear also that HRV is a superb indicator of your ability to

cope with both internal and external changes. It is, in fact, the most accurate predictor

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diabetes more than ten years ago. If your body aches, have it cured here, she told

amused reporters. Try it, it doesnt hurt. Another advocate said, I have wasted all my

money on proper medication. Now I prefer coming here, because it is free.

One local doctor was quoted as saying there was no official research that had

determined the true effects of railway-induced electric therapy. However, he added, the

therapy was widely seen as questionable as it did not conform to medical norms.

Concerned railway officials are obviously alarmed at the prospect of someone being

killed by a train and so dispatch agents to expel locals from the tracks.

We dont know whether theres something special about railway track energy. To us this

seems like a variation of being barefoot on the ground, but for sure NOT a variation we

would ever, ever recommend.

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beats or less in about six minutes. If not, and it stays higher, you have a classic indicator

of disturbed HRV, and increased likelihood of cardiovascular trouble. You may, for

instance, have a beat rate of 112. Thats not good enough. I remember as a young

cardiologist years ago waiting even a half-hour or so for some patients heart rates to

drop down sufficiently.

Surrounded as we are these days by constant psychological arousal from stressful news

and a volatile world, anything that can improve ANS and HRV function is of great benefit

for overall health. Exercise, tai chi, yoga, and meditation are examples of activities that

improve ANS and HRV. You become more relaxed and you sleep better. This effect is

precisely what many people report after they start Earthing.

The Chevalier-Sinatra study involved monitoring test subjects before, during, and after

40-minute grounding sessions while seated comfortably in a recliner chair. It confirmed

a balancing effect on sympathetic and parasympathetic function and a restoration of

normal tone that reduces the stress response. These improvements go beyond basic

relaxation and may explain in part the repeated feedback from people experiencing

lower blood pressure and improved arrhythmias after they start

Earthing.

Medical research has made it clear also that HRV is a superb indicator of your ability to

cope with both internal and external changes. It is, in fact, the most accurate predictor

of sudden death and the most accurate reflector of stress, according to Paul Rosch,

M.D., president of the American Institute of Stress in New York City. If you can alter

your HRV, that is, increase it, you can reduce the likelihood of stress-related disorders,

including cardiovascular disease.

For individuals who experience anxiety, emotional stress, panic, fear, and/or symptoms

of involuntary muscle contractions and spasms, including headaches, cardiac

palpitations, and dizziness, Earthing appears to represent a genuinely promising

strategy. Such individuals often see positive changes within 20 to 40 minutes.

Dr. Sinatra says this about stress: As a cardiologist, I have repeatedly treated the

human wreckage that stress acute or chronic sympathetic overdrive can exact. In

trying to rebuild and restore the wreckage, I have applied the best tools that both

conventional and alternative medicine has to offer. Reconnecting the body to the Earth

offers perhaps the most natural tool available anywhere. Ive seen this simple remedy

do some amazing things.

Dr. Sinatra shared these recent examples:

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changes. We are also using Earthing bands on the head at night and they have been

working remarkably well with better sleep, less bruxism, more dream sleep time, less

snoring and headaches, and an opening of the passages during sleep so that nasal

breathing is enhanced. From my own results and that of friends, family, and patients,

Earthing works extremely well in an overall program that addresses total health and

wellbeing, and why it does so makes perfect sense to me. Earthing reconnected mepersonally to the Earth and to an exciting healing factor.

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MULTIPLE BENEFITS THE HOLISTIC IMPACT OF

EARTHING Many different systems in the body are affected when we reconnect with the

Earth. Earthing is truly a holistic concept. People who start Earthing because of a sleep

problem or a pain problem are often surprised to experience a broad array of relief.Here are two stories weve received along those lines:

LYNN DEENE , 65, M ILO , MI

In November 2010, when I started Earthing, I had been looking for some kind of relief

for bilateral swollen and painful Achilles tendons and plantar fasciitis for over a year. I

had tried different exercises, ice packs, massage, and finally physical therapy, all with

little or no relief and none with lasting effect. At the end of each day, my feet were so

painful and sore, as well as my calves, that it felt like every step was torture. It didnt

matter if my day was more or less active. Also, with the fasciitis, getting out of bed in

the morning, even with doing foot and ankle exercises before putting my feet on the

floor, it felt like I was standing on blocks of wood. It took several slow steps to loosen up

my feet. I also had left shoulder and upper arm pain from a fall six months earlier,

which, again, had minimum relief from therapy, pain relievers, and stretching

exercises. I was also experiencing urinary frequency, headaches, fatigue that sleep

didnt relieve, other muscle aches, and a feeling of heaviness in my legs that came after

a few minutes of my daily walks, and chronic knee pain from a twenty-year-old injury

caused from a horse kick.

I have led a healthy lifestyle all my life no alcohol, no tobacco, eat well, drink lots ofwater, take supplements, have regular adjustments, daily exercise, and love the

outdoors.

I first heard of Earthing when Dr. Sinatra was interviewed by Dr. Christiane Northrup. I

was very intrigued, so I got the book, and then an Earthing mat. I put the mat on the

floor at my computer. After a 10-hour day in front of the computer, I noticed after just a

couple of days that I didnt have the normal headache after a few hours at work, and

also, that I wasnt nearly as fatigued at the end of the work day. I had more energy for

my after-work walk.

I was so excited that I got a half-sheet for our bed. My husband was willing to give it a

try. After 2 weeks I had less muscle pain. After 3 weeks, I noticed that my Achilles

tendons were less swollen and that they didnt hurt at the end of the day. After 4

months, I was like a new person. My tendons looked and felt normal. The fasciitis was

completely gone. The knee pain, creakiness, and heaviness in my legs were gone. My

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mobility became stronger, quicker, and more flexible. I wasnt fatigued at 10 am, as I

was before. The shoulder and arm pain was greatly relieved. And the urinary symptoms

were gone. I didnt have to plan my life around the availability of bathroom

facilities! Moreover, Ive been able to lower my blood pressure medication from 20 to

5 milligrams with a consistently-lower reading that I havent seen since starting on

medication more than ten years ago. The best yet is that my husband has very littlemuscle pain, sleeps more sound, and with less snoring, and has more energy.

Looking back, almost a year-and-a-half later, did I believe all this could happen? That

my pain and fatigue would be gone? No, I didnt. The best that I had hoped for was

some relief from the tendon pain. I was afraid that my active life was going to be

severely compromised, but instead, I am able to not only enjoy more, but to do more

physically.

KAREN BALL , 60, MASSAGE THERAPIST , BEAVERTON , OR

In July 2011 I was in terrible shape. At 244 pounds, I was 80 pounds overweight. I had

been suffering with serious insomnia for 22 years, sleeping maybe 2 -3 hours on average

per night. I had developed an inability to break down carbohydrates and had other

digestive difficulties, mild depression, bloating, 15 years of hot flashes, bone density

issues, and severe arthritis and muscle contracture in my right hip that caused pain and

restricted movement. Sleeping pills, mega-doses of melatonin, antihistamines,

supplements, hot baths, herbs, teas, meditation, breathing exercises, relaxation CDs,

and so many more things were not making much of an impact on my problems. I read

everything and tried everything I found, many times over. I checked out every book the

library had on insomnia, and read anything I could find on the web.

In July 2011 I got the Earthing half-sheet and started sleeping on it. The first three

nights I didnt get any sleep, but I had massive amounts of energy from laying on it 7-9

hours per night. Within the first 2 hours I lost considerable inflammation so that my

ankles which had been severely swollen now appeared normal. I weighed myself and

found I had lost 4.5 pounds of swelling those first three nights. Not real weight loss; just

a very noticeable decrease of swelling. It took 6 nights before I got a good nights

sleep. But since August of 2011 I have had 4-8 hours of sleep every night except for 2

nights. I have had 11 nights where I have been able to sleep the night through without

getting up to urinate.

My ankles first and then the knees became normal size without the swelling. I could

actually see my kneecap for the first time in five years. My pain was reduced. The

contracture in my right thigh (my body trying to protect the hip) went away. The

position of the femur corrected itself, and was no longer pressing against the side of the

hip socket. This meant a greater range of movement, less pain, and for the first time in

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EARTHING , INFLAMMATION , AND AGING

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUTGatan Chevalier, Ph.D., Director, Earthing Institute

Type the word inflammation in the search box at the U.S. National Library of Medicine

(Pub Med) website and youll get more than 377,000 medical research articles to

consider. The very first one goes back to an 1813 paper on inflammation in the eyes.

Its been since 2000, however, that the relationship between inflammation and disease

has really taken off and specifically the relationship between chronic inflammation and

chronic disease. Hitherto, inflammation was largely thought of as the bodys response to

injury and infection. That, to be sure, is what acute inflammation is about. But now,

researchers have become preoccupied with the chronicity factor, that is long-term, and

the nitty-gritty details of how chronic inflammatory underlies many of the most

common health disorders, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and

neurodegenerative conditions. More than two-thirds of the 58,000 or so articles on

chronic inflammation have been published in the last 12 years.

WHY IS THERE SUCH A BIG AND GROWING INTEREST IN CHRONIC

INFLAMMATION RESEARCH?

In the 1980s, medical investigators started to take notice that immune cells congregate

at sites of diseased tissue in the body in a wide variety of apparently unrelated

disorders. One of the earliest observations involved atherosclerosis, where the lining of

arteries become inflamed and damaged, and develop into a potentially life-threatening

witches brew of fat and debris, the basis of plaque. Russell Ross of the University of

Washington identified the presence of macrophages in atherosclerotic tissue, white

blood cells known to flock to sites of inflammation. During the next twenty years,

arterial disease became increasingly linked to an inflammatory process. By 2000,

ongoing studies by Harvard researchers led to the breakout conclusion that

cardiovascular disease was inflammatory in nature. By 2004, smouldering

inflammation had been incriminated as the silent menace behind multiple diseases. The

chronic inflammation revolution took centre stage worldwide on magazine covers; page

one in newspapers, and TV news headlines. Inflammation research became a dynamic

growth industry in mainstream medicine. Everywhere they turn, researchers uncover

evidence that inflammation ignites and feeds chronic illness.

Our Earthing book focuses a good deal on inflammation. In it, we suggest that the

ground beneath our feet is the original anti-Inflammatory. In other words, the biggest

anti-inflammatory on the planet is, well, the surface of the planet itself. If proven true,

thats a pretty neat design-by-nature. In the book, as youve probably read, we make a

strong argument about how contact with the Earth, either by being barefoot outside or

sleeping or sitting on Earthing products indoors, quenches inflammation by allowing the

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Earths infinite supply of negatively-charged electrons to rise up into the body and snuff

out the hit men of chronic inflammation, the free radicals. The theory of the Earth as an

anti-inflammatory had never been mentioned before in research. It is still just a theory

but we dont know how else to explain the way that Earthing knocks down

inflammation.

But what about aging? Could chronic inflammation be the main cause of aging or a

major factor accelerating aging? Can Earthing slow the aging process due to its obvious

and remarkable impact on inflammation?

Improving the health of older people can and must be one of the goals of modern

gerontology, the study of aging. It is imperative in order to decrease the alarming rate of

hospitalization, risky and frequently injurious administration of multiple medications,

and soaring age-related disease-care costs. Physiological functions naturally decline with

age and negatively influence the absorption and/or metabolism of nutrients, a

degradation process further compromised by drug side effects and interference.

The natural slowdown occurring in cells and tissues with advancing age are responsible

for an increased risk of disease and death. Part of this process involves the aging of the

immune system called immunosenescence characterized by a chronic low-grade

inflammatory status of the whole aging organism. This process has been referred to by

some researchers as inflamm-aging. More than 300 theories have been put forward to

explain the reduced functionality associated with aging but none fully explain the

immunobiology (physiological functioning of the immune system) of senescence.

So what are some of the current recommendations of researchers to delay the process?

1) Healthier nutrition and maintaining a robust population of beneficial bacteria

(microflora) in the gut, a major element of the immune system. Part of a healthier diet

has to include caloric restriction. People tend to overeat, particularly the wrong kinds of

food, and put on belly fat, an actual source of increased inflammation in the body.

2) Exercise. Youve heard this many times before, so I wont dwell on the

subject. Exercise, even a minimum, is good for your body and spirits.

3) Antioxidants have been heralded as having the potential to increase longevity by

curtailing the effect of oxidative stress on the body. Oxidative stress means rampant

free-radicals that damage healthy tissue throughout the body. Such damage creates

chronic inflammation.

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