Go touch grass: recharging the mind, body and soul through the power of nature

According to a 2015 report by the British Heart Foundation, the average person spends almost nine hours a day sitting, with those in office jobs spending around 70% of that time confined to a desk.

Grounding, or earthing, is a practice that many of us have probably never heard of. So what is it? Is it just a trend, or is there some science behind it?

Well, according to Healthline.com, grounding is a healing practice that restores our electrical connection to the earth through physical touch.

Whether it’s walking barefoot outdoors, gardening or swimming, the idea is that we can enhance our wellbeing by absorbing the earth’s energy.

The Mental Health Foundation claims that around one in four people in the UK experience some kind of mental health problem each year, and the barefoot grounders attribute this to a diminished connection to nature.

One of those on board with this practice is Almut Mueller, who grew up on an organic farm in Northern Germany, spending much of her childhood barefoot.

In her adult life, Mueller moved to Byron Bay, and began making a conscious effort to reconnect with nature.

She recalls: “I went for a walk barefoot on the beach before work every morning and, although I was really busy, I had so much energy. I felt so at peace.”

But positive experiences aren’t quite enough to convince the sceptics, so what does the science say?

A 2015 study conducted by James L Oschman and colleagues found that grounding helped ease pain and accelerate healing. Here researchers discovered that 30 minutes of grounding each day enhanced the recovery of an 84-year-old diabetic woman who had been suffering from an unhealing foot sore.

Mueller explains: “We humans are electromagnetic beings, and we evolved in direct contact with the earth. Grounding reconnects you to nature. It connects us to our roots.”

Connecting with the negative charge of the earth is said to balance the positive charge within our bodies, harmonising our emotional and mental state.

But, although grounding seems to be gaining traction, some are still dubious. Many believe there simply isn’t enough evidence to suggest the practice is beneficial, arguing that small- scale studies aren’t adequate proof and that the supposed benefits could be down to a placebo effect.

However, Mueller believes grounding brings an instant sense of peace and relaxation.

She comments: “After grounding, your blood cells are more alive; they’re very active and fluid. Whereas, before grounding, they’re more like clusters.” She believes this helps her feel less tense.

For Mueller, grounding is both a physical and spiritual practice. “I’m not religious, but I am spiritual,” she reveals, “I believe in God in a way that’s different from traditional religion. God is inside us. And grounding helps reconnect us to our inner truth.”

She believes that mindfulness is an important aspect of grounding, stating: “We are all connected to Mother Earth, and our health is directly tied to how we care for our planet. When you inhale, Mother Earth is exhaling.”

This all sounds well and good for those who live in the countryside, but what about those in urban areas?

Well, there’s an answer for that. Specialised grounding shoes. With a thin, flexible sole, these shoes mimic the feeling of walking on natural surfaces, allowing you to benefit from earthing even in a concrete jungle.

Mueller states: “I don't wear normal shoes anymore. I stopped because I hated it. They restricted my foot. So one day I walked into a barefoot shoe store and, just for fun, I tried some on and, from that day, I’ve never looked back.”

However, the cynics question whether grounding technologies such as mats, patches and sheets are just a money-making scandal.

One critic comments: “These grounding products are nothing more than a marketing tactic; another commercialised, therapeutic illusion.”

Although the science is still being explored, earthing doesn’t seem to be regarded as a groundbreaking discovery in the medical world just yet.

However, though there may not be much scientific evidence to back it up, there also isn’t exactly any harm in it either.

According to Mueller: “Nature is the answer to everything. Grounding helps remind us of that. We are nature. We are part of it. We cannot live without it. Humanity has forgotten because technology is now such a big deal but nature is our home.”

Whether you choose to ditch your shoes and go touch grass, or stay in the virtual universe, the debate around grounding is certainly gaining ground, inspiring us to consider our relationship with the great ecosystem we call Earth.