esday, December 28, 2010
Earthing-In The New Year
The Earthing Institute
Clinton Ober
Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D.
James Oschman, Ph.D.
Gaetan Chevalier, Ph.D.
Martin Zucker
We, and all the folks at Earthing Central, would like to wish all of you and your families a fulfilling and healthy 2011. We would also like to express our thanks for encouraging us with your interest, feedback, and questions. We receive many questions from people who have read the Earthing book and who have started Earthing themselves. We appreciate the questions because they stoke the process of helping us better explain the remarkable phenomenon of Earthing. We know some but certainly far from all of the benefits of Earthing. Often we have to rely on hypothesis and suggestion to describe the mechanisms because the science done to date has only scratched the surface of understanding. We have posted the most commonly-asked questions on the FAQs page atEarthing Institute and we invite you to check them out anytime you have a question. If you dont find what you are looking for there, dont hesitate to contact us at
info@earthinginstitute.net
One of the most interesting questions we received recently was sent in by Ross Dean of Fairfield, Iowa. Mr. Dean asked about good free radicals that participate in protective body functions vs. bad free radicals involved in chronic inflammation. If the free electrons that enter the body through grounding neutralize free radicals, how do they discriminate between the good free radicals and the bad? he wanted to know. Arent the good free radicals also desiring to bond with the free electrons that come in through grounding?
For a precise answer, we went to our electron expert, biophysicist James Oschman, Ph.D. Here is his answer:
Free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential to life. The good free radicals attack bacteria or other pathogens crossing the skin barrier when you have a cut or other injury. They also break down injured cells. These actions are essential to protect the body from infection and to make space for regenerative cells that will repair an injury. The benign ROS are delivered by white blood cells directly to a site of inflammation. They are not readily neutralized by electrons from the earth because they are delivered to a precise location at a very high concentration, and their electron-grabbing activity is precisely focused on damaged cells and pathogens that may have crossed the skin.
In an ungrounded body, free radicals leaking from a site of injury will damage surrounding tissues, which can coagulate into an inflammatory barricade. A local pocket of inflammation is then created that can endure and leak damaging toxins into the system. This is one example of how free radicals become dangerous. We believe the healthy connective tissue matrix of a grounded person will have abundant electrons to neutralize those leaking free radicals and thereby prevent collateral damage to healthy tissues.
Other dangerous ROS are produced during normal metabolism and breathing. You can prevent them from forming if you stop eating and stop breathingobviously not recommended. The leading theory of aging (the free radical theory) is that aging results from the cumulative damage caused by free radicals that come from oxygen in the tissues, from normal metabolism and from environmental toxins. These free radicals are thought to cause aging in three ways:
1) by damaging DNA, leading to mutations and cancer;
2) damaging mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells;
3) by cross-linking proteins, which compromises the functioning of enzymes and also causes wrinkling of the skin.
We believe that all of these mechanisms of age-related free radical damage are slowed significantly by grounding, and that in the grounded body the healthy connective tissue matrix will be populated with enough electrons to neutralize free radicals wherever they form from whatever cause. There is a beneficial feedback effect: the grounded body will not form inflammatory pockets around sites of injury. Injuries will heal quickly. And the connective tissue in the body that is free of inflammatory pockets will be more conductive to electrons (inflammatory barricades are poorly conductive) and therefore will be better able to neutralize free radicals quickly wherever they form from whatever cause.
Some Important Earthing Reminders
We also get questions from a sprinkling of people concerned about their initial Earthing experiences during the first few days or whose expectations of benefits didnt manifest as quickly as they had hoped. We have talked about this in the Earthing book, and also in earlier reports on this website, but the explanation is worth repeating.
In the vast majority of cases, people begin to feel better soon after they start Earthing. They feel no discomfort at all with the Earths energy and adjust to it easily. Remember that sleeping grounded or sitting inside your home or office with bare feet on an Earthing mat is the same as being barefoot outside. Nevertheless, the energy can be strange or even discomforting for some people. They may even experience flu-like symptoms, pain, achiness, or cramps. In practically all of these situations, the experience is temporary, a result of the body normalizing to the natural energy from the Earth. As this process gets underway, your ability to release accumulated toxicity appears to accelerate and become more effective. When detoxification occurs, you can feel worse before you feel better. The feeling might last a few days but it will go away and you will feel renewed and energized afterward. We think that the leg cramps that some people feel may be related to toxins coming out of the tissues. So we advise people to start drinking more water so as to flush out the toxins more readily. The strategy usually works and the cramps disappear. In any case, the better hydrated the body is the more conductive it is. So drinking plenty of good quality water serves health in general and Earthing as well. If someone cant tolerate the initial discomfort we usually recommend they stop Earthing for a couple of days, then begin again, but with shorter sessions, like an hour or two during the day. Then gradually increase the exposure to the point where they can comfortably sleep grounded. It may take a bit of experimentation in these cases, but the rewards are usually well worth sticking with it. It is also possible that Earthing could generate a healing process in the body that causes nerve fibers to function better, resulting in unaccustomed sensations. Generally, such sensations also go away in a 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 of prostate 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 as they 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 to be published this spring indicates that Earthing improves thyroid function. This is something we have known on an observational basis for years. Some people on medication for underactive thyroid have reported feeling palpitations, irregular and/or forceful beating of the heart. This unpleasant symptom can reflect an arrhythmia but is also a common sign of excess thyroid hormone, including thyroid medication. So if you take thyroid medication and start Earthing, be alert to the possibility of medication overdose. If that happens, you may need to cut down on your medication. Many people have been able to do. But please consult with your physician who prescribed the medication.
Earthing Care Tips
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.
Please avoid using creams, lotions, and essential oils on your feet or body before bedtime if you sleep on an Earthing half-sheet, fitted sheet, or recovery bag. The oils contained in these products become absorbed into the fabric of the sheets and can destroy the conductivity of the silver. Try to use such body products at an earlier time. There is no problem with facial creams for people who sleep with pillows. Some years ago conductive Earthing pillows were developed but later discontinued because they were rendered ineffective by people applying facial creams at bedtime. The oils in the creams oxidized and ruined the conductivity of the pillows.
Inspiring Feedback
From the many communications we receive it is amply clear that more and more people are discovering the surprising and health-nurturing benefits of Earthing.
On a daily basis, we hear things like this:
● I have had a miraculous health reversal.
● From a health professional in Portland: Occasionally, I come across a genuine breakthrough in natural health careA low cost idea easy to apply, that anyone can use at home, and that is applicable to everyone regardless of age or body type. Earthing definitely fall into this category.
● From a doctor in Los Angeles: I have been sleeping better now than I have in probably 50 years.
● My husbands snoring stopped.
● This past mothers day my kids gave me the best present I have ever received the Earthing sheet. I have never slept so well in my life since then.
● Its only been six weeks and we are seeing such improvement in our health and well-being.
● Ive been on lots of pain medication for twelve years since an accident. Sleeping grounded got rid of the pain. My life has changed profoundly.
● My 80-year-old aches and pains have diminished 50 per cent. I can do things better and move better.
● My blood pressure has improved.
● From a mechanical engineer in Kennewick, Washington: Ive been using my Earthing sheet and mats for about 5 months and gave sheets to all my sisters and children. Everyone is sleeping better and is experiencing their version of increased vitality. My sister completely turned her life around and all the pieces fell into place which allowed her to pursue her dreams. Its like her connection to the Earth gave her the ability to see exactly what needed to be done. Its very calming for her.
● From a doctor in New York: I am beyond grateful for the relief.
The gratification we feel after reading and hearing words like this, of lives being so positively touched, is hard to describe. Words also fail us to describe how we personally feel about being messengers for this beautiful discovery or revival of knowledgemessengers, in a sense, for Mother Earths great endowment of health for all mankind. We feel utterly blessed to be able to explore this natural gift, and share the revelations, and spread the word to ever-growing numbers of people.
Looking Forward in 2011
In 2010, the Earthing book was published and created a strong wave of interest for Earthing. After more than 12 years of endlessly and exhaustively explaining the Earthing concept to thousands of people, Clint Ober had his wish: a book that could at last do a lot of the explaining for him. Looking forward, we envision at least several new Earthing studies to be published in 2011, further validating this most remarkable concept from the perspective of science.
In the first half of 2011 we hope to finally get our online Earthing training program going. Many of you have asked about it. We appreciate your patience.
Also in the first half of the year we will have grounded flipflops available. And 100 percent cotton sheets, too. The price of cotton has soared, unfortunately, but not much we can do about it.
We look forward to Earthing capturing mainstream media attention this year. Its too attractive and natural a story to stay under the media radar much longer.
Meanwhile, well keep sending out announcements and reports to you as Earthing developments unfold.
Posted on 12/28 at 11:36 PM
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