I don't know what to make of this article in the Journal of Inflammation Research:
The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases
It's a long article, but the gist of it is that the authors claim that many of our chronic health problems today stem from the fact that (don't laugh, now) most of us these days walk around in shoes with electrically-insulating soles that prevent electrons from the Earth's surface from flowing into our bodies and conveying all kinds of wonderful health benefits via their magical properties.
Seriously, I'm not making this up.
According to the authors, these benefits include improved sleep; reduction of pain after injury or strenuous exercise; reduction of stress; improved immune response; acceleration of wound healing in diabetics; and remediation of autoimmune disorders. The authors "propose that skin contact with the surface of the Earth allows Earth’s electrons to spread over the skin surface and into the body. One route to the body interior could be via acupuncture points and meridians. The meridians are known to be low resistance pathways for the flow of electrical currents." Back when we all went barefoot, or wore shoes with leather soles we didn't have these health problems nearly as much, because the Earth's electrons could flow freely into our bodies.
Everything in my education and experience, after nearly 60 years in electronics-- first as a hobbyist, then a technician, then as an engineer-- tells me this is nothing more than superstitious pseudo-scientific New Age mumbo-jumbo akin to 1980's fads such as "pyramid power" and the magical, health-promoting properties of crystals.
What do you think?
The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases
It's a long article, but the gist of it is that the authors claim that many of our chronic health problems today stem from the fact that (don't laugh, now) most of us these days walk around in shoes with electrically-insulating soles that prevent electrons from the Earth's surface from flowing into our bodies and conveying all kinds of wonderful health benefits via their magical properties.
Seriously, I'm not making this up.
According to the authors, these benefits include improved sleep; reduction of pain after injury or strenuous exercise; reduction of stress; improved immune response; acceleration of wound healing in diabetics; and remediation of autoimmune disorders. The authors "propose that skin contact with the surface of the Earth allows Earth’s electrons to spread over the skin surface and into the body. One route to the body interior could be via acupuncture points and meridians. The meridians are known to be low resistance pathways for the flow of electrical currents." Back when we all went barefoot, or wore shoes with leather soles we didn't have these health problems nearly as much, because the Earth's electrons could flow freely into our bodies.
Everything in my education and experience, after nearly 60 years in electronics-- first as a hobbyist, then a technician, then as an engineer-- tells me this is nothing more than superstitious pseudo-scientific New Age mumbo-jumbo akin to 1980's fads such as "pyramid power" and the magical, health-promoting properties of crystals.
What do you think?
