Ancient healing power of grounding yourself

Introduction to Grounding with Clint Ober

The interview begins with Clint Ober, an expert in grounding, discussing the link between inflammation and health conditions, such as cancer. Ober suggests that since people have become largely disconnected from the Earth, methods are needed to bring Earth’s energy inside to reduce inflammation. He explains that grounding oneself by standing barefoot on the Earth allows the body to conduct Earth’s electrical energy, which has various health benefits.

What is Earthing?

Ober defines “earthing” as the practice of physically connecting to the Earth’s surface charge. He explains that the Earth maintains a slight negative electrical charge due to interactions between sunlight and the global electrical circuit (including lightning and clouds). This natural grounding effect can benefit anything electrically conductive, including the human body. For instance, just as grounding is essential for protecting electrical equipment from surges, grounding the body can help stabilize its electrical charge, reducing inflammation and related pain.

Grounding Benefits and Historical Perspective

Clint Ober explains that for most of history, humans were naturally grounded by walking barefoot or wearing leather-soled shoes. However, with the advent of synthetic materials in the 1960s, people became insulated from the Earth. Ober points out that many animals that live in the wild, who remain naturally grounded, do not experience the same levels of inflammation seen in humans and domesticated animals, who tend to develop inflammation-related disorders like cancer.

Ober’s Journey to Grounding Awareness

Ober’s background includes years of experience in the communications industry, where grounding was a standard safety measure. However, his personal journey into grounding began after he experienced a life-threatening liver infection that required emergency surgery. During his recovery, Ober experienced a moment of clarity, deciding to simplify his life and focus on health rather than material possessions. This turning point led him to study the potential benefits of grounding on human health.

The Discovery of Grounding for Health

While working with electrical equipment in Sedona, Ober observed a tour group and noticed that modern synthetic-soled shoes prevent natural grounding. Inspired by his experience with grounding in the communications field, he conducted a personal experiment to see if grounding might alleviate pain and improve sleep. By grounding himself while sleeping, Ober noticed a decrease in his chronic pain and better sleep quality. He later replicated this experience with friends, who also reported significant improvements in their health.

Initial Grounding Studies

Ober attempted to collaborate with universities to study grounding’s effects, but he initially faced resistance. After gathering anecdotal evidence, he conducted his own informal study, measuring changes in pain and sleep quality among participants. The results showed improvements in overall health, reduced PMS symptoms, and decreased chronic pain. Encouraged, Ober began collaborating with medical professionals, including anesthesiologists, to conduct formal studies on grounding, ultimately publishing over 30 peer-reviewed studies.

Scientific Basis of Grounding

The studies conducted by Ober and his colleagues indicate that grounding can regulate cortisol levels, stabilizing the body’s stress response. In these studies, individuals who practiced grounding showed synchronized cortisol levels, which helped improve sleep quality. The studies also demonstrated that grounding reduces blood viscosity, which in turn improves circulation, reduces blood pressure, and enhances overall health by promoting the flow of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

Grounding and Inflammation

Ober explains the distinction between acute inflammation, a normal immune response, and chronic inflammation, which results from excess free radicals. When the body lacks grounding, these free radicals can damage healthy cells, causing a chain reaction of inflammation that manifests as chronic pain and other health issues. Grounding allows the body to access a reservoir of free electrons from the Earth, neutralizing these free radicals and preventing further cell damage.

Grounding for Physical Recovery in Athletes

Professional athletes have incorporated grounding into their recovery routines. For example, teams participating in the Tour de France use grounding techniques to improve recovery times. Athletes in these studies reported decreased pain and faster recovery times when they grounded themselves overnight by sleeping on grounded mats. Ober notes that grounding accelerates the healing process by flooding the body with free electrons, reducing inflammation and pain in injured areas.

Grounding Techniques for Everyday Health

To benefit from grounding, Ober recommends walking barefoot on natural surfaces such as grass, soil, or sand. For those who are unable to ground naturally due to lifestyle constraints, he suggests using grounding products indoors, such as grounded mats and sheets. These products mimic the effects of natural grounding by connecting to the ground wire in an electrical outlet.

Addressing Chronic Conditions with Grounding

Ober shares that individuals with autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis (MS), and chronic pain conditions report improvement after grounding. Grounding addresses the oxidative stress that contributes to inflammation in these conditions. Ober has observed that grounding calms the nervous system, which can alleviate anxiety, depression, and other symptoms associated with chronic inflammation.

Grounding and Adrenal Health

Ober discusses how constant stress depletes adrenal function over time, leading to “adrenal fatigue,” a condition in which the body struggles to produce enough cortisol to regulate stress responses. Grounding helps regulate cortisol levels, allowing the body to recover from chronic stress. Ober emphasizes that incorporating grounding into one’s routine can help offset the constant stimulation and stress of modern life.

Indoor Grounding Solutions

For people who cannot regularly ground themselves outside, Ober has developed products like conductive mats and bedding that connect to the grounding wire in electrical outlets. These products allow users to benefit from grounding even indoors, with the most effective results seen during sleep. Ober advises that individuals with compromised health sleep directly on grounding mats to maximize contact and health benefits.

Resources for Grounding

Ober recommends resources for learning more about grounding:

• The Earthing Institute (theearthinginstitute.net) provides access to research studies, articles, and FAQs.
• Earthing.com offers grounding products including mats and bedding to facilitate grounding indoors.

Conclusion

Clint Ober’s work has highlighted the health benefits of grounding as a tool for managing inflammation and improving overall well-being. By reconnecting with the Earth’s natural energy, people may find relief from chronic pain, reduced stress, and enhanced immune function.