Have you heard of grounding? It’s the practice of coming into direct skin contact with the earth, for example, through your bare feet.
Grounding appears to improve sleep, normalize the day-night cortisol rhythm, reduce pain, reduce stress, shift the automatic nervous system from sympathetic toward parasympathetic activation, increase heart rate variability, speed wound healing, and reduce blood viscosity.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4378297/
Research is still early, but some scientists are referring to the electrons on the earth’s surface as the earth’s battery or a way we recharge. In modern times (and even as the soles of our shoes have become predominantly synthetic), we have decreased our exposure to the ground, and this may be partly responsible for the increase in inflammatory diseases as well other physical and mental health issues.
The effects of playing outside are well-documented on physical and mental health. Therefore cultivating a habit of grounding can’t hurt (as long as we remember our sunscreen when needed), and it just might have benefits we are only beginning to understand.
Wanna Deep Dive?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4378297/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/2017-11-03/grounding-hype-or-healing