What you've heard
Walking barefoot on the earth, or sleeping on a grounding mat, lets electrons flow into your body and reduces inflammation
Verdict
Unsupported
Does grounding reduce inflammation?
Unsupported.
The case for grounding rests on narrative reviews written by the practice's advocates, some of whom disclose contractor roles and small shareholdings in a grounding company. A key study of muscle soreness grounded four people. A later trial relied on the self-reports of sixteen massage therapists. No adequately sized, independent trial with a sham device has been published. Grass underfoot is pleasant, and a walk in a park has real evidence behind it, but none of that evidence runs through electrons.15
Where the book tests it
Sources
- 15.Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S.T., Oschman, J.L., Sokal, K., and Sokal, P. (2012). "Earthing: health implications of reconnecting the human body to the earth's surface electrons." Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012, 291541. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/291541 ; Oschman, J.L., Chevalier, G., and Brown, R. (2015). "The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases." Journal of Inflammation Research, 8, 83-96. https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S69656 ; Brown, D., Chevalier, G., and Hill, M. (2010). "Pilot study on the effect of grounding on delayed-onset muscle soreness." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(3), 265-273. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2009.0399 ; Chevalier, G., Patel, S., Weiss, L., Chopra, D., et al. (2019). "The effects of grounding (earthing) on bodyworkers' pain and overall quality of life: a randomized controlled trial." Explore, 15(3), 181-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2018.10.001
Note numbers are those of Chapter 10, Green and Quiet.
This verdict is one of the "What you've heard" boxes in Chapter 10, Green and Quiet, where the book tests the claims people repeat against the studies behind them.
Educational content, not medical advice. Disclaimer.