Friday, February 25, 2011

Earthing brings new hope

We’re excited. We recently became aware of the practice of earthing and its potential to improve our health and well-being. More research needs to be done, but it’s possible that earthing may be able to prevent, and even possibly cure, trauma.

When we walk barefoot on the Earth, we are in electrical contact with it. Electrons flow into our bodies to equalise the electrical potentials, thus automatically neutralising harmful free radicals and balancing other systems. But modern lifestyles insulate us from direct contact with the ground. We wear shoes all the time, mostly live in houses that isolate us electrically from the earth, sleep in wooden beds, and walk on insulating carpets. As a result, we become electrically unbalanced.

Earthing involves reconnecting ourselves to the Earth’s supply of electrons. There are several ways this can be done, but - apart from going barefoot - they all involve skin contact with a conducting pad or sheet of some kind. This is connected to the earth through a metal rod pushed into the ground, or via the earth circuit of the building’s wiring. A bed sheet with silver threads allows us to be earthed while asleep, and a pad under the desk can earth us through our bare feet while we work. More localised earthing to treat specific injuries or problems can be achieved with patches or bands attached to the body.

This sounds so simple, it’s hard to believe it can have any significant effect. But research to date and extensive experience shows that it does. Users report better sleep, less pain, reduced symptoms of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and MS, and less stress, tension and anxiety. Wounds heal faster, and top athletes recover more rapidly from the stress of competition or intense training.

In particular, earthing has been shown to normalise the daily cycle of the stress hormone cortisol. Chronic elevation of cortisol levels is one of the effects of trauma, raising the intriguing possibility that earthing might reduce trauma symptoms. If used on a regular basis, it might increase resilience to potentially traumatic experiences. If applied after such an event, it might reduce or prevent the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). As there is an association between trauma and some other mental disorders, including anxiety, depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Bipolar Disorder, we believe earthing might help sufferers of these conditions too. It’s certainly worth researching.

In our book, Hope for Humanity, we argue that almost everyone is affected by trauma to some extent. Our resulting behavioural and psychological patterns create powerful barriers to ending war, violence, poverty, social breakdown and environmental destruction. One of the greatest challenges facing us is how to heal so many people - clearly one-on-one therapy is not possible for more than a tiny fraction of humanity. So wouldn’t it be wonderful if something as simple as earthing could make a big difference?

Christine is finding that earthing herself as much as possible is helping her express her unique self. She is experimenting with a new trauma therapy that focuses on the interaction between the energy systems of the Earth and the human body. What better therapist to use for such a huge challenge than the Earth herself? She envisages a time when connection with the Earth will help us all to heal, and to find our own unique contributions to healing humanity. We are in the process of creating a website on which more information will be available shortly. 

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