By Karen Unsworth Berger, BAA, TFH 

Desert Island Solutions are free, simple, and natural.  Something you

don't need to pack in a bag, or purchase.  One of the

most significant Desert Island Solutions and secrets to healing is right beneath our feet.  Just take off your shoes!

 

 We are dominantly electrical beings, using water as a conductor of electrical signals in the body.   If we do not have water, the electrical signals between the cells stop.  If the signals stop, so does life.   In fact, there is one theory that “water invented life, so it could walk around on land!”

 

Negative ions are nature’s anti-oxidant, and a wonderful treatment for inflammation.  As we absorb negative ions, the nervous system becomes very calm and much more peaceful as the electron rich negative ions balance excess positive ions, a result  of our indoor and high tech environments.  Negative ions balance the left brain, and integrate right and left brain.  (Note that in dyslexia and autism there is little left-right brain integration.)  Levels of the stress hormone cortisol, drop.  

 

In the modern world, our bodies develop a positive charge. This acidic positive charge causes inflammation and most of  today’s diseases including cancer, heart disease, Alzheimers, Parkinson’s, and fibromyalgia.

The benefits of negative ions include:

·      Improved sleep – connecting to the earth seems to be a cure for most people. It balances cortisol levels which can disrupt sleep.

·      Reduced pain

·      Reduced inflammation - Electrons are a Natural supply of anti oxidants

·      Relaxation due to instantaneous changes in the autonomic nervous system

·      Accelerated healing of injuries  (see below images)

·      Increased heart rate variability, an indicator of longevity

·      Less clumping of red blood cells and reduced blood viscosity.  Heart disease is the number 1 killer in the world, and all aspects of heart disease are connected to viscosity. 

·      Increases strength and energy within 10 or 15 min. going barefoot on the grass (or natural earth surface).

 

Dr. Joseph Mercola refers to this chronic positively charged state as ‘negative ion deficiency syndrome’.  The process of taking in negative ions through contact with the earth is called ‘grounding’, or ‘earthing’.    He has been ‘grounding’ himself since 2007 after examining the work of Clinton Ober, a cable company executive who had funded research over the previous 9 years with millions of dollars of his own money. 

 

“The Most Important Heath Discovery of all Time?”  Re-discovering what the ancients knew.

What (Dr. Stephen Sinatra) states as possibly the most important health discovery of all time, started with a simple observation.  While sitting on a park bench, Mr. Ober observed that everyone walking or jogging by wore synthetic soled shoes, and wondered if this ‘insulation’ had any effects on our health. 

 

He started his research that night by ‘grounding’ his bed using an earthing rod, and had the best night’s sleep he’d had in years.   The real surprise was when he realized his chronic back pain was gone.  He knew he was on to something, and hense years of full protocol double blind studies with humans and animals began. 

 

One study involving  a  Canadian 7 time winning Tour de France team is particularly interesting,  showing how grounding dramatically increases muscle recovery time, as well as healing from accidents.  Cyclists were able to compete normally the next day -  without accelerated healing from grounding they likely would not be able to compete.

 

Science attributes aging, disease, and degeneration to the formation of  ‘free radicals’ – atoms with unpaired electrons that ravage healthy atoms, in search of electrons to balance their positive charge. 

 

Free radicals are produced through normal metabolic processes and “living”, including extreme emotional and physical stress such as exercise,  pollutants,  cars or planes, chemical, and toxin exposure, emotional trauma, stressful relationships,  loss of a loved one, financial concerns, etc.  Consider marathon runners – many may display early signs of aging from free radicals produced from extreme exercise.  

 

What happened?

Before 1961,  95% of all doctor’s visits were for  (bacterial and infectious) illnesses… now 95% of doctor’s visits are for inflammatory illnesses and pain.  So what happened in 1961? 

 

Plastics were invented.  We began using non-conductive plastic and/or rubber on the bottom of our shoes instead of conductive leather, effectively disconnecting ourselves from the healing negative ions covering the surface of the earth.   Up to this time, leather soled shoes allowed the absorption of some negative ions into our bodies through grass, ground, brick, rock, or concrete.

 

What are the symptoms of disconnecting from the earth?

·      Inflammation: The cover page of Time Magazine March 1 2004 read “The Secret Killer. The surprising link between inflammation and heart attacks, cancer, alzheimers and other diseases”.

·      Diseases of aging and aging itself – free radicals are neutralized in the presence of electrons

·      Cardiovascular disease

·      Auto-immune diseases

·      Diabetes

·      Metabolic syndrome

·      Aches and pains,

·      Insomnia

·      Joint problems

 

“Never before has it been necessary (for humanity) to ground ourselves”

Dr. Steven Sinatra

 

Why do we need to ground ourselves? 

Because that is our natural state.   It is nature’s method of spontaneous, natural, healing and regeneration which we need to reconnect to, to stay balanced. 

 

Grounding restores our body’s natural  “Inner Authority”, or natural power in this connected state of peaceful harmony with the earth.  Dr. James Oschman, student of Nobel Prize winning bio chemist Albert Szent Gyorgyi,  states “Grounding stabilises our internal electrical environment.” Recovery is much faster and more complete.  Negative ions allow the body to be CALM and enter into “healing mode”, where it is able to heal and regenerate with efficiency.

 

“There are very good reasons to believe that this may be the most important health discovery, ever, and it’s something you all need to know about. Electrostatics is a branch of physics, and it teaches us that when 2 conductive objects make contact, if they have different electrical potential, they equalize.  There is a virtually instantaneous transfer of charge so that the 2 objects equilibrate to the same electrical potential.  The human body is a conductor of electricity, and so is the earth.  You may know that penicillin was a revolution in  medicine – this is a revolution in health care that I think transcends penicillin.”

     Dr. James Oshman,

 

Less Tangible Effects of Grounding..

Peace and calm are two key requirements for physical rejuvenation.  Being grounded instantly brings calm to your nervous system, peacefulness increases.

 

“Calm” is what we have when connected to the earth. When we are connected to the earth, we are connected to all living things ON the earth. 

 

“Peace” is what we have when connected to the Divine.  

Connecting to the earth naturally increases our connection to the Divine, as the Divine is found in all living things, including the earth herself.

 

Meditation can further increase the connection to higher Divine frequencies through opening the chakras.   Fears drop away because they cannot exist in the full presence of the Divine.   An organic, low sugar diet including raw fermented foods (ie raw, real sauerkraut, organic goat’s milk yoghurt) twice a day helps  to support the solar plexus chakra – our energetic connector to all living things on the earth.

 

On a spiritual level, when we are connected to the Divine, we are connected to the flow of life. Being fully connected to both the Earth and the Divine, renews and regenerates us physically, and spiritually.  You may be aware of increased creativity, and “grounded” emotions.

 

How do we “Ground”?

How do we stop, and reverse free radical damage?   The best and easiest thing you can do is free ...connect to the earth with your bare skin – especially your feet, but you can also use your hands.

 

• Lie on the grass, or beach - synthetic blankets may block the transfer of ions – natural fibers such as pure wool and cotton towels are conductive.  Very dry sand or earth such as the desert, is not the best conductor as some moisture is required..

• Beachwalking with your feet on the wet sand or up to your ankles in water, is the excellent grounding - ideally in salt water, but freshwater works. 

• Walking barefoot on damp grass is wonderful, or walking on the beach at the water’s edge.  At least, wear leather soled shoes which do allow electrons to pass through.   Placing your bare or cotton sock feet on the ground (grass, stone, concrete) is a good option, but not always possible. 

• Condo or apartment balconies are typically concrete or stone.  All I have tested have been grounded as they are connected with the building and earth via brick, stone, or concrete on the surface of the building, which are all conductive.  Sit on the balcony with bare or natural fiber sock feet on the balcony. 

 

• Trees are extremely grounding as their roots reach deep into the earth and they contain a lot of water.  They may be more convenient in colder weather - lean against a tree with your bare hands behind your back touching the tree. 

 

Instantaneously, your skin will absorb negative ions at the speed of light, neutralizing free radicals.  Inflammation and pain will spontaneously start to reduce, sometimes noticeably within 20 minutes or less, but allow 30 min.  Research has shown it takes about 30 minutes to eliminate blood clotting due to balanced polarity in the blood cells from negative ions when we ground.   

 

Grounding Tools

• Inexpensive grounding tools are now available to bring the earth’s energy indoors, and without having to make lifestyle changes. 

 

The most practical tools include a “grounding sheet” (full or half sheet) since we spend so much time in bed, and a grounding pad (see below) to use at the computer or your favourite chair.  It can also be positioned in front of your lap top so that bare skin is touching it as you work.

 

A grounding mat, connected to the ground of an electric outlet,

or a grounding rod.

 

Bed pad or pillow case:  To maintain healthy balance, we should be grounded at least 10 hours/day, which is easily achieved with these 2 tools.  Sleep 8 hours with a grounding pad and/or pillow case in your bed.

Grounding mat:  Place mat under bare or sock feet at the computer at home.  If you work on a computer at work, bare feet may not be appropriate so place the mat in front of your computer like a mouse pad, where it can touch your bare skin as you type or use the mouse.

 

Grounding patches:  They look like EKG patches, and plug into the ground in your outlet.  If you have specific focused issues such as an injury, or toothache, carpal tunnel, or have had surgery, grounding patches are effective to target electrons into a specific inflammed area.  

 

Cars are a source of positive ions and are not grounded because the rubber tires insulate them from the earth. Many complain of pain and stiffness after a long car ride.    If you spend a lot of time in the car or plane, the best you can do is wear a silk or cashmere scarf in the plane, being sure to cover your upper center chest.  This is not "grounding" but has a protective effect from EMF/RF radiations. 

 

 These are some of the excellent, simple options available to allow us to be grounded pretty well around the clock, without having to make major lifestyle changes.

 

Our Pets…

Outdoor pets are more balanced and grounded (unless their owner dresses them in boots! a terrible idea), and this is grounding to people when they stroke them, depending how often the animal is outdoors to “recharge”.  Ungrounded pets, such as an indoor cat, would not have this benefit, although does have other benefits related to love for the pet, and the vibration of the purr.  It's a great idea to get your pet - especially indoor cats, a grounded "throw" blanket for their bed. 

 

It is interesting to note the reaction of pets to grounding tools, as their natural connection to nature will attract them to them.  Dr. Karen Becker, veterinarian, jokes that in a thunderstorm their 2 cats and 2 dogs jump on to her grounded side of the bed, leaving her husband on his own on the ungrounded side!

 

Our Future

Humanity has spent the last 50 years disconnecting itself from the earth -  Reconnecting is a big part of our answer to thriving in the future.

 

 

For questions or comments contact

karen.berger@yahoo.com

 

 

Info and references

 

Demonstration of Grounding at the computer, measuring body voltage.

http://www.groundology.co.uk/videos?show=body-voltage#video

 

Clint Ober interview with Dr. Mercola

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7gWnRG8gfk

 

Clint Ober demonstrates earthing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_z0HXOUSYQ

 

Dr James Oshman,  2012“Electric Universe” conference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWy618wrFn8

 

Documentary movie “Grounded” (go to 30 minutes for “Karen”, the baby moose.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_stX1W4oI0

 

Dr. Stephen Sinatra

http://www.groundology.co.uk/videos?show=dr-sinatra#video

 

Tour de France

http://www.groundology.co.uk/videos?show=tour-de-france#video