Head to the Beach to Lower Blood Pressure!
Mother Earth, that is! 
Seriously! Even tho it seems like just it's just relaxing,
there's actually a science behind it, as well as a name. You may have heard it called either
earthing or grounding.
There is proof that when you spend time walking barefoot on
the ground, whether it's on the sand, grass, the beach, dirt or concrete,
connecting with earth (preferably with wet
surfaces) to the body for about 40 minutes per day actually lowers blood pressure! Who knew
that something kids do just for fun is so good for you! (Prepare for some sweating during the summer here in Phoenix!)
How this happens is that solar energy and lightning strikes
are constantly recharging the earth's surface with negatively charged
electrons. When your body has contact with these surfaces, it absorbs those
electrons.
At the same time, your body has positively charged electrons, but probably too many of them. Especially if you have much pain, illnesses, etc, most of these have inflammation, which means too many positive electrons. By earthing, the negatively charged electrons
balance out our positively charged electrons which in turn decreases
inflammation.
Benefits of Earthing
Studies have shown that just 40 minutes a day actually:
- Thins blood, which results in lower blood pressure
- Relieves stress, which lowers cortisol, which then raises serotonin, which helps sleep, and on, and on.
- Guards against osteoporosis
- Reduces inflammation!
- Guards against damage to our cells and DNA
It really fascinates me how everything is intertwined. One
thing goes out of whack, and the whole body can end up way off kilter!
On the other hand, though, you swing the pendulum the other
way and your body starts correcting things and getting healthy again.
Watch this short 3-minute video for more info on grounding:
Watch this short 3-minute video for more info on grounding:
Alternatives To, or In Addition To Grounding Outside
Earthing can not only be done by connecting body to earth
while being outside but also by using grounding mats. One study of twelve
people used conductive mattress pads on their own beds for eight weeks. Saliva
tests were conducted prior to the study to determine the starting cortisol
levels.
The results of the study showed cortisol levels were
reduced, as well as most of the people said they had less pain, stress, and
sleep problems.
If you don't want to get your bed set up with grounding
mats, there are also mats you step on, such as under your feet while on the
computer or while watching tv. You can find them on Amazon.com.
Use Caution When Using with Blood Pressure Medication
One caution to be aware of while grounding yourself is that if you take heart or
blood pressure medication, be sure to let your doctor know that you are
practicing earthing regularly.
Earthing thins the blood, so you wouldn't want
your blood thinning too much. The prescription Coumadin (Warfarin) is one in
particular to be cautious with while doing earthing.
#grounding, #lowerbloodpressure
Top image courtesy of Chrisroll at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Second image courtesy of Pixabay.
References:
Gottfried, M.D., Sarah. The Earth Beneath Your Feet (Part 2, The Science) Why Going Barefoot May Boost Your Health and Beauty. 17 April 2014.
Teplitz D, Ghaly M. PubMed.Gov. The Biologic Effects of Grounding the Human body During Sleep as Measured by Cortisol Levels and Subjective Reporting of Sleep, Pain, and Stress. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15650465
Briffa, Dr. John. 'Earthing' – Important Discovery or
Mumbo-Jumbo? 18 April 2012. https://www.drbriffa.com/2012/04/18/earthing-important-discovery-or-mumbo-jumbo/
Sinatra, Dr. Stephen. Grounding Benefits for the Heart. 20 February, 2020 https://www.healthydirections.com/articles/heart-health/boost-heart-health-through-grounding