Earthing Therapy: Is it as Effective as Infrared Saunas?

Earthing, or grounding, is the process of bringing the earth's free electrons into the human body to improve chronic pain, inflammation, sleep, circulation, emotional stress, wound healing and more.

Though it may sound too good to be true, grounding the human body is a simple and effective way to improve your health.

In this blog, we will explore the powerful health benefits of earthing therapy, if there are any negative side effects of earthing, and how you can incorporate earthing into your infrared sauna routine for even greater sauna benefits!

What are the Health Benefits of Earthing Therapy or Grounding?

Grounding the human body has been shown to have a wide range of health benefits. The list of potential benefits of grounding therapy is:

• Regulating the autonomic nervous system
• Wound healing
• Pain relief and improved blood pressure
• Support cardiovascular health
• Prevent delayed onset muscle soreness

As you can see the list of benefits are long and profound and are very similar to infrared sauna health benefits. Let's take a closer look at some of these benefits in more detail:

1. Emotional Grounding: Mental Health Treatment?

Several studies found that earthing therapy can help to reduce physical and emotional stress, improve sleep quality, and promote general well-being.

Neuromodulation is a process of modifying or altering activity in the nervous system, either electrically or chemically. Grounding techniques cause neuromodulation to restore the natural electrical environment of the body.

Emotional stress alters our nervous system and is measured by electroencephalography (EEG), surface electromyography (SEMG), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) - brain tests. Grounding human subjects has been shown to reverse these alterations from stress and provide a positive, calming effect on the nervous system.

Consequently, earthing therapy may offer a simple and effective way to reduce stress and improve mental health by calming the autonomic nervous system.

Another treatment that has been proven to be effective at improving the symptoms of depression and anxiety is infrared saunas. Infrared sauna mental health benefits are well documented, and are an easy, enjoyable, and simple way to improve your mental health without any adverse side effects.

2. Can Grounding Therapy Speed up Wound Healing?

Nature’s Own Research Association conducted a study in 2015 that looked at the efficacy of grounding mats for healing wounds. They hypothesised that Earthing creates antioxidant effects, slowing reactive oxygenated species (ROS) from causing collateral damage to healing tissue and reducing inflammation.

The body's immune response to wounds is the release of white blood cells (WBCs). An increase in white blood cell counts also increases ROS as a part of their defence mechanism for healing, but too much ROS prevents new white blood cells from reaching the needed area. By slowing the release of ROS from WBCs, more WBC can work to fight off infection.

Another application that has been proven to improve wound healing is near-infrared light. Near-infrared wavelengths have been shown to stimulate the mitochondria in our cells, effectively helping them to work at the optimal output. This is slightly stimulated from the benefits of full-spectrum infrared saunas because they contain 1/3 near-infrared wavelengths.

More notably this is shown in the health benefits of Red Light Therapy, in that the near-infrared wavelength and the red light wavelength combined create photobiomodulation in the body, and subsequently a much greater improvement in wound healing.

3. Grounding Effects on Cardiovascular Disease

Grounding has also been shown to reduce blood viscosity. Blood viscosity is the aggregation of red blood cells or red blood cell fluidity. By reducing blood viscosity you lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. By also reducing stress and improving mood and relaxation, earthing can dramatically impact ones risk of cardiovascular disease.

This is similar to infrared sauna benefits on the heart, and when combined, both therapies can make a long-lasting lifestyle change that can see you living out to your later life stages!

4. Grounding Therapy for Chronic Pain and Blood Pressure

A major factor of chronic illness is chronic inflammation. Earthing results in better blood flow, which helps to reduce chronic pain and chronic stiffness.

A recent pilot study demonstrated that grounding people with hypertension improves blood pressure. In patients with moderate to severe hypertension, the reduction in pharmaceutical support has also been realised when grounding the patient.

In addition to lowering blood pressure, many patients commented that arrhythmia awareness was attenuated as well. As a result, earthing may be one of the easiest and most effective ways to lower blood pressure and improve chronic health conditions, similar to infrared sauna benefits on chronic pain, and saunas benefits on blood pressure.

5. Grounding for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS, is a type of muscle pain that can occur after exercise. It is often accompanied by stiffness and inflammation and can last for several days. While there is no cure for DOMS, there are ways to manage the pain and help the muscles recover.

One promising new approach is grounding or earthing. In a pilot study, grounding the body to the earth altered measures of immune system activity and pain. Since this is the first intervention that appears to speed recovery from DOMS, the pilot provides a basis for a larger study.  

Again, this is very similar to infrared saunas benefit for muscle soreness, especially after a workout or the gym. This is due to the added benefits of vessel dilation and an increased heart rate, which both provides oxygen and nutrients to the muscles for repair, and also removes any waste products such as lactic acid and other causes of inflammation, from the muscles and joint areas.

Combining Earthing Therapy and Infrared Sauna Therapy

We strongly believe that a combination of different therapies can be beneficial for improving overall well-being. One particular combination we recommend is the use of both Earthing Therapy and Infrared Sauna Therapy.

Exposing your skin directly to the ground has been scientifically proven to have many health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, improving sleep, and increasing energy levels.

Similarly, an infrared sauna is also beneficial by aiding detoxification, improving circulation, inducing relaxation, and relieving pain.

If these two methods are combined, a holistic approach can provide amazing results. By following this step-by-step guide, you can significantly enhance your physical and mental wellness.

Step 1: Creating a Sauna Earthing Routine

It is important to have a schedule that includes both therapies at the right frequency so you can get the most benefit from them. Here is a suggested weekly plan:

• Earthing Therapy: Aim for at least 30 minutes of direct contact with the Earth every day. This can be done by walking barefoot on grass, sand, or soil.
• Infrared Sauna Therapy: Start with 2-3 sessions per week, gradually increasing to 4-6 sessions as your body adapts. Each session should last 20-45 minutes.

Step 2: Infrared Sauna Session Guidelines

When using an infrared sauna, try starting with the below sauna practice:

• Temperature: How hot should your sauna be? Begin at a lower temperature (38-49°C) and gradually increase it over time. The optimal temperature range for most people is 49-60°C.
• Hydration: Drink plenty of water before, during, and after each session to stay hydrated. How much you should drink after sauna will depend on how much you sweat you perspire each session.
• Clothing: What should you wear in a sauna? Wear minimal clothing or a bathing suit to allow maximum exposure to infrared heat.
• Time: Start with shorter sessions (20 minutes) and gradually increase the duration as your body adapts. How long you should spend in an infrared sauna for benefits depends on your needs and capabilities.

Step 3: Combining Earthing with Infrared Sauna

Integrate them into your daily routine in a way that harmonises with your schedule. For instance:

1. Begin your day with a 30-minute walk barefoot in nature to practice Earthing Therapy.
2. After work or in the evening, spend 20-45 minutes in an infrared sauna to relax and detoxify.
3. On weekends, consider spending more time outdoors, connecting with nature, and incorporating additional Earthing Therapy.

By following this holistic approach, you can greatly improve your overall physical and mental well-being. Remember to listen to your body and make adjustments as needed.

How Does Earthing Work?

The earth's surface electrons have electrical conductivity, and the human body has an electrical system, that constantly interacts with each other through direct physical contact.  The electrical system of the human body is composed of free or mobile electrons.

Are There Negative Side Effects of Earthing?

Yes, there are some negative side effects of earthing therapy, or at least concerns that you should be aware of. The first concern is that earthing with an open wound may cause infection ,especially if you have direct contact with an open wound and unhygienic environments.

Secondly, if you are using home made earthing equipment, such as copper mesh, you may cause cuts and scratches from your equipment.

Thirdly, if you are using earthing equipment that requires to be grounded through your grounding rod from a power point, and that grounding first redirects back to a power source like most houses do, then you will be positively charging your ions which is the opposite effect that you are trying to achieve.

While there are very minor concerns, earthing therapy may trigger these negative side effects, and understanding how these negative effects can occur will help you mitigate any risk when trying out your own earthing therapy!

What are Free Electrons?

These free electrons are found in our cells, tissues, and organs, and are also present in our blood. Free electrons are negatively charged particles and the universal regulating factor for all living cells is a slightly negative electrical charge on the cell membrane.

What is the Purpose of a Negative Charge?

This negative charge gives the cell its polarity and is essential for normal functioning. When the cell's electrical charge becomes too positive, it loses its polarity and can no longer function properly.

Earthing research suggests a link between chronic illnesses, chronic fatigue, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease and chronic inflammation with the cellular function being too positively charged. When the human body is out of balance, one major reason for this is inflammation. When there is inflammation the body produces excess free radicals.

What Has a Negative Charge?

The earth itself has a negative charge, which helps to neutralise the positive charge in our bodies. When we are in contact with mother earth—whether walking barefoot or with earthing products like a grounding mat or a ground rod—we can absorb those free electrons and negative ions to return our electrical system to a negative charge.  

This is the premise of grounding therapy.

What is the Earth's Role in Earthing Therapy?

It's a scientific fact that the earth's surface is rich in free electrons which are composed of negative ions. These electrical particles are created when energy from the sun interacts with molecules of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapour in the air.

The earth's energy is shared with the surface, which helps to stabilise it and keep it from eroding. The earth's electric potential also helps to protect against electrical shocks. When grounding the human body, you are actually in contact with a layer of earth's electrons.  In other terms, grounding patients absorb the earth's healing energy for incredible health implications.

Why Does the Body Need Negative Ions?

The human body is also naturally electrical, with negative ions that are essential for good health. In fact, many of the health benefits of being outdoors can be attributed to the negative ions in the air.

Why are Negative Ions Important?

Studies have shown that negative ions can help to improve mood, increase concentration, and reduce stress levels. They can also promote better sleep and help to relieve seasonal allergies and headaches.

In addition, negative ions can improve respiratory function and increase the body's ability to absorb oxygen. In order to maintain a healthy balance, the body must constantly replenish its supply of negatively charged ions.

How to Ensure You Have Negative Ions

The easiest ways to do this are:

• To consume foods that are rich in negative ions, such as fruits and vegetables.
• Exposure to negative ions in the form of air ionisers can also be beneficial.
• Grounding the human body with grounding techniques, grounding mats, and grounding patches.
• Sleeping grounded utilising inexpensive grounding systems.
  

By keeping the body's electrical charge in balance, we can help ensure optimal health and well-being.

What are Free Radicals?

Free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons. They are looking to steal electrons from other cells in order to become balanced. This causes damage to the cell membranes, DNA, and enzymes. Proteins that are necessary for cellular function are also damaged or destroyed. All of this leads to poor health and a decrease in energy levels.

What is the Role of the Body's Electrical System?

The electrical system of the body is also responsible for producing the electrical impulses that travel through our nervous system. These electrical impulses allow us to feel pain, touch, pressure, and heat.

They also allow us to see, hear, and smell, regulating our blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. It is also responsible for maintaining our body temperature at a stable level. Without the electrical system, the body would not be able to function properly.

Homeostasis: When our Cells are Functioning Optimally

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment. Mobile electrons help to maintain homeostasis by keeping our blood chemistry at a constant level.

Negative ions play a role in homeostasis by helping to remove positively charged free radicals from our bodies. Free radicals are removed from our bodies by attaching themselves to negative ions and then being flushed out through urine and sweat.

How Does the Body Become Positively Charged?

The body is also exposed to positive charges, which can come from electromagnetic fields, radiation, and other environmental factors. These positive charges can disrupt the normal functioning of cells and lead to health problems.

It is important to maintain a balance of negative and positive charges in order to maintain good health. Therefore, reducing your exposure to EMF and ELF levels plays a major factor in your overall health.

Grounding Effects on the Human Body

Grounding therapy is a simple but effective way to improve your health. By simply walking barefoot outside or using earthing products indoors (grounding mats and grounding patches), your body's own electrical conductivity absorbs the Earth's surface electrons to support all living cells.

This helps with pain relief, improves sleep quality, reduces stress levels, lowers chronic inflammatory responses, lowers the risk of chronic diseases and supports heart health.

By understanding that both the Sun and the Earth provide our cells with all the nutrients they need to survive and thrive, it is easier to grasp the concept of modern-day wellness technologies - such as infrared saunas and grounding patches - replicating these physiological responses for better health.

If you're interested in trying earthing for yourself, simply spend time 30 minutes without shoes on, walking or sitting on the grass or seek some grounding products.

If you want to incorporate earthing into you infrared sauna routine, first take a look at our range of full-spectrum infrared saunas, far-infrared saunas and outdoor saunas.