Grounding aka Earthing

HopeHeal · June 2021

I came across an interesting book and film called Earthing. It's about how humans can ground themselves electrically by walking barefoot on or handling with our hands, the earth (dirt, grass, beach). The theory is the earth contains negative ions that absorb into the body through the bare skin and balance all the positive ions we accumulate with electrical and cellular exposure. The results of studies have shown a reduction in body inflammation, of which cancer is a process. In analyzing my life according to the film I am very ungrounded! I plan to start walking on the beach barefoot soon as part my healing process.

saltmarsh · June 2021

I hope you enjoy your earthing process! I def have friends/family/relatives who subscribe to this belief, and some who may be agnostic but just clearly enjoy being barefoot. I'm one of those big baby "tenderfoot"-types who cannot stand walking barefoot, but if you can stand it, I say, "Go for it!"

HopeHeal · June 2021

Hi Saltmarsh, I get you, as I was brought up to wear shoes at all times! If I can't get to the beach I am going to buy a grounding pad for my bed and a small foot mat for the floor which plugs into an outlet, more for urbanites. Not everyone has grassy backyard or even a beach. I'll make sure to get my grounding either way!

ShetlandPony · June 2021

I remember reading about "Forest Bathing" and some scientific evidence that there may be beneficial microorganisms in the soil and volatile oils in the air in natural settings, that can do people good. And of course we human beings are adapted to natural settings, and viewing them or being in them can lower our stress and increase both our mental and physical well-being, some of which can be measured in inflammatory cytokines, stress hormones, etc. So while I'm not sure about the ion thing, I do believe in getting up close with nature. How about a container garden?

(Sorry, too lazy to find sources to cite at the moment.)

HopeHeal · June 2021

You make a good argument for living out of the city. I haven't heard of Forest Bathing, must check it out, it sounds very sensible. One can also ground oneself by touching a tree, or even gardening. There must be more healing in nature than just the ground too; It would be in the air, vision and rain, hence the bath.

Unfortunately I tried buying plants for my home but they die in my house, I think because I keep the windows closed to keep pollution out. For now my best bet is looking at the trees outside windows, and working with fresh produce during cooking.

ShetlandPony · June 2021

The "bathing" isn't actually water, just immersing yourself in the forest. I am a gardener and would love to give you some ideas. What direction does your window face? How close to the window were the plants? What kind of climate are you in? What did you try to grow that failed? See, I don't want you to give up on indoor gardening! Trees out the window and fresh produce sound great!

Esther01 · June 2021

That sounds great, Hopeheal! I can see also how the feel of the grass or sand under your feet is also psychologically healing in addition to the ions. I'll have to try it!

Blessings,

Esther

ShetlandPony · June 2021

A couple years ago I went on vacation for two weeks, where I spent most of my time outdoors in natural beauty, hiking, snorkeling etc. I got a lot more exercise than usual, and was not strict about my diet. My tumor markers when I returned were the lowest they had been in quite a while. Chalk it up to nature, to sunshine and happiness! Recently I adjusted my circadian rhythm to be more in tune with nature, the way our ancestors were. In other words, I started making myself get up two hours earlier than usual and go immediately outside for a dose of sunshine, to re-set my inner clock. At the same time I started avoiding bright light including screens at night (book and reading lamp instead). It worked. I am actually sleepy at bedtime and I sleep better. I love starting my day in the garden, and try to do some physical work out there before I come in for breakfast after a 13-hour fast. The 13-hour part I sometimes manage and sometimes don't. (It is another piece of the natural biological rhythm. Cancer cells don't like this.)

DivineMrsM · June 2021

Earthing may be new to some, but it's a concept that pretty much has always been around. It sounds to me like a new way to package age-old wisdom. I'm all for it and it's a wonderful way to supplement conventional treatment for bc. I hadn't heard of the book or film, so I will try to get my hands on them.

I've always had an earthy side; flower gardening has been my hobby for decades and I spent many summers camping and hiking in area parks when my son was younger. I still love a nice trail although these days I need less strenuous ones. Getting out in nature is one of the best ways to reduce stress, clear your head, recharge. Healing? Most definitely! The great thing is it costs nothing!

A little sidebar here. Many of us have been taught a religion where the deity is a fatherly figure way up there somewhere in the heavenly atmosphere. While I respect that, these days, I gravitate towards finding more meaning in that which i can see, hear, feel, touch; seeking heaven on earth. Tuning in to this aspect of spirituality is referred to as the divine feminine, a concept absent in many of today's religions. I’m now seeking my own beliefs, rather than continuing to blindly follow a religion that I was conditioned from birth to believe in. For me, there must be equal parts of male and female spiritual/earthy qualities in our lives for balance.

Here's one of my favorite sayings:

.

HopeHeal · June 2021

Shetland I commend your for gardening, it's a great activity for connecting with biology benefits. My windows face East so I get a lot of sun in the morning. They are somewhat close to the trees outside but not enough to stick my hand out and reach them. I am in a warm/comfortable climate all year around - winter lows are 50's with no snow. I tried most recently to cater to air plants but they needed to be outside to thrive, which means I can't have them inside as I wanted.

I believe the circadian rhythm is the most important piece of health when it comes to cancer. Keeping it in line has been a challenge for me, especially during covid.

Integrative Oncos also recommend the fasting window as you have been practicing, from night until morning. So it sounds like you have a great health plan - biology contact, circadian control and the fast window.

HopeHeal · June 2021

I like your concept DivineMrs, it deals more with the physically tangible and less with the abstract, and ties right in with the earthing. For those who like organized religion there is more of an emphasis on mental work to associate while grounding.

DivineMrsM · June 2021

HopeHeal, thank you for your open-mindedness on my religion comment. It’s a very personal subject to many which I respect and I’m not wanting to hijack the the Earthing topic, just adding a tidbit of food for thought.

I looked for the Earthing book on my library’s website and see I can borrow a digital copy. Happy about that!

ShetlandPony · June 2021

Regarding container gardening, you are lucky to have east-facing windows in your mild climate, HopeHeal, because a south or west exposure could be too hot. Plants like morning sun. You'll want the plants close enough to the window to get plenty of light. Houseplants, as long as they are not ones that need high humidity, are good bets. Houseplants are really just plants from tropical, filtered-shade places. Any other plants that grow in part or full shade outdoors in pots are good bets. Indoor light is generally too dim for sun-loving plants, which includes most vegetables and many flowers. If you like flowers, African Violets are lovely. Herbs that don't need full sun would be worth trying -- parsley, chives, bay, mint, scented geraniums. A local nursery would be more likely to give you knowledgeable help choosing plants than a general home improvement or grocery store. Beware tiny pots that dry out too quickly, and beware plastic or ceramic pots that stay too wet. Unglazed clay works well for most plants as it breathes, keeping the roots cool and not waterlogged, and clay is natural and non-toxic. You can always set a clay pot inside another decorative pot if you like. Lift the pot to feel its weight when deciding whether it is time to water. Most plants should have the soil dry out a bit between waterings, but not bone dry. Match the pot size to the plant. Potted plants will want some diluted organic fertilizer or compost top-dressing occasionally. Be sure you use (organic) potting soil, as dirt from outside will not drain properly in containers. Well, that may be more than you wanted to know, but if you want to tell me what kind of plants you like, I can give you specific ideas.

illimae · June 2021

I don’t know about the ions but I fully believe we are better of mentally and physically with a good dose of nature. I can’t imagine we were meant to live indoors, under light bulbs and eating from cans and boxes. My husband and I are moving permanently to our cabin (hopefully within a month) and will eat mostly from our own garden when possible. I absolutely believe health and peace will improve by giving up big city life and I can’t wait.

exbrnxgrl · June 2021

illimae,

That looks lovely! I wish you and your husband the best in your new place. I’m a die hard urban girl myself but I do have a small patio that definitely saved my sanity during the long lock down. I have always grown things in pots or small beds. I grew peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and lots of herbs for many years and I have my beloved Meyer lemon tree in a large container. Over the last few years I’ve switched to flowers but continue to nurture my lemon tree which bore no fruit for 13 years but has born two crops a year for the past two years. Sitting out on the patio with my flowers and lemon tree was very soothing, and still is!

Rah2464 · June 2021

I live on a farm and every spring I cannot wait to get my hands in the soil. I currently have a very large, unruly garden to tend. I will be out there today trying to knock back the weeds as it has been too wet to be in there for about two weeks. I truly do feel better connected with nature no matter what the season. We also pretty much follow the sun, tucking in when it goes down and rising with it.

Illimae the cabin looks wonderful. Especially that hammock oh my!

DivineMrsM · June 2021

“I can't imagine we were meant to live indoors, under light bulbs and eating from cans and boxes.“ —True that, illimae! Just looking at the photos of your cabin and the surrounding vistas lifts my own spirit, so I can only imagine the effect it has on you actually being there. It’s truly spectacular. I love a view from above, especially of mountains and hills; it’s so uplifting to drink in the beauty of it.

Exbrnxgrl, your patio sounds very inviting. I visit with a number of people who make the most of smaller outdoor spaces which are absolutely lovely to spend time in. Lemon trees are gorgeous, whether they bear fruit or not.

Shetland, great tips for indoor plants. My husband (the vegetable gardener) has had an orchid plant for quite a few years and keeps it in an east window. He has great success with it, it’s currently in bloom.

HopeHeal · June 2021

Thanks Shetland for your very detailed and informative post. Those instructions are all I need to get my indoor gardening going! In the past I thought I knew how to take care of plants and they would do well until I tried to repot them, even bought soil and a larger pot, then they died. They started out as the small plants I would buy from the market and such, and would start outgrowing their little container. I never understood why they didn't like being re-potted while they grew so nicely in their original pot.

HopeHeal · June 2021

Sounds dreamy Illimae, I have always wanted the country life. Your home looks wonderful in those pix.

saltmarsh · June 2021

illimae, that looks absolutely magnificent and I hope you enjoy the heck out of it!

For my part, I was thinking of this conversation this past weekend at two points: when I went to help with the neighbor's pool and had to walk across some grass at one point and chose to try it barefoot for the first time in...I don't know how many years...and again when I drove my kid and his friend to the beach on Sunday. We all kicked off our shoes and walked in the sand and waded in the water, and examined rocks and shells and beach grass, and while the water was icily cold, it felt good, too.

HopeHeal · June 2021

Saltmarsh sounds like so much fun. I have been reading the book today and so far it seems the grounding must be done through the feet, either sitting or standing, for at least 30 minutes. I am already looking around my property where I can take off my shoes and stand on the grass or dirt (and hope nobody sees me :-/), otherwise it's the beach. I can't wait, I haven't been to the beach in ages.

exbrnxgrl · June 2021

Love going barefoot but am a bit nervous in grass as I once stepped on a bee in my own backyard! Ouch, it felt like stepping on glass. I live about 35 minutes from the coast and find nothing more soul soothing than staring at the mighty ocean. Having just retired I’m spending my summer on many long delayed home projects (I need simplicity. I’m paring down big time) but am treating myself to a beach cottage near Santa Barbara in early September. I am fantasizing about long beacwalks and the sand beneath my feet 👣 .

HopeHeal · June 2021

I think the beach is our best bet Exbrnxgrl. Beach cottage sounds divine. My available beach must be driven to but I am glad I at least have a beach around.

I also have reservations about going barefoot on the dirt. Some enthusiasts actually hike barefoot; must be hard with all the little rocks. I am not clear as to whether concrete such as the sidewalk is acceptable since I'm not finished with the book yet. I have to read the whole thing to get proper context.

saltmarsh · June 2021

My modern-day earthy-crunchy 23 year old decided a couple summers ago to hike parts of the Appalachian Trail barefoot. They lasted a week or so before their foot got cut up. Took a little bit to heal, went back and did it again, with the same results. And they grew up running around barefoot all the darn time, on varying surfaces. They are back to wearing shoes to hike and bike and barefoot whenever it seems more appropriate.

HopeHeal · June 2021

Yep, that's why shoes were eventually invented .

Grounding aka Earthing

Comments

Categories