TO YOUR HEALTH
other benefits. Here is just some of what the research has shown:
Other research has shown the potential for mental health benefits associated with grounding practice. A UK study found Earth’s soil, particularly black soil rich in organic content, is an effective conduc - tor for grounding because of its high moisture and electrolyte levels, contributing to the ease in which the Earth can easily transfer elec- trons to your body. Soil contains the bacterium Mycobacterium vac- cae , which affects the brain similarly to antidepressants. Researchers found the bacterium raised serotonin levels in mice brains, changing their behavior similarly to antidepressants. Reported in a 2007 ar - ticle on MedicalNewsToday.com, lead author Dr. Chris Lowry from Bristol University remarked, “These studies help us understand the body’s communication with the brain and highlight the importance of a healthy immune system for mental health.” This might explain why an imbalanced immune system could predispose some individuals to mood disorders like depression. Dr. Lowry stated, “They also make us consider whether we should spend more time playing in the dirt.” The Disconnection Dilemma To understand why you are ungrounded, you only need to look down at your feet. In the 1970s, shoe manufacturers, specifically of athletic shoes, moved away from natural materials like leather, rubber, and canvas, to ones created from synthetic materials. Synthetic materials were lighter and more cushioned to absorb impacts, which increased athletic performance, and they were more durable and resistant to cracking, which quickly made them wildly popular. One such material is EVA, ethylene-vinyl acetate, a thermoplastic that has flexible properties much like rubber. It softens with heating and hardens by cooling, making it ideal for molding athletic running
● In 2004, the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medi - cine published one of the first grounding studies that examined the effects of grounding on sleep and circadian cortisol profiles. Cortisol is an essential steroid hormone made by your adrenal glands that affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It plays many other important roles, including regulating glu - cose, inflammation, blood pressure, and sleep cycles. The results of this early study showed that grounding normalized daytime cortisol levels, reduced nighttime cortisol levels, and improved sleep, pain, and stress over the course of eight weeks. ● A 2015 collaborative research study in the Journal of Inflamma - tion Research , findings showed grounding appeared to “improve sleep, normalize the day–night cortisol rhythm, reduce pain, re - duce stress, shift the autonomic nervous system from sympathet- ic toward parasympathetic activation, increase heart rate vari- ability, speed wound healing, and reduce blood viscosity.” The research explored the physiological effects of grounding, with significant implications for public health. ● A small study published in the April 2024 Journal of Health Science and Prevention suggests that grounding may speed up wound healing in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This research carried out earthing intervention for 1 hour every day for 30 days. It concluded that earthing/grounding therapy had a significant positive effect on accelerating diabetes mellitus wound healing for its participants.
Making Yr Best Choices
continued on page 20
Astrology and Tarot Consultations Available Via Whatsapp or Telephone Classes and Workshops Online or In Person
For more information, go to www.mistykuceris.com misty@EnhanceOneself.com 703.354.4076
Misty Kuceris, Reiki Master & Pathways Columnist
PATHWAYS—Fall 25—19
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software