Grounding Benefits – Over 20 Published Research Studies
There is more and more research being published in peer-reviewed journals on grounding benefits for health.
The language in these studies can be technical and hard to follow. To make things simple, we’ve written short summaries. Each one explains what the study looked at, what the researchers did, and what they found. We also link to the full study if you want to read it for yourself.
You can browse the grounding benefits by topic – including sleep, circulation, pain, stress, immune response and more.
Not sure where to start?
Download all research summaries on grounding benefits and read offline.
Or start with this review article that summarises nine earlier studies (2000-2015) on sleep, chronic pain, stress and more – Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons. It is a handy way to read about each study in brief. In conclusion, the authors state that “earthing may be a simple, natural, and yet profoundly effective environmental strategy against chronic stress, ANS dysfunction, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, disturbed heart rate variability, hypercoagulable blood and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease.”
Grounding Research on Sleep
The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2004;10 (5):767–776 (Full text available).
Ghaly M, Teplitz D.
Summary:
This study looked at how earthing affects sleep among a group of 12 people over 8 weeks who all had trouble sleeping, including some who had stress or pain interferring with sleep. It used cortisol secretion to measurement physiological changes plus self reporting on sleep quality.
Cortisol is a hormone linked to stress. It follows a natural 24-hour cycle, called the circadian rhythm. At the very start of the study, each person did a salvia test to check their cortisol levels, They also collected saliva every four hours over 24-hours to set their baseline cortisol rhythm or fluctuations over time before grounding.
Then, they slept on a grounded mattress pad placed in their bed for 8 weeks and filled out daily surveys. At week six, they repeated the cortisol test.
By the end of the study, the results showed cortisol levels realigned with a normal cycle of falling at night and rising during the day. This suggests that grounding can help reset the body’s natural cortisol rhythm so that it aligns with the natural circadian rhythm profile.The study participants said they slept better, felt less pain and stress with regular grounding overnight. This included not waking up as often during the night or being able to fall back asleep faster. They also had more energy during the day. This study highlights a key grounding benefit, better sleep and improved stress regulation through cortisol balance.
Grounding Benefits Blood Circulation: What the Research Shows
There have been five studies on grounding and blood circulation. Click to go to the summary.
- Grounding Patients With Hypertension Improves Blood Pressure: A Case History Series Study, 2018.
- Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity—a major factor in cardiovascular disease, 2013.
- One-Hour Contact with the Earth’s Surface (Grounding) Improves Inflammation and Blood Flow – A Randomized, Double-Blind, Pilot Study, 2015.
- Grounding the Human Body Improves Facial Blood Flow Regulation: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study, 2014.
- Grounding the Human Body during Yoga Exercise with a Grounded Yoga Mat Reduces Blood Viscosity, 2015.
Grounding Patients With Hypertension Improves Blood Pressure: A Case History Series Study
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 2018 Nov; 24(6): 46-50 (Abstract Only)
Elkin HK, Winter A
Summary:
This small pilot study followed 10 patients with high blood pressure. The participants were both men and women, of different ages, with varying levels of hypertension. Each person used grounding products for 10 hours a day. They slept on grounding bedding at night and used a grounding mat during the day. They did this for 12 weeks.
Before starting, their was measured to create a baseline, and it was then checked monthly at the clinic. They were also given a Blood Pressure Monitor to use at home. They recorded their readings three times a week, twice a day (at 8am and 8pm), for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, all ten participants had significantly improved blood pressure levels. On average, their top blood pressure number (systolic) dropped by 14.3%. Patients also reported better sleep, feeling calmer, and having fewer aches and pains. These early findings point to potential grounding benefits for cardiovascular health, with researchers concluding that grounding might be a safe and simple way to help lower blood pressure without medication. However, because this was a pilot study with only 10 people, larger studies are needed to confirm these results.
Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity, a major factor in cardiovascular disease
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2013, Volume 19 (2). 102-110 (Full- text available).
Chevalier G, Sinatra ST, Oschman JL, Delany RM
Summary:
The study looked at the impact of grounding for two hours on red blood cells (RBCs). Ten healthy people took part. They were grounded using patches on their hands and feet while they relaxed in chairs in a quiet room that with soft lighting.
The patches were earthed via grounding rods placed in the ground outside. Blood samples were taken before and after grounding. Researchers used a microscope to check:
- zeta potential (a electrical charge around the red blood cells)
- and the amount of clumping of the red blood cells.
After two hours of grounding, the results showed that zeta potential increased and the clumping of red blood cells decreased. This suggests that grounding may help improve blood flow and support cardiovascular health. Better blood flow helps carry oxygen and nutrients around the body and may lower the risk of high blood pressure. These findings point to possible grounding benefits for circulation and heart health, though further studies are needed to confirm the results.
One-Hour Contact with the Earth’s Surface (Grounding) Improves Inflammation and Blood Flow – A Randomized, Double-Blind, Pilot Study
Health, 2015, 7 (8), 1022-59. (Full text available).
Chevalier G, Melvin G, Barsotti T.
Summary:
This study looked at how one hour of grounding affects blood flow, especially in the face.
Forty middle-aged volunteers took part. They were randomly split into two groups: grounded and sham-grounded (not really grounded).
Both groups sat in a recliner chair with a grounding mat, pillow, and patches on their palms and soles. The grounding setup was connected safely to the ground port of a wall outlet, with built-in surge protection.
An infrared camera was used to take thermal images before and after the session to check changes in body temperature and blood flow.
First, everyone rested for 15 minutes to let their body temperature stabilise. Then they relaxed for 10 minutes in a recliner chair with grounding patches on their sole and palm, before the one-hour session began.
After the session, thermal imaging showed that the grounded group had better fluid movement in the abdomen and better blood flow in the face. The researchers suggested that grounding may help the autonomic nervous system manage fluids and blood flow. This could support skin health, facial tissue repair, and a healthier appearance, pointing to potential benefits of grounding for circulation and skin vitality.
Figure 1 from Chevalier G., and all., 2015. Health: 7 (8), 1022-59. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Grounding the Human Body Improves Facial Blood Flow Regulation: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study
Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications, Dec 2014, vol 6 No 5: 293-308. (Full text available).
Chevalier, G.
Summary:
This pilot study looked at whether one hour of grounding could improve blood flow in the face.
Forty people took part. They were randomly assigned to either a grounded group or a sham-grounded (not really grounded) group.
The grounding equipment included TENS patches, mats, and pillows. These were connected by wires to a wall outlet ground port. For the sham-grounded group, the system was changed so no real grounding took place.
A special camera called Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI) was used to record high-quality videos showing blood flow changes in real-time.
Each person sat alone in a recliner chair with mats, pillows, and patches placed on their soles and palms. They were either grounded or sham-grounded for one hour.
Facial blood flow images were taken 20 minutes into the session and again at their peak relaxation point.
The results showed that only the grounded group had better blood flow regulation in the face. Their blood flow increased and sometimes showed a fluctuating rhythm. In contrast, the sham-grounded group had either lower blood flow or no change, with no rhythmic fluctuation.The study suggests that even one hour of grounding can help restore facial blood flow. This could support skin repair, skin health, vitality, and improve facial appearance.
Grounding the Human Body during Yoga Exercise with a Grounded Yoga Mat Reduces Blood Viscosity
Open Journal of Preventive Medicine Vol.05 No.04 (2015), Article ID:55445, 9 pages (Full text available).
Brown. R, Chevalier. G.
Summary:
This double-blind study looked at whether grounding during gentle yoga could bring health benefits.
Exercise, even gentle yoga, can cause a mild inflammatory response in the body. This can increase Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS), which are highly reactive molecules. They can pull negatively charged electrons from healthy cells, including red blood cells. This can make blood thicker (increase blood viscosity).
High blood viscosity makes it harder for blood to flow and has been linked to diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.
The study included 28 women aged 35 to 65. They were all beginners or about to start practising yoga. Their body mass indexes were between 25.1 and 31.4.
The study took place over two days, with 14 women tested each day. Half the yoga mats were grounded, and half were sham-grounded (not really connected to the earth). Each woman chose her own mat without knowing if it was grounded.
They did one hour of yoga, broken into five 12-minute sessions with short breaks in between.
Blood was taken before and after yoga and tested with a Hemathix Blood Analyzer, a machine that measures blood viscosity accurately.The results showed that women who used grounded mats had a clear drop in both systolic and diastolic blood viscosity after one hour. Women on sham mats had a slight, but not significant, increase in blood viscosity.
This suggests that one of the benefits of grounding during exerceise is lower inflammation and blood viscosity, which may help reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Grounding Research on Pain, Muscle Soreness & Exercise Recovery
The following four studies look at how grounding or grounding can effectively help reduce inflammation and pain, lessen muscle damage and speed up recovery from injury.
- Effectiveness of Grounded Sleeping on Recovery After Intensive Eccentric Muscle Loading, 2019.
- Pilot study on the effect of grounding on delayed-onset muscle soreness, 2010.
- Grounding after moderate eccentric contractions reduces muscle damage, 2015.
- Clinical Earthing Application in 20 Case Studies (unpublished)
- Differences in Blood Urea and Creatinine Concentrations in Earthed and Unearthed Subjects during Cycling Exercise and Recovery, 2013.
Effectiveness of Grounded Sleeping on Recovery After Intensive Eccentric Muscle Loading
Frontiers in Physiology, January 2019. (Full text available)
Muller E et al.
This university study looked at whether sleeping grounded could help with muscle recovery after intense exercise.
Twenty-two healthy people took part. First, each person ran downhill on a treadmill for 20 minutes. This type of exercise was chosen because it causes long-lasting muscle soreness and fatigue.
After the run, 12 participants were randomly chosen to sleep on grounding bedding. The other 10 slept on sham-grounded bedding (not really connected to the earth).
Testing was done before the run and again after exercise on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10. Researchers checked:
- how sore the participants felt,
- blood levels of creatine kinase (CK, a marker of muscle damage),
- leg strength,
- and jumping ability.
Four participants also had extra blood tests to look at inflammation markers.
The grounded group recovered faster. They had lower levels of muscle damage and less inflammation compared to the sham-grounded group.
Blood tests showed that inflammation markers like IP-10, MIP-1a, and sP-Selectin were lower in the grounded group. Creatine kinase levels rose less in grounded participants too.
Grounded participants also showed no change in blood concentration (haemoconcentration), while the ungrounded group had a significant increase between days 2 and 7. Normally, haemoconcentration happens because of water loss after exercise. The results suggest that grounding may reduce blood thickness and improve circulation, helping the body avoid this. These findings point to possible benefits of grounding for recovery after intense exercise. However, as this was a small, early-stage study, more research is needed to understand exactly how grounding helps muscle recovery at the cellular level.
Pilot study on the effect of grounding on delayed-onset muscle soreness
Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine, 2010 Mar; 16 (3): 256-73. (Full text available).
Brown D, Chevalier G, Hill M.
Summary:
This pilot study looked at whether grounding could help with delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
Eight healthy people took part. Each person did calf exercises designed to cause soreness in the gastrocnemius muscles.
The participants were randomly split into two groups: grounded and sham-grounded. Four people slept grounded overnight on grounding bedding, with patches placed on their calf muscles and the soles of their feet. The other four used the same setup, but their grounding systems were modified so they were not really grounded.
At the end of the study, researchers measured blood markers and enzymes.The results showed that grounding changed immune system activity. It helped reduce pain and speed up recovery from muscle soreness.
Grounding after moderate eccentric contractions reduces muscle damage
Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 2015. (Full text available).
Brown R, Chevalier R, Hill M.
Summary:
This follow-up study looked at whether grounding could reduce muscle soreness and inflammation.
Thirty-two healthy young men took part. They were randomly assigned to either a grounded group or a sham-grounded group (not really connected to the earth).
On days 1 and 2, each participant did a five-minute warm-up, received instructions, and then did 10 minutes of knee bends. After the exercise, they either grounded or sham-grounded for four hours.
During grounding, patches were placed on their quadriceps and they rested their bare feet on grounding mats. The sham-grounded group used the same setup but were not actually grounded.
Participants could eat, drink, or use devices during the grounding session.
On days 3 and 4, they continued blood testing and grounding, but without more exercise. In total, participants grounded for about 8 hours across the study.
Blood tests showed that muscle inflammation (measured by creatine kinase, or CK) increased significantly in the sham-grounded group but not in the grounded group. On Day 2, there was a big difference between the two groups. By Day 3, CK levels returned to normal for both groups.This suggests that grounding may help protect muscles and support healing after exercise.
However, there was no difference between the groups in self-reported pain. This may be because all participants were healthy, fit, and used to regular exercise.
Blood tests also showed differences in neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that controls inflammation. On Day 2, the grounded group had more neutrophils, while the sham-grounded group had fewer. By Day 3, both groups returned to normal levels.Further research is needed to better understand how grounding affects neutrophils and inflammation.
Clinical Earthing Application in 20 Case Studies
Amalu, W. President of the International Academy of Clinical Thermography. Unpublished study.
Summary:
This study looked at how grounding could help with inflammation and blood circulation, using medical thermography (a type of imaging that shows heat and blood flow in the body).
Poor circulation and inflammation can cause many health problems, including chronic and acute pain.
The study included 20 case studies from patients treated at an outpatient clinic in California between 2004 and 2005. Patients were randomly selected from a database.
The subjects had different conditions:
- 8 had back, neck, or shoulder pain
- 6 had leg or knee pain
- 4 had ankle or foot pain
- 1 had severe cold feet
- 1 had an unhealed ankle wound
Some patients also had poor sleep because of their pain. Some used grounding sheets, special bedding with conductive fibres that connected to the earth through a ground cord and rod. Others received clinical grounding treatments. This involved applying conductive adhesive patches to their skin for a 30-minute session, connecting them to the earth through a grounded cord and adaptor. High-resolution thermal imaging was used before and after grounding to measure inflammation and circulation. Patients also rated their pain using a simple four-point scale. Subjects were monitored over several weeks.
The results showed that grounding helped reduce both acute and chronic inflammation. It also improved blood circulation. Patients reported less pain and better sleep. Those sleeping grounded often felt relief within a few days, and the benefits increased over time. Those who had clinical grounding sometimes felt better immediately after just one session.These outcomes highlight possible benefits of grounding for pain relief, circulation, inflammation, and sleep quality. The researcher concluded that grounding shows “incredible promise” for treating inflammatory conditions.
Differences in Blood Urea and Creatinine Concentrations in Earthed and Unearthed Subjects during Cycling Exercise and Recovery
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2013 (2013). (Full text available).
Sokal P.
Summary:
This study from Poland looked at how grounding affects biochemical changes during exercise and recovery, focusing on blood urea and creatinine levels.
Forty-two healthy men took part in this double-blind study. They were split into two groups, A and B.
In the first week, Group A was grounded and Group B was not. In the second week, they swapped — Group A was ungrounded, and Group B was grounded.
Grounding was done using four hypoallergenic bands placed on each subject’s leg. These bands connected to a plumbing pipe. For sham-grounding, the system was switched off without the participants knowing.
Each person did two exercise sessions — one while grounded and one while sham-grounded. They cycled on a bicycle ergometer for 30 minutes, followed by 40 minutes of recovery.
Researchers measured body electrical potential and took blood samples before exercise, right after exercise, at 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 40 minutes into recovery.
Blood urea levels were measured using enzymes, and creatinine levels were measured with a kinetic calorimetric method.
The results showed that grounding during exercise helped balance protein metabolism. Grounded participants had lower blood urea levels during both exercise and recovery.While creatinine levels did not change during exercise, grounded participants had lower creatinine levels after 40 minutes of recovery.
The study suggests that grounding could support better metabolism during exercise and recovery, and may benefit athletes. These results point to potential benefits of grounding for physical performance and post-exercise recovery.
Grounding Research on Stress and Mood
The following four studies measure the effect of grounding on the autonomic nervous system which is responsible for calming us as well as our fight-or-flight reflex.
- Emotional stress, heart rate variability, grounding, and improved autonomic tone: clinical applications, 2011.
- Changes in pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygenation, perfusion index, skin conductance, and their variability induced during and after grounding human subjects for 40 minutes, 2010.
- The Effect of Grounding the Human Body on Mood, 2015.
- Electrical Grounding Improves Vagal Tone in Preterm Infants, 2017.
Emotional stress, heart rate variability, grounding, and improved autonomic tone: clinical applications
Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 2011;10 (3).
Chevalier G, Sinatra S.
Summary:
This study looked at how grounding affects heart rate variability (HRV), stress, and nervous system health.
Heart rate variability is a measure that can show how much stress the body is under from mental load, anxiety, or emotional trauma.
Twenty-eight healthy people took part. Grounding patches were placed on their palms and the soles of their feet. The patches were connected to a grounding rod outside through a switching box.
Each participant sat in a reclining chair for two hours. They spent:
- 40 minutes not grounded,
- 40 minutes grounded,
- and another 40 minutes grounded.
During this time, participants were asked to relax. Sleeping was allowed, but meditation was not.
HRV measurements were taken using an electrocardiogram (ECG) during the session.
The results showed better balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, pointing to possible benefits of grounding for calming the nervous system and improving stress resilience.
The researchers concluded that grounding may support HRV, reduce too much sympathetic activity (“fight or flight” response), balance the nervous system, and reduce stress.They also suggested that for people with anxiety, emotional stress, fear, panic, or symptoms of nervous system issues (like headaches, dizziness, or heart palpitations), grounding could have a positive effect within 20 to 30 minutes.
Changes in pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygenation, perfusion index, skin conductance, and their variability induced during and after grounding human subjects for 40 minutes
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010 Jan; 16 (1): 81-7. (Abstract only)
Chevalier G.
Summary:
This double-blind study looked at how grounding affects body functions in 28 healthy people, 14 men and 14 women.
Researchers used two devices to measure bodily changes:
- A Radical-7 device to check pulse rate, blood oxygen levels, and perfusion (blood flow).
- A ProCom5 Infiniti encoder to measure skin conductance and breathing rate in real time.
Skin conductance was measured using sensors on the ring and little fingers of the left hand. Breathing was measured with a flexible belt worn around the chest over clothes.
Each participant also had four grounding patches placed on their palms and soles. These patches connected to an outdoor ground rod through two boxes. One box had a switch that could turn grounding on or off.
Participants sat in a comfortable recliner for two hours. They spent:
- 40 minutes sham-grounded (not really grounded),
- 40 minutes grounded,
- and another 40 minutes sham-grounded.
The results showed that skin conductance dropped quickly (within 0.5 to 4 seconds) after grounding began. When grounding was switched off, skin conductance increased again.
This fast drop suggests that one of the immediate benefits of grounding is activating the calming part of the nervous system (parasympathetic response). Changes in breathing rate and blood oxygenation were also noticed, but more research is needed to fully understand these effects, especially when combined with skin conductance changes.
The Effect of Grounding the Human Body on Mood
Psychological Reports: Mental & Physical Health, 2015 116 (2): 534-42. (Abstract only).
Chevalier, G.
Summary:
This pilot study looked at whether grounding could help improve mood. Forty participants took part. They were randomly assigned to either a grounded group or a sham-grounded (control) group.Grounding equipment included conductive pillows, mats, and TENS patches. These were connected to the ground port of a power outlet through a switch that could turn grounding on or off.
Before the session started, each participant filled out a Brief Mood Introspection Scale (BMIS) form to record their mood. Participants then sat in a comfortable reclining chair, with grounding pillows, mats, and patches placed on their palms and soles. They relaxed for 10 minutes before the switch was turned on for either grounding or sham-grounding. They then relaxed for one hour in a dimly lit room. After the session, they filled out another BMIS form.
The results supported three of the four main hypotheses:
- Grounded participants reported a more pleasant mood.
- They felt less tired and more positive.
- They felt less negative and more relaxed.
The study suggested that grounding for one hour can improve mood. This supports the idea that walking barefoot or using conductive materials might have positive effects on health and highlights potential benefits of grounding for emotional wellbeing. The results warranted further study on a larger scale with more psychological and physiological tests.
Grounding Research on Inflammation and Immune Response
The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease
Journal of Inflammation Research, 2015, March 24. (Full text available).
Oschman, James L, Chevalier G, Brown R.
Summary:
This report summarises past research on how grounding affects wound healing, inflammation, and the immune system.
It reviews early studies including:
- A study by Ghaly and Teplitz, which showed that sleeping on a grounding mattress pad helped normalise overnight cortisol levels in 12 people.
- A pilot study by Brown, Chevalier, and Hill, which found that grounding could change immune system activity and help with recovery from delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
The report also includes pictures showing wounds that healed faster with grounding. It offers a theory as to how the earth’s free electrons move through the body and help reduce inflammation. The report concludes that grounding is a simple and natural health strategy to fight against inflammation and support immune response.
Grounding Research on Inflammation and Immune Response
The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease
Journal of Inflammation Research, 2015, March 24. (Full text available).
Oschman, James L, Chevalier G, Brown R.
Summary:
This report summarises past research on how grounding affects wound healing, inflammation, and the immune system.
It reviews early studies including:
- A study by Ghaly and Teplitz, which showed that sleeping on a grounding mattress pad helped normalise overnight cortisol levels in 12 people.
- A pilot study by Brown, Chevalier, and Hill, which found that grounding could change immune system activity and help with recovery from delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
The report also includes pictures showing wounds that healed faster with grounding. It offers a theory as to how the earth’s free electrons move through the body and help reduce inflammation. The report concludes that grounding is a simple and natural health strategy to fight against inflammation and support immune response.
Can Electrons Act as Antioxidants? A Review and Commentary
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2007, 13 (9): 955-967. (Full text available).
Oschman, J.
Summary:
This review article looks at earlier research on grounding and its effects on the human body.
It provides easy-to-understand summaries of studies by Ghaly, Teplitz, Chevalier, Mori, and Oschman. It’s a good article to share with your doctor.
The article suggests that free electrons from the earth act like natural antioxidants when they enter the body through the skin. These electrons may help reduce inflammation, including chronic inflammation linked to diseases like arthritis, Alzheimer’s, eczema, and more.
To explain how grounding might work, Oschman refers to early research by H. Selye, who studied the link between inflammation and cortisol. Selye found that the adrenal glands release hormones to manage inflammation. Other studies show that grounding during sleep can normalise overnight cortisol levels, which supports the idea that grounding may help reduce inflammation.
Grounding and EMFs
There have been three published studies on how grounding the body changes the effect of EMFs.
Click on the name of the study to go to the summary.
- Effects of Grounding on Body Voltage and Current in the Presence of Electromagnetic Fields, 2016.
- Grounding the Human Organism Influences Bioelectrical Processes, 2012.
- Electrical Grounding Improves Vagal Tone in Preterm Infants, 2013.
Effects of Grounding on Body Voltage and Current in the Presence of Electromagnetic Fields
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2016 Sep 22(9): 757-9. (Abstract Only)
Brown R.
Summary:
The study looked at whether grounding could produce harmful currents in the body while in a normal home environment with electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The study focused on low-frequency AC electrical EMFs, not high-frequency EMFs like those from Wi-Fi or mobile phones.
Fifty people, both men and women aged between 12 and 79, took part. Each person was asked to touch a desk lamp with their left hand and then move their hand away, while testers measured their body voltage. Then, the participants were grounded and repeated the same movement. Their body voltage was measured again during grounding.
The results showed that body voltage from AC electrical fields dropped by an average of 58 times when participants were grounded compared to when they were not. The study concluded that AC electrical EMFs induced in the body are much lower when a person is grounding compared to not grounding.
Grounding the Human Organism Influences Bioelectrical Processes
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Volume 18, Number 3, 2012, pp. 229–234 (Full text available).
Sokal. K, Sokal. P.
Summary:
This study looked at how grounding affects the electrical environment of the human body.
The body uses electrical signals to carry out many important biological functions. The earth naturally produces electrical and magnetic fields, which can influence these processes when your body is grounded to the earth.
The study had two experiments.
In the first experiment, four people (two men and two women) were tested while lying down in an insulated room.
Electrodes were placed on the soles of their feet, tongue, teeth, and fingernails. A small copper tube (cannula) was used to measure electrical potential directly in the blood. All the electrodes were connected to copper grounding plates outside on moist earth. Measurements were taken after five minutes lying ungrounded, then again after five minutes of grounding, after one hour of grounding, and finally five minutes after grounding was switched off.
The results showed that grounding immediately and significantly lowered the electrical potentials at all body sites and in the blood. When grounding was stopped, electrical levels returned to their original baseline, this suggests that grounding stabilises the body’s electrical environment. In the second experiment, 12 subjects were tested inside a Faraday cage, which blocks outside electrical fields.
They were grounded with a copper plate attached to their lower leg and connected to the earth outside. Subjects moved up and down while standing or lying down. When ungrounded, their movements caused the electrical charge on the tongue to polarize (positive charge when moving up, negative when moving down).
When grounded, this polarization disappeared. The results suggest that direct contact with the earth can stabilise the body’s electrical potential and may influence the body’s natural bioelectrical processes.
Electrical Grounding Improves Vagal Tone in Preterm Infants
Neonatology 2017;112(2):187-192. doi: 10.1159/000475744. Epub 2017 Jun 10
Passi. R, Doheny. K.K, Gordin. Y, Hinssen. H, Palmer. C.
Summary:
This study looked at whether grounding could reduce stress in preterm babies in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Preterm babies are more at risk of health problems because their organs are not fully developed. One serious risk is necrotizing enterocolitis, a dangerous disease of the intestines. Babies in NICUs are surrounded by electrical equipment, which gives off electromagnetic fields. Researchers suggested that these fields might add extra stress to the babies.
Stress in the body can be measured by heart rate variability (HRV), which shows vagal tone. Good vagal tone means the calming side of the nervous system (parasympathetic) is active. Poor vagal tone means the body is under stress (sympathetic response).
Before the study, magnetic field levels were measured around the incubators. Fields inside the incubators were higher (1.5 to 12.7mG) compared to outside the incubators (0.5mG). Twenty-six preterm babies, aged 6 to 60 days old, were included in the study.
- 20 babies were tested for both skin voltage and HRV.
- 6 babies were tested for skin voltage only.
Measurements were taken before, during, and after grounding. Grounding was done using a patch and wire connected to a ground outlet. Before grounding, babies’ skin voltage showed a 60Hz frequency, the same as standard electrical power. During grounding, skin voltage dropped by 95%, and vagal tone improved by 67%. This suggests reduced stress and greater relaxation. After grounding ended, vagal tone returned to pre-grounding levels.
The results suggest potential benefits of grounding for reducing stress and supporting nervous system balance in vulnerable infants. Grounding may help lower stress in preterm babies, possibly improving their health and reducing disease risk.
Research on Other Benefits of Grounding the Human Body
The effect of earthing (grounding) on human physiology Part 1
European Biology and Bioelectromagnetics Jan 31, 2006; 600 -621(Full text available).
Chevalier. G, Mori, K, Oschman. J.L.
Summary:
This study looked at how grounding affects the brain, muscles, and nervous system. Fifty-eight healthy people took part in this double-blind study. They were randomly assigned to a grounded group (28 people) or a sham-grounded group (30 people).
Participants sat in a recliner with grounding patches attached to the soles of their feet. The patches were connected to a ground rod. For the sham-grounded group, a plastic piece was used instead of a fuse to break the connection without the participants knowing. Everyone relaxed ungrounded for 28 minutes first. Then they were either grounded or sham-grounded for another 28 minutes.
Researchers used a biofeedback system to measure four things:
- EEG (brainwave activity) with electrodes on the forehead.
- SEMG (muscle tension) with electrodes on the left and right shoulder muscles.
- Blood volume pulse (BVP) and heart rate (HR) using a small sensor strapped to the middle finger.
Results were based on 30 sham-grounded subjects and 22 grounded subjects (data from 6 grounded subjects was incomplete due to technical faults).
The findings showed:
- About half of the grounded subjects had an immediate change in brainwave activity on the left side of the brain (no change on the right side).
- Muscle tension (SEMG) changed on both sides of the shoulders almost immediately after grounding started.
- Blood volume pulse (BVP) dropped steadily in 19 out of 22 grounded subjects and in 8 out of 30 sham-grounded subjects.
- Heart rate (HR) was not affected.
These results suggest benefits of grounding for stress relief. This includes calming muscle activity, supporting brain function, and shifting the nervous system toward relaxation.
The effect of earthing (grounding) on human physiology
Part 2: Electrodermal Measurements
Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine, Volume 18: Number 3: Pages 11-34
Chevalier. G, Mori. K.
Summary:
This double-blind study looked at how grounding affects different aspects of human physiology, using a special device called the Apparatus for Meridian Identification (AMI).
The AMI measures energy transfer at points on the body based on traditional Chinese medicine. It gives three readings:
- Before Polarization (BP): linked to inflammation and hydration.
- After Polarization (AP): linked to stress in individual organs.
- Integral Electrical Charge (IQ): linked to overall body balance, especially immune function.
Fifty-eight healthy people took part.
- 28 were grounded with electrodes attached to the soles of their feet at an acupuncture point called Kidney 1.
- 30 were sham-grounded — the connection to the earth was interrupted with a piece of plastic.
Participants didn’t know whether they were grounded or not.
The study had five phases: a resting phase (buffering) and then two baseline periods followed by two intervention periods.
- Each phase (except buffering) lasted 14 minutes.
- In the first 28 minutes, no one was grounded.
- In the second 28 minutes, participants were either grounded or sham-grounded.
- Measurements were taken during the second baseline and the first intervention phase, with each acupoint tested 30 times.
The results showed:
- BP decreased significantly across all meridians in the grounded group but not in the control group.
- The biggest changes were seen in the lower half of the body, likely because the electrodes were placed on the feet.
- AP readings showed only small changes in two meridians.
- IQ readings showed no significant difference between groups.
The drop in BP suggests that grounding may reduce inflammation and increase activity in the parasympathetic nervous system (the body’s “rest and relax” response), pointing to benefits of grounding for supporting calm and lowering inflammatory responses. These results are consistent with previous research showing that grounding may lower stress and inflammation.