As many of you know, one of my cardinal principles of good health is Earthing, also known as grounding. By simply walking barefoot outside on the grass, dirt, or concrete, you allow your body to draw in the Earth’s electrons, and discharge harmful electro-pollution.
There are about a dozen or so completed studies on Earthing showing its vast health benefits. The simple act of grounding yourself to the earth decreases inflammation, lowers stress, increases calmness, and helps to relieve pain.
But perhaps one of the most powerful benefits of Earthing is what it can do for your blood pressure. As many of you know, high blood pressure is caused by something called “hyperviscosity,” which means your blood is thick and sticky and moves slowly through your circulatory system. In other words, your blood is thick like ketchup, and that feeds the inflammation process that damages arteries, boosts blood pressure, and increases the risk of blood clots.
Instead of being like ketchup, you want your blood to flow like red wine, smoothly and easily. That’s where Earthing comes in. By altering the electrical “charge” of your blood, Earthing helps to improve its flow and viscosity. It also helps to discharge stress, which as you know is another factor that can drive up blood pressure.
How can you get started with Earthing? Simply go barefoot outside, if conditions allow. Just 40 minutes a day can make a difference. Grass, sand, dirt, and concrete are all conductive surfaces from which your body can draw the Earth’s electrons. If going barefoot outside isn’t realistic, a warm basement with a concrete floor will also work.
One note of caution: If you’re taking any medication related to blood viscosity—but especially Coumadin (warfarin)—you should first inform your doctor that you would like to try Earthing. Then, working together carefully monitor your INR every week until the INR stabilizes. Your doctor can adjust your Coumadin dose accordingly. Here’s more about how Earthing can affect your medications.
I’m also conducting a study with Dr. Howard Elkin on how Earthing affects blood pressure. If you are hypertensive, between the ages of 30 and 80, and live near Los Angeles, contact Dr. Elkin (at 562-945-3753 or heartwise.com) to be considered for participation.
Now it’s your turn: Have you tried Earthing?
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