What do
 children and animals practice that our ancestors 
did without question to restore, renew and rejoice? They sit, lay, roll, touch, smell and play
upon the earth. Whether upon an open field of
plush grass, a carved
canyon rock face, a
sprawling sandy beach
or the rich, black soil of
the forest, the comfort
of the earth has been
enjoyed for millennia,
and the reasons are abundant.

Many of us can remember when the strength of a tree propped our back when we needed support on an exhausting day, or we can recall a first warm day of the season when the sun drew us out of hibernation into the natural world with blanket and water bottle. Beyond the poetic vision of solace, in both instances, the earth was actually facilitating a number of physiological phenomena.

According to some healers, touching the earth can provide pain relief, stabilize blood sugar and hormones, detoxify the body, alleviate stress and inflammation, boost our sleep and aid our metabolism. Dr. Joseph Mercola,
an osteopathic physician and author, reports that the immune system functions optimally when the body has an adequate supply of electrons, which are obtained by barefooted contact with the earth.

“Research indicates that electrons from the earth have antioxidant effects that can protect your body from inflammation,” he writes. “For most of our evolutionary history, humans have had continuous contact with the earth. It is only recently that substances such as asphalt, wood, rugs and plastics have separated us from this contact.”

Medical Doctor Laura Koniver, who calls herself “the intuitive physician”, supports this notion, explaining,
“The Earth’s surface is negatively charged, full of free electrons willing and waiting for us. As human beings, every single one of us is chock full of free radicals that cause inflammation and damage, causing our bodies to have a
net positive charge. The earth is meant to be a docking station for us,
a port we can plug into to receive a head-to-toe, inside and out neutralization of this inflammation. Directly touching the earth is literally the best anti-aging secret in the world, and nothing supports healing faster than docking yourself on the ground.”

Earthing and grounding are the terms used to describe the practice
of connecting to the earth for health benefits. Koniver suggests that humans should connect with the earth a mini- mum of 10 minutes per day, either by being barefoot, laying down, being in a body of water, digging in the dirt, lean- ing against a tree or as a backup plan, being barefoot on cement (cement is a semi-conductor). She says the practice can aid in the treatment of premen- strual syndrome, arthritis, heart disease, autoimmune diseases and more.

Many of us instinctively yearn
for a deep connection to the earth. With this medically supported knowledge, perhaps we will more mindfully acknowledge this source of immeasurable abundance in our lives and follow Koniver’s advice to engage in daily, 10-minute earthing sessions. To download Koniver’s Earthing Guidebook, visit IntuitionPhysician.com.

Trella Dubetz facilitates the mind-body therapy practice, Sage Massage & Wellness, in Millersville. Contact her at 717- 468-7523 or visit TrellaDubetz.com.