Can grounding our body to the earth help someone to reduce stress and even sleep better?

Question

There is a system being sold to help people sleep better. It is a system that essentially grounds the body to earth via a metallic mat (goes on the bed) and earth rod connection. Is the science factual or is this just another scheme that has no truth to it? See links to where products are shown.
1. http://www.rejuvinex.com/ 2. http://www.sleepgrounded.com/

Answer 1

Chances are it's just a scheme. 'Grounding' is only used to help discharge electricity, but I rather doubt electricity build-up on our skin (and its only the skin, because the resistance of crossing the skin is so high) has any detrimental effects. besides, you can easily do it yourself by touching something made of metal. But again, there is no way static electricity is making people stressed.

Answer 2

I agree with most of the above posters in that this has absolutely no scientific merit....unless you live in a dry sweater that is shocking you through the night :). Seriously though, electrostatic charge building up on you has nothing to do with your ability to sleep. Your biological clock is entrained into a specific schedule, called circadian rhythms, by environmental stimuli (mainly light and temperature) that drive gene changes and differential activity of body systems during the day. Even if you grounded yourself, your body has electrical impulses coursing through it at all moments through your heart, nervous system and across the plasma membranes of your cells.

Try waking up and going to sleep at the same time of the day. Avoid bright lights and activity around bedtime. When I have trouble, I take some valerian root, chamomile tea, and in some cases, melatonin. That knocks you out good.

Answer 3

This therapy is termed as "earthing" and its purpose is intended to create an electrical connection from the body to the earth. The earth is made up of materials that is electrically conductive and therefore dissipates voltage.

The human body does not have enough voltage to support this theory. In fact, the resting membrane potential of most our cells is -70mV, which certainly could not conduct a relationship with a ground. Secondly, even with depolarization of a membrane potential (+30mV) you still wouldn't have the necessary voltage to support the theory.

I have also seen the product on multi-level marketing programs which also makes me suspicious. I would recommend Tempur-Pedic.

Answer 4

Like the above poster said, grounding will only dissipate excess charge. However, the human body experiences no adverse effects, and in fact, no events at all, when it is electrically or magnetically charged. You can be electrically charged when you stand outside in a thunderstorm (you may notice your hair standing on end). When you go in for an MRI, the charge up your whole body magnetically, and you won't feel a thing. Just like the magnetic bracelets, this is a complete sham.

Answer 5

Seriously. We are grounded who aren't in spacce. Even in a plane. And I think on the matterr of sleep, that those who get some sum hours of sunlight/day, have the best nights of sleep,

Answer 6

Hmmm. I don't feel any better or worse when I lay on the ground. Sounds like a scientific idea without scientific merit.

Answer 7

I'll give you one answer that will kill any doubt.
When people walked the earth barefooted did they lived more??
No! right? they didn't. So these matresses are useless. The faith on it will make you better. Have a nice day.

Answer 8

I would definitely entertain the idea, even be part of a well monitored and planned experiment a sleep experiment. sounds very int resting.

Answer 9

Check out (http://www.reducingstress.net ) there is a lot of great articles and expert advice on the subject there.

Answer 10

every body and everybody is different my dad and brother made watches run backwards. grounding them may help, the chinese believe it and theyre very zen. which i think it is our mind over matter that is more at play how we thnk we feel, we feel.