Grounding Research Library

What Is Grounding?

Grounding (also called earthing) is the practice of reconnecting your body with the Earth's natural electrical charge — for example by walking barefoot on grass or soil, or by sleeping on a grounding sheet that connects your body to the ground through a cord. Modern life, with rubber-soled shoes, elevated buildings and indoor living, largely insulates us from this contact. Scientists have been studying what happens when the body is grounded again, and this page collects that peer-reviewed research so you can read the science for yourself.

We add new studies to this library as they are published. This page is for education only — it is not medical advice.

The Research Library

Jump to: Overviews & Reviews · Sleep, Stress & Mood · Pain, Inflammation & Muscle Recovery · Cardiovascular & Metabolic Physiology · Mechanisms & Foundational Science

Overviews & Reviews

• Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth's Surface Electrons — Chevalier et al., Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012 (review).
  A landmark review of early grounding research, summarizing evidence that reconnecting the body with the Earth's surface electrons is associated with better sleep, reduced pain, and subjective reports of improved well-being.
  PubMed abstract · Free full text
• Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine Strategies Should Include Earthing (Grounding): Review of Research Evidence and Clinical Observations — Menigoz et al., Explore (NY), 2020 (review).
  A review of roughly 20 grounding studies reporting wide physiological improvements when the body is grounded versus non-grounded, including reduced inflammation, pain and stress, and improved blood flow, energy and sleep.
  PubMed abstract
• Grounding – The Universal Anti-Inflammatory Remedy — Sinatra et al., Biomedical Journal, 2023 (review).
  A clinician-authored review presenting grounding as a simple anti-inflammatory lifestyle strategy, summarizing evidence that earthing may help resolve inflammation and support cardiovascular and autonomic health.
  PubMed abstract · Free full text
• Illnesses in Technologically Advanced Societies Due to Lack of Grounding (Earthing) — Oschman, Biomedical Journal, 2023 (review).
  Reviews the evidence that chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases are more prevalent in societies insulated from the Earth's surface, and the mechanisms proposed for grounding's anti-inflammatory effects.
  PubMed abstract
• Grounding (Earthing) as Related to Electromagnetic Hygiene: An Integrative Review — Jamieson, Biomedical Journal, 2023 (review).
  An integrative review examining grounding in the context of electromagnetic hygiene — how earthing reduces induced voltages on the body — alongside the broader physiological evidence base.
  PubMed abstract
• Grounding as a Complementary Intervention for Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Potential Therapeutic Applications — Kshirsagar et al., Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2025 (review).
  A review examining grounding's proposed anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms and their potential relevance as a complementary, non-pharmacological approach in Alzheimer's disease.
  PubMed abstract

Sleep, Stress & Mood

• The Biologic Effects of Grounding the Human Body During Sleep as Measured by Cortisol Levels and Subjective Reporting of Sleep, Pain, and Stress — Ghaly & Teplitz, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2004 (pilot study, n = 12).
  Sleeping on a grounded conductive pad for 8 weeks was associated with reduced night-time cortisol levels and a more normalized 24-hour cortisol rhythm, together with subjective improvements in sleep, pain and stress — with changes most apparent in female participants.
  PubMed abstract
• The Effect of Grounding the Human Body on Mood — Chevalier, Psychological Reports, 2015 (double-blind pilot, n = 40).
  In a double-blind pilot, one hour of grounding while relaxing significantly improved pleasant and positive moods compared with sham grounding.
  PubMed abstract
• The Effects of Grounding (Earthing) on Bodyworkers' Pain and Overall Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial — Chevalier et al., Explore (NY), 2019 (randomized controlled trial).
  Massage therapists who were grounded while working and while sleeping reported significant increases in physical function and energy, and decreases in fatigue, depressed mood, tiredness and pain, compared with their non-grounded periods.
  PubMed abstract
• Grounding the Body Improves Sleep Quality in Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease: A Pilot Study — Lin et al., Healthcare (Basel), 2022 (randomized double-blind pilot, n = 22).
  In patients with mild Alzheimer's disease, 12 weeks of regular grounding significantly improved sleep quality (PSQI) compared with sham grounding, although anxiety and depression scores did not change significantly.
  PubMed abstract · Free full text
• The Effect of Earthing Mat on Stress-Induced Anxiety-like Behavior and Neuroendocrine Changes in the Rat — Park et al., Biomedicines, 2022 (preclinical animal study).
  In rats exposed to chronic stress, an earthing mat reduced anxiety-like behavior and modulated neuroendocrine and inflammatory markers — preclinical support for stress-related effects of grounding.
  PubMed abstract · Free full text
• Effect of Earthing Mats on Sleep Quality in Rats — Ye et al., International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024 (preclinical animal study).
  In a rodent EEG study, sleeping on an earthing mat improved sleep-related measures and modulated orexin and antioxidant markers in the brain, suggesting neural mechanisms for improved sleep.
  PubMed abstract · Free full text

Pain, Inflammation & Muscle Recovery

• The Effects of Grounding (Earthing) on Inflammation, the Immune Response, Wound Healing, and Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases — Oschman, Chevalier & Brown, Journal of Inflammation Research, 2015 (review).
  Reviews evidence that grounding changes markers of inflammation and circulating white blood cell counts, discusses proposed antioxidant mechanisms, and documents case examples of accelerated wound healing under grounding.
  PubMed abstract · Free full text
• Grounding After Moderate Eccentric Contractions Reduces Muscle Damage — Brown, Chevalier & Hill, Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 2015 (randomized study, n = 32).
  Young men grounded for 4 hours after 200 half-knee bends showed significantly less creatine kinase release from exercised muscles than a sham-grounded group — indicating reduced muscle damage and faster recovery of muscle cells.
  PubMed abstract · Free full text
• Effectiveness of Grounded Sleeping on Recovery After Intensive Eccentric Muscle Loading — Müller et al., Frontiers in Physiology, 2019 (triple-blind randomized trial, n = 22).
  Participants who slept on grounded sheets during 10 days of recovery after an intensive downhill run showed faster recovery — smaller performance drops and lower markers of muscle damage and inflammation — than participants sleeping on sham-grounded sheets.
  PubMed abstract · Free full text
• Pilot Study on the Effect of Grounding on Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness — Brown, Chevalier & Hill, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010 (pilot study, n = 8).
  Grounding after eccentric calf exercise altered markers of immune activity and pain and appeared to speed recovery from delayed-onset muscle soreness — the pilot that laid the groundwork for later, larger trials.
  PubMed abstract · Free full text
• Differences in Blood Urea and Creatinine Concentrations in Earthed and Unearthed Subjects during Cycling Exercise and Recovery — Sokal et al., Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013 (double-blind crossover trial, n = 42).
  In a double-blind crossover study, earthing during 30 minutes of cycling exercise and the recovery period significantly lowered blood urea concentrations, suggesting reduced protein catabolism during exertion.
  PubMed abstract · Free full text
• Earthing as a Supportive Therapy for Post-Spinal Surgery Recovery — Sokal et al., Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025 (clinical study, n = 42 earthed patients).
  A recent clinical study investigating whether night-time earthing during recovery after spinal surgery influences postoperative pain and biochemical parameters.
  PubMed abstract

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Physiology

• Earthing (Grounding) the Human Body Reduces Blood Viscosity — A Major Factor in Cardiovascular Disease — Chevalier et al., Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2013 (controlled study, n = 10).
  Two hours of grounding increased the electrical surface charge (zeta potential) of red blood cells and significantly reduced red blood cell clumping, which lowers blood viscosity — a relevant factor in cardiovascular risk.
  PubMed abstract · Free full text
• Earthing the Human Body Influences Physiologic Processes — Sokal & Sokal, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2011 (physiology studies).
  Across five experiments, earthing during night rest was associated with measurable changes in serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, iron and electrolytes, in thyroid function, and in blood glucose of diabetic participants.
  PubMed abstract · Free full text
• Grounding Patients With Hypertension Improves Blood Pressure: A Case History Series Study — Elkin & Winter, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2018 (case series, n = 10).
  In a cardiology practice, hypertensive patients who grounded at home for at least 10 hours a day showed significant reductions in systolic blood pressure over the trial period, with an average decrease of 14.3%.
  PubMed abstract
• Electrical Grounding Improves Vagal Tone in Preterm Infants — Passi et al., Neonatology, 2017 (clinical observational study, n = 26).
  In preterm infants in a neonatal intensive care unit, electrical grounding reduced skin-surface voltage by about 95% and increased vagal tone by 67% — evidence that the electrical environment can influence autonomic balance.
  PubMed abstract

Mechanisms & Foundational Science

• Can Electrons Act as Antioxidants? A Review and Commentary — Oschman, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2007 (review).
  A foundational review proposing that mobile electrons from the Earth's surface may act as natural antioxidants, neutralizing reactive oxygen species at sites of inflammation.
  PubMed abstract
• Perspective: Assume a Spherical Cow: The Role of Free or Mobile Electrons in Bodywork, Energetic and Movement Therapies — Oschman, Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2008 (perspective).
  Introduces the concept of free or mobile electrons in the body's living matrix — the continuous connective-tissue network — and their proposed role in health, healing and therapy.
  PubMed abstract
• Charge Transfer in the Living Matrix — Oschman, Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2009 (review).
  Reviews charge transfer within the living matrix and proposes mechanisms by which earthing may replenish the body's electron supply, supporting recovery and reducing inflammation.
  PubMed abstract
• 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 — Chevalier, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010 (randomized double-blind study, n = 28).
  A 40-minute grounding session produced immediate, measurable changes in skin conductance and respiratory rate, with effects persisting after ungrounding — supporting grounding's influence on relaxation-related physiology.
  PubMed abstract
• The Neuromodulative Role of Earthing — Sokal & Sokal, Medical Hypotheses, 2011 (hypothesis paper).
  A hypothesis paper proposing that earthing's alteration of the body's electrical environment exerts neuromodulatory effects, including on the electrical activity of the brain.
  PubMed abstract
• Earthing the Human Organism Influences Bioelectrical Processes — Sokal & Sokal, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2012 (physiology study).
  Measurements in a Faraday cage showed that earthing changes electric potentials measured on the tongue, teeth, nails and in venous blood — direct evidence that earthing alters the body's bioelectrical environment.
  PubMed abstract
• Analysis of the Charge Exchange Between the Human Body and Ground: Evaluation of "Earthing" from an Electrical Perspective — Chamberlin et al., Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 2014 (electrical engineering analysis).
  An engineering analysis quantifying the natural electron flow between the human body and the ground, and how conductive grounding restores electrical equilibrium between body and Earth.
  PubMed abstract
• Effects of Grounding on Body Voltage and Current in the Presence of Electromagnetic Fields — Brown, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2016 (measurement study, n = 50).
  In a normal home environment, grounding reduced AC body voltage by an average of 58-fold, with body currents several orders of magnitude below the level of perception — relevant to questions about grounding and everyday electromagnetic fields.
  PubMed abstract

An Honest Note About This Science

Most grounding studies to date are small pilot studies or reviews, and the field is still emerging. We share them because we believe in transparency: you should be able to read exactly what has been studied, how, and in whom. Earthing products — including grounding sheets — are not medical devices, and grounding is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a health condition, are pregnant, or are considering grounding for a specific therapeutic purpose, please consult a qualified healthcare provider first.

Want to Learn More?

Read our grounding guides and articles in the blog, explore our grounding collection, or visit the FAQs. If you have questions about the research listed here, contact us — we are happy to talk science.