DIY Foot Soaks: Easy Home Recipes for Relaxation

Hi Ann,

I had the exact same condition about 10 years ago in my right ankle. I broke it and the pain never left. Two plus years later, during a vacation with my husband, I was walking in the surf on the beach in Maui for over 30 minutes and noticed I did not have any pain in my ankle. I was surprised. Though, an hour later the pain returned.

The next day I walked 40 minutes on the beach and the pain left again though, again it returned later that night. So, for the next 3 weeks I walked as long as I could in the surf every day and the pain completely disappeared and never returned after the vacation ended. We were truly pleasantly shocked.

We figured out that there were probably several mechanisms at play:

1. Grounding

Also called "earthing", is simply standing on the ground without shoes. It occurs when you have direct contact with the earth or with a product (e.g., grounding mat, grounding sheets, earthing shoes, grounding mattress pads, grouding socks, etc.) that is grounded into the earth and connects your body to the natural electric charge of the earth, transferring negative electrons into your body through the skin.

Research has shown that "soaking" up negative electrons significantly reduces inflammation, eases stress and anxiety, improves sleep, improves blood flow, acts as an antioxidant, heals wounds/boosts healing, lowers blood pressure, improves heart rate variability, and in several studies grounding eliminated/reduced pain in 30 minutes.

All benefits increase the longer the grounding session.

In a 2020 study, they showed grounding counteracts cardiovascular, respiratory, neurodegenerative, and auto-immune conditions and, DiabetesII and cancer.

Another study showed grounding improved cortisol levels and improved the circadian rhythm leading to better restorative sleep and relaxation.

In a study on those who do yoga, grounding on a yoga mat for 1 hour lowered blood thickness thus, reducing clotting risks. Higher blood viscosity is linked to cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity and high blood pressure.

A study done in 2023 compared grounding and not grounding in people with COVID-19 and those that grounded did not develop blood clots whereas the non-grounded folks did.

Experts explain that grounding is known as Vitamin G or, electric nutrition, and grounding can fix an "electron deficiency syndrome" that plays a role in multiple health disorders including pain syndromes.

When humans have little direct contact with the earth our bodies build up positive static electric charges, this acts as free radicals, and that can't be released unless we are connected to the ground. Grounding neutralizes these positive charges by absorbing negative electrons through the skin.

Another study found that earthing at night improved thyroid hormone levels.

it is advised to get a minimum 20 minutes of "grounding" daily.

See, "The Body Electric" by Robert Becker, "Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever! " by Clinton Ober and "Healing Is Voltage" by Jerry Tennant, MD. Great reads.

2. Mineralization

I was probably deficient in several critical minerals and walking in the surf will remineralize your body with "ionic" minerals, the most bioavailable minerals, which have many healing properties.

Specifically walking in the surf on the beach enhances this effect.

3. Magnesium

Sea water is very high in ionic magnesium and a deficiency in magnesium can cause pain syndromes. I know I was deficient in magnesium so this may have been one of the "cures."

Walking in the surf on a beach combines ionic re-mineralization with the benefits of grounding, a double benefit!

I hope you find a remedy soon,

Sherri

SOURCES:

The Ohio State University: “Body-Earthing.”

Journal of Inflammation Research: “The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.”

Biomedical Journal: “Grounding – The universal anti-inflammatory remedy.”

EXPLORE: “Integrative and lifestyle medicine strategies should include Earthing (grounding): Review of research evidence and clinical observations.”

Open Journal of Preventive Medicine: “Grounding the Human Body during Yoga Exercise with a Grounded Yoga Mat Reduces Blood Viscosity.”

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine: “Can electrons act as antioxidants? A review and commentary, " "The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress.”

The Earthing Institute: “Getting Started, ” “What Is Earthing?” “New to Earthing? Try This.”

European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences: “How Localized Grounding, Combined with Conductive Skincare, Improves the Outcomes of the Traditional Skincare?”

Alternative Therapies: “Grounding Patients With Hypertension Improves Blood Pressure: A Case History Series Study.”

Integrative Medicine: “Emotional Stress, Heart Rate Variability, Grounding, and Improved Autonomic Tone: Clinical Applications.”

Journal of Environmental and Public Health: “Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth's Surface Electrons.”

Cleveland Clinic: “Is Earthing Actually Good for You? Here's What We Know.”