Recently I became interested in Grounding and Grounding Sheets in particular, because working at a desk means that I am not in nature some days and certainly not walking on the grass barefoot often enough! So, as many of us are in the same boat, I thought that I would share my research and my experience with a grounding sheet with you.
What Is Grounding?
Grounding, also known as earthing, is the practice of making direct physical contact with the Earth’s surface—such as walking barefoot on grass, sand, or soil—to absorb its natural electrical energy. This connection allows electrons from the Earth to flow into our body, helping to balance our internal electrical systems and promote overall well-being.
What Are Grounding Sheets?
There are a few types of grounding products that you can buy, such as grounding pillow cases and grounding mats for under your feet at your desk. However, I focused on the grounding bed sheets in an effort to try to maximise the benefits of my sleep. They are specially designed bed sheets made with conductive materials, such as silver or carbon threads woven into the fabric. These sheets are connected to a grounded outlet or grounding rod, mimicking the effects of direct contact with the Earth while we sleep.
How Do Grounding Sheets Work?
When we lie on a grounding sheet, the conductive materials transfer electrons from the Earth into our body, just as if you were walking barefoot outside. This process is believed to help neutralize harmful free radicals, reduce inflammation, improve sleep quality, and support stress relief.
Benefits of Grounding Sheets
- Improved Sleep: Many users report falling asleep faster and experiencing deeper, more restful sleep
- Stress Reduction: Grounding may help lower stress levels and promote relaxation
- Reduced Inflammation: Some studies suggest grounding can help reduce inflammation in the body
- Enhanced Recovery: Athletes and active individuals may experience faster recovery and reduced muscle soreness
- Overall Well-being: Grounding is associated with improved mood and energy levels
How to Use Grounding Sheets
Place the Sheet: Position the grounding sheet on your mattress, with the conductive side facing up
Connect to Ground: Plug the grounding cord into a properly grounded outlet or grounding rod
Sleep Naturally: Enjoy the benefits of grounding as you sleep, with the sheet providing continuous contact with Earth’s energy
Are Grounding Sheets Effective?
While many users report positive experiences and improved sleep quality, scientific research on grounding sheets is still ongoing. Some preliminary studies suggest benefits for inflammation and stress, but more research is needed to fully understand their effects. Grounding sheets are best used as a complementary wellness practice, in addition to our other health promoting practices or medical treatment.
Top-Rated Grounding Sheets
According to recent consumer reviews and lab tests, some of the best-performing grounding sheets are made with medical-grade silver fibers and organic cotton, offering high conductivity, durability, and comfort. For example, the Grounding Well Sheets have been rated highly for conductivity retention and user-reported sleep improvements.
My Experience
I am always open to testing anything that might help to counteract some of the effects of busy lives and can keep an open mind. There can be a lot of fuss and marketing over fads so it is good to bear this in mind and do some research before spending our hard earned lolly. So, this grounding sheet that I settled on was not a huge investment and I decided to wait for a month or so before I made up my mind about it. I don’t have a lot of aches and pains currently, so I can’t speak about any benefits to those. However, I have had disrupted sleep, on and off, in menopause and stress recently. Like all of us, it can be hard to switch off from the awful news, particularly from Gaza and Ukraine, and not that I want to “turn away” from it, but we need to mind our mental health at the same time.
This is not an advertisement to encourage you to spend money though and please do your own research. After six weeks, I can report that I am sleeping like a log and dreaming more, so definitely hitting that REM (deep) sleep cycle. It may be my grounding sheet or the fact that I am prioritising my sleep. My ideal is to get to bed by 10.00pm or 10.30pm latest, because our clock goes off at 6.00am. I do well with at least 7 hours sleep, but even better on 8, and I have noticed that thanks to a good nights sleep I am ready to get up even before the clock goes off. Of course, other habits contribute to a good nights sleep, like going to bed at roughly the same time most nights and having a good wind down routine which excludes scrolling on the you know what – the mobile phone!
Final Word
Even if grounding only improves our sleep, this is huge for our health. Sleep underpins so many functions which our bodies carry out to keep us well. So, if you can walk barefoot on the grass or the sand, brilliant! If not, if you are having trouble sleeping, grounding products might be worth considering, in addition to great eating habits of course!
Sources
What Are Grounding Sheets? | Sleep Foundation
Photo by Canva