RECONNECT TO THE EARTH AND HEAL WHILE YOU SLEEP

By Katherine Van Hatten CMT, AT, PMST

Dr. Eve Van Cauter, professor of medicine at the University of Chicago has stated, “…chronic sleep loss may not only hasten the onset but could also increase the severity of age-related ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and memory loss.” Our bodies are designed to do their healing at night, when we are asleep.  There is a lot of activity going on during the night that requires rest and sleep to function.  When we are in an anabolic, restful state, cell membranes are repaired, long chain molecules are built up intercellularly and energy is stored for use when we get up the next day and become catabolic.  This is why the sleeping environment needs to be correct in terms of the electro-magnetic field.  The use of electric blankets, heating pads and even the electrical wiring in the walls surrounding our sleeping environment may be the cause of oxidative stress.  Constant oxidative stress can trigger a sequence of events that can lead to fatigue, disease and premature aging.

A major discovery referred to as Earthing has been shown to be able to restore the body’s natural electrical balance.  Earthing is simply a matter of being physically connected to the earth. When impractical to do so, this is made possible via specially designed Earthing pads and sheets. A simple connection through the ground circuit in most homes allows free electrons, which are restorative elements found on the surface of the earth, to neutralize free radicals as we sleep. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that can be associated with chronic inflammation if not brought into check. When we take our shoes off and stand on the ground or wade in the water at the beach, we are connected to these healing forces. Unfortunately, our homes and work places have kept us insulated from this vital connection due to the synthetic products used in construction. Even when we are able to be outside, we are not receiving the benefits of free electrons if we are wearing insulating plastic or synthetic soled shoes. 

Over twenty years ago, Alternative Medicine Practitioners presented the theory of oxidative-stress and bio-electrical stress as being major contributors to the rise in cardiovascular disease, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension and many other ailments. We are electrical beings and every system in our body is synchronized by an electrical field.  These systems are highly regulated and fine-tuned.  Sleep is essential to allowing these systems to function at capacity.  The sleeping environment needs to be healthy in order to reduce oxidative stress that we are all subjected to during the waking hours.

To help to understand the effect stress has on the body, it is helpful to understand the role that cortisol plays.  Cortisol is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands and is designed to prepare us for the flight or fight condition when we perceive a real or imagined threat.  The problem arises when prolonged stress occurs. Normal cortisol levels are high during the day and lower at night when we are asleep. Without proper rest and a healthy sleeping environment, cortisol levels remain high. High cortisol levels have been associated with arrhythmias of the heart, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and increased blood clotting.  A number of digestive disorders have been linked with high cortisol levels. Cortisol has been dubbed “the stress hormone”; the relationship is so reliable it has become a standard biomarker for stress. Excessive cortisol in the blood interferes with mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like serotonin.  Disturbances in serotonin levels are known factors in clinical depression and anxiety disorders.  They are linked to insomnia, obesity and increased sensitivity to pain. Recent scientific studies have shown that when we physically reconnect with the earth there is a normalization of cortisol secretion.  Science has also recently discovered that in order to achieve true homeostasis the human body must maintain a balance between stress and recovery. All stress is not bad, stress becomes dangerous when it becomes excessive or non-functional.  

In 1986, as I studied at the Energy Health Institute in North Carolina, I was made acutely aware of the relationship between healing and sleep, but I had no real answer as to how I could help my client/patients correct an unhealthy sleeping environment. After doing my own research into the established scientific documentation behind Earthing and knowing the basic cause of distress in my clients and patients was non-productive stress, I decided to do my own clinical observation.  When putting my clients/patients and myself on the bed pad and/or sheets for the 6-8 hours of nighttime sleep, I have been absolutely amazed at the results. My observations have renewed my commitment to making sure the sleep environment is healthy. We, who are using the pad or sheets at night, have found relief from ailments such as arthritis, sleep disorders, fatigue and stress related disorders.  Reconnecting to the earths free electrons via Earthing has proven  beneficial in every case.

For the last 31/2 years I have incorporated the use of Earthing pads when I do body work on my client/patients.  I am now able to give my client/patient a restorative treatment indoors, as it is impractical to physically stand on the ground outside. Energy Body Work is a demanding practice and physical burn-out is a major cause of early retirement in our industry. Because I am also connected with the Earthing pad during a session, I am able to keep my energy level high all day, avoiding physical burn-out.  Until I was able to incorporate the special Earthing technology in my work sessions, I quite often experienced fatigue and muscle pain. I feel great now, even though I have been practicing for 24 years.

For more information got to www.earthfx.net

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