Grounding research, made easy to explore
Browse published studies, pilot research and scientific reviews on grounding (also known as earthing), organised by topic. If you're new to earthing, you can also explore our grounding sheets and learn how grounding can be used at home.
Grounding research is still emerging and studies vary in size and quality. Pilot studies, reviews, exploratory research and animal studies are labelled clearly. This page is for education only and is not medical advice.
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Sleep & cognitive function
Research into sleep quality, cortisol patterns and cognitive health.
The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels
A 12-person pilot study examining grounding during sleep, cortisol patterns and subjective sleep measures.
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on sleep quality using earthing mats
A controlled study examining sleep-quality outcomes with earthing mat use.
Grounding the body improves sleep quality in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease
A pilot study investigating sleep quality in people with mild Alzheimer’s disease.
Earthing mat exposure and sleep-related measures in a rat model
Animal research examining sleep-related measures. Included for completeness, not as evidence of a human outcome.
Recovery, pain & physical performance
Studies exploring soreness, exercise recovery and occupational comfort.
Effectiveness of grounded sleeping on recovery after intensive eccentric muscle loading
A triple-blind study investigating recovery markers after intensive eccentric exercise.
Grounding after moderate eccentric contractions reduces muscle damage
A human exercise study examining muscle-damage and recovery measures after eccentric contractions.
Pilot study on the effect of grounding on delayed-onset muscle soreness
A small human pilot study exploring grounding after exercise-induced muscle soreness.
Differences in blood urea and creatinine during cycling exercise and recovery
A human cycling study examining biochemical measures during exercise and recovery.
The effects of grounding on bodyworkers’ pain and overall quality of life
A randomised controlled trial involving massage therapists and bodyworkers.
Effects of grounding on massage therapists: an exploratory study
An exploratory study into grounding and health-related measures for massage therapists.
Circulation & cardiovascular measures
Early research into blood viscosity, blood flow and related physiological measures.
Grounding the human body reduces blood viscosity — a major factor in cardiovascular disease
A small study of healthy adults examining red-blood-cell surface charge and blood viscosity.
Grounding the human body improves facial blood flow regulation
A randomised, placebo-controlled pilot study examining facial blood-flow regulation.
One-hour contact with the Earth’s surface: inflammation and blood-flow measures
A randomised, double-blind pilot study using thermal imaging and other measurements.
Grounding the human body during yoga exercise with a grounded yoga mat reduces blood viscosity
A double-blind study investigating blood-viscosity measures during gentle yoga exercise.
Inflammation, immune response & skin
Scientific reviews and early research into inflammatory processes, wound healing and circulation.
The effects of grounding on inflammation, immune response, wound healing and chronic inflammatory disease
A broad scientific review of proposed mechanisms and previously published grounding research.
How localised grounding combined with conductive skincare may influence skincare outcomes
An exploratory paper relating to localised grounding and skincare outcomes.
Earthing exposure in a rat model of neuroinflammation
Animal research on inflammatory markers. Included for completeness, not as evidence of a human treatment outcome.
Nervous system, mood & bioelectrical effects
Research exploring mood, autonomic activity, vagal tone and electrical measurements.
The effect of grounding the human body on mood
A small double-blind pilot study exploring self-reported mood outcomes.
Emotional stress, heart-rate variability, grounding and improved autonomic tone
An exploratory paper discussing heart-rate variability and autonomic-nervous-system measures.
Earthing the human body influences physiologic processes
A review-style paper covering multiple small experiments and proposed physiological mechanisms.
Electrical grounding improves vagal tone in preterm infants
A small clinical study examining heart-rate-variability markers in preterm infants.
Grounding and changes in physiological measures
A double-blind study examining measures including pulse rate, oxygenation and perfusion.
Effects of grounding on body voltage and current in the presence of electromagnetic fields
A study measuring alternating-current body voltage and current in a normal home environment.
Classification of EEG signal for body earthing application
A technical paper examining EEG-signal classification in a grounding context.
Additional & emerging research
Early, exploratory and broader reading for people who want to explore further.
Immediate effect of direct barefoot contact with Earth on prehypertension
An exploratory study investigating short-term measurements after direct barefoot contact with the Earth.
Health effects of alkaline diet and water, bacterial load and earthing
An exploratory paper covering multiple lifestyle variables, with grounding as part of the wider discussion.
Earthing: health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth’s surface electrons
A broad review of grounding research and proposed biological mechanisms.
Study shows earthing deepens meditation experience
Supporting reading about preliminary meditation research; this is a media release, not a peer-reviewed paper.
The Earthing Movie
A simple overview of the grounding movement, the people behind it and why so many people have made grounding part of their daily routine.