Ground, or earthing, is a wellness practice that’s been around for hundreds of years and has recently grown in popularity. This simple ritual involves spending time in nature with your bare skin touching the ground, allowing your body to absorb the energy currents produced by the Earth.
This is thought to provide a variety of benefits, including increased energy levels, improved blood flow, improved mood, reduced inflammation, and more. It’s simple, easy, and free, and all you need to do is walk outside to enjoy the benefits. However, there’s not much research to confirm these purported benefits, though getting some fresh air is generally a good thing.
However, many people live in cold climates or cities where daily barefoot walking in nature isn’t realistic—that’s where grounding mats come in. These mats are designed to provide the same benefits as earthing from the comfort of your home, perfect for those of us who don’t have regular access to a grassy or sandy area.
Grounding mats have become popular recovery tools in recent years, and many ask: How do grounding mats work? We’ve taken a close look at the science of grounding mats, and I’ll explain everything you need to know in this guide.
What Is Grounding?
Grounding, or earthing, is a practice that’s designed to transfer electrons from the Earth’s energy currents into the human body. By placing your bare skin in contact with the ground, whether through grass, soil, oceans, or sand, your body connects to the electrical currents running through the ground. This electrical charge supposedly causes changes in the body that produce a variety of positive health benefits.
RELATED: 5 Hydrotherapy Benefits
Walking outside on your bare feet is the most common form of grounding, but sitting or lying down in nature with your skin on the grass provides the same benefits.
Humans have enjoyed connecting with nature for thousands of years, but the term “earthing” wasn’t used until the 1990s1. The idea of using the Earth’s energy currents to provide health benefits may have sounded a little strange at first, but in recent years, more and more research has demonstrated the physiological benefits and changes that occur when your body receives an electrical charge from the Earth.
How Do Grounding Mats Work?
While nothing can truly replicate the feeling of spending regular time in nature, especially when your skin is in contact with the ground, many people are unable to regularly enjoy grounding. However, people who live in harsh climates or densely populated cities may have a hard time finding a place to go on a barefoot walk on a regular basis.
Grounding mats attempt to solve this problem by mimicking the Earth’s electrical currents indoors. All you need to do is plug in your grounding mat, make sure you’re touching it with your bare skin, and you’ll be able to experience the benefits of grounding without leaving your house.
RELATED: Acupressure Mat Benefits
While using a grounding mat indoors may not be quite the same as breathing in the fresh air and taking in the sights and smells of nature, grounding mats may provide some of the same benefits from the electrical charge.
Benefits of Using Grounding Mats
While there is some research on grounding, at the time of writing, there’s no firm research on the benefits of using grounding mats for human health.
However, a 2024 study2 published in The International Journal of Molecular Sciences found that regular use of earthing mats helped improve sleep quality and duration in rats. Another 2022 study3 published in Biomedicines found that earthing mats may have helped improve stress-related responses in rats. Again, though, more clinical research is needed.
While this doesn’t mean that humans will experience the same benefits, it seems that mats can provide similar benefits to outdoor grounding.
In humans, research is still limited and based on small sample sizes, but it’s promising. Here are some of the potential health benefits that have been found4 from grounding:
- Reduced inflammation
- Improved healing from injuries
- Improved immune response
- Improved sleep quality
- Reduced stress
Again, this research was performed with outdoor grounding, not a grounding mat, but it seems reasonable to expect similar benefits from using a grounding mat.
RELATED: The Science of Post-Workout Recovery
Drawbacks of Using Grounding Mats
While grounding mats certainly have the potential to provide a variety of health benefits, there are a few potential negatives you need to consider.
The first thing to consider is the cost of grounding mats. They come in all shapes and sizes, and the price can vary depending on which you choose. These mats can easily range from $50-$200, if not more, so you may end up spending a significant amount of money on something that may or may not provide any benefits.
Second, as mentioned above, there’s no human research that supports the use of grounding mats. Outdoor earthing certainly seems beneficial, and it’s likely that grounding mats provide similar benefits, but we don’t have enough research to say for sure yet.
While grounding mats seem to be safe, some users report a tingling sensation when they first begin using them due to the electrical currents. Those with any medical conditions should always speak with a doctor before using grounding mats.
How to Use a Grounding Mat
When it comes to using a grounding mat, the most important thing to remember is that it should be in contact with your bare skin. If you’re sitting or lying on a mat while fully clothed, you’re not going to get the full benefits. Some of the electrical currents may transfer through your clothing, but for best results, most manufacturers recommend placing the mat in contact with the skin.
RELATED: 7 Best Exercise Mats
Aside from that, there’s no research that shows any minimum or maximum length of time, so you can use a grounding mat however you want. Some manufacturers recommend starting with 20-40 minutes per day, but you can also get grounding mats designed for a desk chair and even grounding sheets to use while you sleep. This suggests there’s no upper limit for how long you can use a mat.
If the idea of sitting or standing in one place for 40 minutes doesn’t sound appealing, you can try using a mat while reading, meditating, or watching TV in the evening when you won’t be moving around very much.
How Do Grounding Mats Work: Final Thoughts
Grounding, or earthing, has been used for hundreds of years to promote overall health and wellness, and we’re starting to see some research that shows it may be a powerful health tool.
Grounding mats are designed to provide the same benefit without leaving your house by mimicking the natural electrical current produced by the Earth. When your bare skin makes contact with these mats, the electrons transfer to your body, where they may be able to help reduce inflammation and pain, relieve stress, and improve your sleep quality.
At the time of writing, there’s not a lot of research that supports the use of grounding mats, but there’s little risk in trying them out, and we may very well see future research that shows a benefit to using them.
How Do Grounding Mats Work: FAQs
Does the grounding mat really work?
Research on grounding mats is limited, but many users report positive benefits, and grounding outdoors has some proven health benefits. Outdoor grounding can reduce pain and inflammation, promote faster healing, and reduce stress levels.
What are the side effects of grounding mats?
There isn’t much research on grounding mats, but some users report a mild tingling sensation when they’re first using these mats and getting used to the electrical current. Those with any sort of medical condition may experience additional side effects, so always speak with your medical provider before using a grounding mat.
Does a grounding mat need to touch bare skin?
For the best results, a grounding mat should touch your bare skin, but some may work while clothed, especially if you’re in a humid environment or sweating, as moisture can move the electrons through your clothes.
References
- Koniver L. (2023). Practical applications of grounding to support health. Biomedical journal, 46(1), 41–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2022.12.001
- Ye, M., Jeong, W., Yu, H. J., Kim, K. R., Rhie, S. J., Kim, Y., Kim, J., & Shim, I. (2024). Effect of Earthing Mats on Sleep Quality in Rats. International journal of molecular sciences, 25(18), 9791. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25189791
- Park, H. J., Jeong, W., Yu, H. J., Ye, M., Hong, Y., Kim, M., Kim, J. Y., & Shim, I. (2022). The Effect of Earthing Mat on Stress-Induced Anxiety-like Behavior and Neuroendocrine Changes in the Rat. Biomedicines, 11(1), 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11010057
- Oschman, J. L., Chevalier, G., & Brown, R. (2015). The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Journal of inflammation research, 8, 83–96. https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S69656
