“Grounding (earthing) has proven health benefits”

## The Published Evidence The "earthing" field is small. The main proponent, Clint Ober, co-authored most published studies. A 2015 review in the *Journal of Inflammation Research* (Chevalier et al.) cited studies showing reductions in inflammation markers and improved sleep — but these were mostly unblinded, with small samples (10–40 participants) and high risk of bias. No independent group has replicated meaningful clinical outcomes. No double-blind RCT with adequate power has been published. ## Why the Mechanism Is Implausible The proposed mechanism — free electrons from the Earth's surface neutralising reactive oxygen species — has no support in biophysics. Human skin is not a good conductor of electrons, and the body maintains its own redox state through enzymatic systems (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) that dwarf any hypothetical electron transfer from soil. ## What Might Be Happening Time outdoors, barefoot walking (sensory input, proprioception, reduced joint stress), sunlight exposure, and relaxation may explain any observed benefits. These are real and meaningful — the "grounding" attribution is not.