Down to Earth, a documentary that is currently available on Amazon Prime, summarizes the rise of the Grounding Movement, a theory that many, if not most, human maladies result from our having disconnected from the electro-chemical balance of Planet Earth. Specifically, our electrical connection with the planet is disrupted by our use of shoes, work gloves, beds and artificial housing, among other modern conveniences of life and, as a result, we are no longer "electrically grounded."
Per this theory, the flow of electrons from the soil into our bodies is important in reducing inflammation, a destructive component of most forms of human disease. The negatively-charged electrons neutralize free radicals that spawn inflammation and tissue destruction. Reference is made to the use of soil contact by early human cultures to treat illness and to many personal testimonials from present day society. A number of controlled medical studies are also cited.
Having trained for and practiced modern medical science, I am naturally skeptical of such simplistic theories. In addition, I must point out that wild creatures develop a wide range of diseases despite their constant contact with natural environments. Nevertheless, I am well aware that we do not fully understand the many mysteries of our Universe and found the presentation to be fascinating. An open mind is rarely misleading in medicine and a daily, barefoot walk in the grass is certainly more appealing than the regular use of anti-inflammatory drugs. My thanks to my sister for calling my attention to this thought-provoking documentary.
