title: Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity-a major factor in cardiovascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Emerging research is revealing that direct physical contact of the human body with the surface of the earth (grounding or earthing) has intriguing effects on human physiology and health, including beneficial effects on various cardiovascular risk factors. This study examined effects of 2 hours of grounding on the electrical charge (zeta potential) on red blood cells (RBCs) and the effects on the extent of RBC clumping.
  
  
  METHODS
  SUBJECTS were grounded with conductive patches on the soles of their feet and palms of their hands. Wires connected the patches to a stainless-steel rod inserted in the earth outdoors. Small fingertip pinprick blood samples were placed on microscope slides and an electric field was applied to them. Electrophoretic mobility of the RBCs was determined by measuring terminal velocities of the cells in video recordings taken through a microscope. RBC aggregation was measured by counting the numbers of clustered cells in each sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each subject sat in a comfortable reclining chair in a soundproof experiment room with the lights dimmed or off.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten (10) healthy adult subjects were recruited by word-of-mouth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Earthing or grounding increased zeta potentials in all samples by an average of 2.70 and significantly reduced RBC aggregation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Grounding increases the surface charge on RBCs and thereby reduces blood viscosity and clumping. Grounding appears to be one of the simplest and yet most profound interventions for helping reduce cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular events.
authors: Developmental and Cell Biology Department, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors: Gaétan
authors: G
authors: Chevalier
authors: Stephen T
authors: ST
authors: Sinatra
authors: James L
authors: JL
authors: Oschman
authors: Richard M
authors: RM
authors: Delany
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018534:Earth, Planet; D004560:Electricity; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006225:Hand; D018594:Human Body; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D014783:Viscosity