Grounding Improves Facial & Abdominal Circulation

A 2015 study using thermal imaging vividly showed that grounding significantly improves facial and abdominal circulation, lymphatic function, and digestion.

The broad findings provided more evidence as to how grounding contributes to better overall health as well as improved facial skin health.

“The thermal imaging results demonstrate that grounding helps the body regulate more efficiently the blood supply in the abdomen, the area of vital internal organs, and the head,” commented lead author Gaétan Chevalier, Ph.D., visiting scholar in the Department of Family Medicine & Public Health, School of Medicine, UC San Diego, and the director of the Earthing Institute.

“We also see better circulation within the lymphatic system that drains the body of impurities and serves as a major component of the immune system. In addition, we see evidence of better digestion.”

The findings emerged from a double-blind experiment in which forty subjects were either grounded or sham-grounded for one hour while seated in a comfortable recliner chair.  Sophisticated laser and thermal imaging cameras documented physiological functioning.

The thermal imaging analysis was published in the online journal Health.

Thermal imaging (TI), also known as thermography or infrared imaging, produces color patterns that correspond to changes in skin temperature reflecting normal or abnormal functioning of the body.  The variations and patterns of colors are interpreted by experts just as X-rays and MRI images are interpreted by radiologists.

TI is a widely used noninvasive evaluation tool and has been applied in thousands of medical studies.  Among other things, TI screening helps identify early breast cancer development, and is also used to assess soft tissue injuries, diabetes, arterial disease, nervous system and metabolic disorders, headaches and various complex pain syndromes, and neck and back problems.

Below are two representative abdominal images from the study.

The images above are of a woman just before grounding (left) and just after grounding for one hour (right).  You see a greater uniformity of skin temperature on the right, indicating improved distribution and balance of blood and lymph circulation.  The hottest color is white, followed by red and orange. Yellow and green are middle colors. The coldest is black, followed by purple and blue. The image on the left shows a hot neck area, indicating congestion of blood and lymph.  The post-grounding image shows less red, a decrease of congestion. A greater temperature balance is seen around the breast area after grounding, indicative of better blood flow regulation.  In the lower abdominal area improved digestion and decreased bloating are reflected by warmer coloring.

An ungrounded male subject displays a decrease in skin temperature throughout abdomen consistent with relaxation, but with no indication of improved balancing and distribution of blood and lymph, or more efficient digestion as seen in the grounded subject.

“The abdominal thermal imaging of grounded vs. non-grounded subjects was starkly different,” said Dr. Chevalier.  “With the grounded subjects we saw more even and uniform patterns, with less fluctuations in temperature, reflecting more efficient autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation throughout the abdomen.

“Such efficiency is of utter importance, because the ANS orchestrates the operations of internal organs and circulation that are not controlled consciously, such as the digestive and endocrine systems, the heart, and blood pressure. The ANS also regulates the distribution of primary resources utilized by the body, like oxygen and nutrients.

“The digestive picture of the two groups was clearly different as well.  The non-grounded subjects showed imaging evidence of bloat and retention of gas that we did not see with grounded subject.  These are signs of less efficient digestion.”

The results of the laser analysis were published earlier, in 2014, in the online Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications and showed for the first time that grounding generates a rapid improvement in facial blood flow and enhances ANS regulation of peripheral circulation. We reported on the laser study here.

The laser study identified a fascinating and clear rhythmicity in the facial blood flow of grounded subjects but not of sham-grounded subject.  Such rhythmicity relates to a more efficient regulatory effect on blood flow by the ANS, and provides an explanation of how Earthing improves nourishment and repair of facial tissues and skin, and how it would thus generate a beauty effect. Improved facial microcirculation is a goal of various treatments used in the beauty industry.  We wrote about the laser study here.

The thermal imaging showing improved blood and lymphatic fluid circulation in the torso reinforces the laser facial analysis, since arterial blood flows from the torso through the neck to reach the head and the face.

Further reinforcement comes from distinct differences in thermal images of the face between grounded and sham-grounded subjects, as these examples show.

The before (left) and after (right) images of the grounded female subject above shows a clear-cut warming effect, a result of increased blood flow to the face.

In the bottom example, we see a cooling effect in the face of the ungrounded female subject, indicating decreased blood flow.

From these different kinds of imaging evidence we can readily see improved circulation in the face and torso. These images provide an understanding of why people often tell us they feel and look better after they start grounding.

Moreover, an earlier study dramatically demonstrated that grounding exerts a natural blood thinning effect, another way in which grounding benefits blood flow throughout the body.  You can see that effect in this short video clip of a blood sample taken before and after grounding.

“Clearly, the body and the face become healthier because of grounding,” said Dr. Chevalier. “Grounding creates systemic effects, as we are continually uncovering in our research.  With laser and thermal imaging we have documented greater ANS stability and regulation within the abdomen, including blood and lymphatic circulation, a wonderful trickle down and trickle up effect.”

The thermal imaging paper was co-authored by Gregory Melvin, D.C., of the Total Thermal Imaging Center in La Mesa, CA, and Tiffany Barsotti, M. Th., of the California Institute for Human Science, Encinitas, CA.

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