From Andrew Doan, M.D., Ph.D. (December 2018): “The current epidemic of chronic pain and unwellness, and tragic opioid overuse, calls for exploration of alternative solutions. I strongly believe grounding is one such promising solution.
About a year ago, I injured the bottom of my left foot and continued to aggravate it when using the foot pedal on the operating microscope for cataract surgeries. I’m an ophthalmologist and use the bottom of my left foot to move a joystick to position the scope’s field of view.
The foot pain plagued me for more than three months until a friend sent me information about grounding/Earthing. Willing to give it a try, but not sure it would do anything, I simply took a barefoot walk outside on grass for a half-hour. Within a half-hour after returning, I was surprised to experience that my foot pain resolved.
I kept walking daily. The pain recurred, however, as I re-injured the foot with continued use of the microscope.
I was able to eliminate the pain by using a BBQ skewer, speaker wire, and then taping the speaker wire ends to the bottom of my feet at the K1 acupuncture point and sleeping that way. The setup wasn’t very comfortable so I decided to get an Earthing mat for the bed. The pain has never come back!
During the time I have been grounding, I have seen other benefits, such as better sleep, lower blood pressure, less fatigue, and much reduced seasonal allergy symptoms. For more than 40 years, I have suffered from significant allergies. My wife jokes and likens me to the man with allergies in the movie ‘Sleepless in Seattle.’
Now, my symptoms are minimal compared to the previous years where I often had to take twice the dosage of oral medications to function. I carried tissues everywhere. Five months ago I was able to stop my oral allergy medications, thanks to grounding.
Recently, I decided to challenge my allergy resistance by mowing the lawn for the first time in nearly 10 years, and without a respiratory mask. Usually, during mowing and afterwards, I would have itchy eyes and a runny nose. Without any need for medication, I have felt fine in the days since. No allergy symptoms. I am amazed that my seasonal allergy symptoms did not flare-up after mowing the lawn!
As a medical scientist (I am a M.D. and Ph.D.), I am pleased to find a growing number of intriguing peer-reviewed studies that helps me to understand the dynamics of how grounding works. You can see those studies at earthinginstitute.net/research
Could grounding be a solution for chronic pain? It certainly is promising. And all I know is that it has worked for me. And it has also worked for people who I have told about it.
NOTE: The views expressed above are those of Andrew Doan and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the United States Government.
Featured Image by Brittany Colette.