Does Grounding Reduce Stress? A Recent Study on Rats Suggests Earthing Might Help

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we believe in the power of grounding, whether that’s hitting the grass barefoot (summer—we see you!) or hitting the hay for a good night’s rest on our Mattress Cover. We already know how connecting to the Earth’s natural energy improves our day to day, but beyond that, we find it so exciting when science digs its heels into what many have been saying for ages.

So, when we stumbled upon a recent study in the journal Biomedicines about earthing for stress relief? We were all over it. The researchers behind it studied rats to see if grounding could make a difference in stress levels. And spoiler: the results were pretty compelling.

The Study: Grounding Mats, Stress Hormones, and Stressed-Out Rats

In this 2023 study, researchers at Kyung Hee University in Korea wanted to test whether using a grounding mat could reduce anxiety-like behaviour in stressed-out rats. Why rats? Despite the tails, they share a lot of the same neuroendocrine stress pathways that we do.

Here’s how it went down:

• One group of rats lived a chill life without stress (lucky).
• Another group experienced 21 days of immobilization stress (basically rat burnout).
• A third group endured the same stress, plus time on a grounding mat for the final 7 days.
• The fourth group was grounded throughout all 21 days of stress.

Then, researchers tested the rats’ behaviour and examined their brains for signs of stress.

What They Found: Grounded Rats Were Calmer

The most significant finding came from the “Elevated Plus Maze,” a test often used to measure anxiety in rodents. The stressed-out rats without grounding avoided open spaces (classic anxious behaviour). But the rats who got time on the earthing mat were noticeably calmer and spent more time exploring. The group that was grounded for the full 21 days showed the most significant improvement.

But it wasn’t just behaviour that changed. Researchers also looked at corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a stress hormone that spikes during anxiety. The grounded rats had significantly lower brain CRF levels than the stressed, ungrounded group. That’s a big deal because it suggests that grounding might calm the brain’s stress response system.

What This Means for You

We know, we know: you’re not a rat. But this study offers biological plausibility—science-speak for “this mechanism checks out and may also apply to humans.”

The Earth carries a gentle negative charge. When we connect directly to it (or through grounding mats), free electrons may flow into our body, potentially stabilizing internal systems and reducing inflammation. This could influence how our bodies regulate stress hormones like CRF and cortisol.

Grounding for Stress Relief: Still Early, But Promising

Just to be clear: this was one animal study. There is still tons of clinical research that has yet to unravel the magic of earthing and stress relief in humans. However, this study gives us strong clues that grounding may help regulate stress responses on a biological level.

Stress Less: Easy Ways to Try Grounding for Yourself

Want to try grounding for stress? It’s as easy as going barefoot in your yard or at the park for a bit. Check out our Earthing lineup if you’re looking to increase your opportunities for grounding, too. These methods can reconnect your body to the Earth’s subtle charge, and just might help you feel more centred, relaxed, and resilient.

Grounding is powerful on its own, but combining it with other simple practices can help ease that inner chaos. Here are a few supportive ideas to stress less:

• Breathe deeply: Try a 4-7-8 breathing technique or even a few slow belly breaths outside on your grounding mat. See our post on bringing breathwork into your daily routines here.
• Move your body: A gentle walk (barefoot, if you can!) or a few stretches can help shift stuck energy.
• Stay hydrated: Stress can dehydrate you, and dehydration can make stress feel worse.
• Limit screen time before bed: Pair grounding with an electronic-free wind-down to help your nervous system reset.
• Get into nature: Forests, mountains, beaches—these are the original grounding tools!

Parting Thoughts: Can Grounding Reduce Stress?

According to this study on rats, it just might. The grounded rats behaved less anxiously and had lower levels of CRF, a key stress hormone. That’s not nothing. While we wait for more human studies, the sentiment has contributed to what many already feel: grounding can support you in so many positive ways.

Reference:

*Park, H.-J.; Jeong, W.; Yu, H.J.; Ye, M.; Hong, Y.; Kim, M.; Kim, J.Y.; Shim, I. (2023). The Effect of Earthing Mat on Stress-Induced Anxiety-like Behavior and Neuroendocrine Changes in the Rat. Biomedicines, 11(1), 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11010057*