What Is a Grounding Mat? Discover the Potential Key to Connecting With the Planet

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Author Name: Mia Barnes
Date: Monday July 1, 2024

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Connecting with nature makes life more enjoyable. It stimulates your brain while relaxing your nervous system, but you might not always have time to go outside. Grounding yourself with a mat can help with that. Learn what a grounding mat is to find out how they help people engage in earthing practices each day.

What Is a Grounding Mat?

A grounding mat is a small mat that reduces the electric charge inside the person standing on it. It replicates the earth’s negative charge, which exists deep in the crust and creates the same effect when you walk around barefoot outside. The benefit of a mat is that you can take it wherever you go, including cityscapes and areas where barefoot walking isn’t possible.

Do Grounding Mats Really Work?

Using a grounding mat is a practice called earthing. People debate if the practice is scientifically notable. Fred Vlès first proposed the hypothesis in the 1930s along with some experiments. He theorized that the earth’s electric charge affected a person’s biological processes. More modern research supports the idea that the electrons in the planet’s crust reduce inflammation throughout the body, leading to various health benefits that may differ between people.

A woman sits on a yoga mat with her feet drawn in and touching. She holds her hands on either knee with her first three fingers touching. Green grass surrounds her yellow mat.

Potential Benefits of Grounding Mats

Grounding mats may provide some benefits to people who use them regularly. These are the reported mental and physical changes that can occur with regular earthing practices.

Nervous System Regulation

The human body is entirely conductive to electrical currents for reasons science still can’t explain, which makes it possible to absorb the electromagnetic vibrations in the earth’s crust. When people practice this energy conduction, it eases the nervous system when it’s in a state of panic. You could manage your anxiety much better with a mat that conducts the same level of electromagnetic activity.

Improved Sleep Cycles

Electromagnetic influences and increased inflammation disrupt the circadian cycle that makes you sleep through the night. If you neutralize the electric imbalance with earthing or a grounding mat, you could improve your nightly sleep patterns and finally get the rest you need.

Reduced Inflammation-Related Pain

Cellular inflammation causes discomfort in numerous ways, like joint pain and muscle tissue cramping. If you deal with recurring discomfort due to recurring inflammation, learning what a grounding mat is could add another tool to your pain management toolbox. Grounding reduces inflammation and its resulting pain when practiced regularly.

When to Use Your Grounding Mat

It’s best to use your grounding mat when you notice symptoms you need help managing. People might stand on them while they’re on a stressful work call or take a quick nap on their grounding mat. You might also enjoy earthing effects while meditating. As long as you follow the timing and use instructions that come with your specific mat, you can use it daily if needed.

Best Grounding Mats for Beginners

Start your earthing journey with one of these helpful grounding mats. They’ll get your wellness practice started so you can benefit from the planet’s electromagnetic current even if you can’t get outside.

A black grounding mat with a white electrical cord that coils against a white background.

Vegan Leather Grounding Mat

Merge your love of animals with your self-care routine by trying this vegan leather grounding mat. It’s small enough to fit under your work desk or beneath your feet as you practice yoga to heal yourself after an illness or boost your mental health. 

Plug the mat into the grounding hole of an electrical outlet and ensure your feet remain in contact with the leather throughout your grounding session. The non-slip backing will keep your mat in place as the balancing electric charge soothes your internal inflammation.

$19.99 from Amazon

A woman stands on a black grounding mat with a black electrical cord against a white background and floor. Only her knees and feet are visible.

Conductive Carbon Grounding Mat

You might prefer this grounding tool if you want a square mat instead of a rectangular one. It easily fits in small places, like the space between your coffee table and living room couch. Extend the 15-foot-long cord to the closest electrical outlet to begin your new wellness practice.

The waterproof material won’t mind if you accidentally spill anything on it, like droplets from your yoga water bottle. If you’re curious to see the effects of this mat in real time, use a body voltage reader to test your natural electric charge before and after your next grounding practice. You’ll see the results immediately and feel the positive effects with time. 

$29.99 from Amazon

A black grounding mat with a white electrical cord stretches across a queen bed with white sheets, two white pillows and no comforter. The background is white and there's a free black ground test pen wrapped in a red bow in the top left corner.

Grounding Mat for Mattresses

Anyone who struggles falling asleep or staying that way might be interested in using a grounding mat for their sleep routine. This option is perfect for getting better nightly rest. Plug it in and lay the mat across your bed horizontally. It’s large enough to extend across a queen-sized mattress, so if you have a partner, they can practice grounding with you each night.

Plug the cord into an outlet next to your mattress and see if you enjoy deep dreams. This mat also comes with a grounding test pen, so you’ll know whether it’s conducting electrons just by touching the tip to your mat after plugging it in.

$49.99 from Amazon

Two brown foam yoga blocks sit on a green yoga mat on light brown wooden flooring.

Enjoy Your New Wellness Routine

Once you know what a grounding mat is, you can potentially upgrade your self-care routine. Get inspired by the earth’s natural electrical charge and the way it affects each person’s biological processes. You could revolutionize how you sleep and experience each day by combining an indoor grounding mat routine with your usual outdoor activities.

FAQs

Do Earthing Grounding Mats Really Work?

Grounding mats have shown promise through the scientific research cited above. They can really work for some people if those people need help reducing anxiety, improving their sleep or managing their pain. It’s a helpful tool to try alongside your primary care provider’s health care recommendations.

When Should You Not Use a Grounding Mat?

You shouldn’t use a grounding mat if you’re in extreme discomfort or distress. They’re a passive wellness tool that may help with time. If you need immediate medical assistance, it’s better to see your doctor or call 911.

It’s also a good idea to talk with your doctor if you have a pacemaker. Although grounding mats replicate the neutral charge of the earth’s crust, they may interfere with the electronic device supporting your heart health. Call your primary care provider to discuss the specifics of your health history before starting a grounding mat routine if you have a pacemaker.

Can I Leave My Grounding Mat Plugged in All the Time?

Check your grounding mat’s instructions regarding how long it should remain plugged in. The idea behind these mats is that their internal wiring has a neutral charge, so it shouldn’t replicate a live electrical wire. However, some manufacturers may recommend plugging their mats in for shorter periods depending on their product testing results.

Is It Possible to Use a Grounding Mat Too Much?

The limited peer-reviewed research on grounding means there’s no standard recommended time for each person’s grounding session. It’s crucial to pay attention to how you feel when you start your new practice. If you feel warm or uneasy, turn your mat off and stick with shorter grounding periods. As your body gets used to the electrical balancing, you may be able to manage longer sessions according to your mat’s instructions.

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