Grounding sheets, often called earthing sheets, claim to bring nature’s healing power straight to your bed. But is this an electrifying breakthrough or just another shocking wellness trend?
Numerous cultures throughout history practiced connecting directly to the earth, also known as earthing.
Even though iterations of this practice have long been present in practices like reflexology, the trend began gaining traction after endorsement by popular Instagram influencers such as Gary Brecka and Patrick Flynn.
On his website, Brecka says this practice, which involves connecting to the earth by walking barefoot outside, can reduce stress, improve sleep and decrease inflammation.
However, it is not always practical to schedule a barefoot stroll when you live in a city like Calgary, which is covered in snow for half the year.
Grounding technology eliminates the need to be outside by weaving a conductive material like copper into the products and connecting to the ground via the ground port in your wall.
Influencer Kimberley Gallagher says that grounding sheets can provide the same benefits from the comfort of your bed because the linens are designed to connect you to the Earth’s natural electrical energy while you sleep.
But are the claims too good to be true?
User experience
Miranda Ducharme, who lives in Grande Prairie, Alta., has been using grounding sheets for almost two months after hearing about them at a wellness convention with her friend.
She decided to try them because she was motivated by the lack of opportunities to connect with the earth during Alberta’s long winters.
She noticed changes the first night she used the sheets, saying she could sleep the whole night and woke up feeling rested.
“I’m very prone to changes, like that, like energy changes,” she said.
Ducharme also noted that the price and quality of grounding sheets vary significantly. Online, the sheets can range from $60 to $200.
She believes investing in a higher-quality sheet might lead to a more noticeable outcome.
While Ducharme’s positive experience with grounding sheets has remained consistent, Holly Gailbraith has not had the same luck.
Known as the person in her friend group to try various wellness trends, Galbraith saw a sale for the sheets and bought a set.
She began using the sheets after Christmas. The first couple of nights were miraculous for her.
Usually waking up multiple times throughout the night, Galbraith could have an uninterrupted sleep using the product.
“So that happened for four nights in a row, and I was like, ‘wow, this is amazing.’ And then all of a sudden it stopped working, and I can’t explain it,” she said.
Galbraith, a retired science teacher, acknowledged that isolating the effects of the grounding sheet is challenging.
“I’ve taught science, and you can only manipulate one variable at a time,” she said.
Typically reliant on routine, she has been experimenting with different ways to reduce stress. She isn’t sure whether her four nights of uninterrupted sleep were due to the grounding sheet or another change in her routine.
How do grounding sheets work?
One grounding website claims that the main reason for using these products is to neutralize free radicals in the body.
“When our bodies come into contact with the Earth’s surface, excess electrons are absorbed from the ground and transferred to the body, neutralizing free radicals and restoring electrical balance,” the website reads.
However, a Harvard Health study explains that free radicals are naturally occurring molecules in essential cell processes.
While environmental factors such as air pollution and smoking can increase free radical production, the body has built-in mechanisms to manage them.
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The Harvard Health research also notes that a well-rounded diet rich in antioxidants is the best way to stabilize free radicals.
So how do grounding sheets fit into all of this?
Grounding sheet manufacturers claim their products can neutralize the small negative charge caused by free radicals, effectively detoxing the body.
Some online videos support this claim, using a multimeter to show a voltage change before and after making contact with a grounding sheet.
Logically Facts tested these claims with an experiment, concluding the demonstration was misleading and not scientifically valid.
Multimeters measure electrical potential, not free radical activity.
A decrease in voltage does not necessarily mean that free radicals are being neutralized or that any significant health benefits are occurring.
The final verdict
Grounding sheets fall into a gray area of wellness products–they claim to offer significant health benefits but lack strong scientific backing.
A 2015 study assesses the quality of research behind grounding and earthing. While some studies suggest potential benefits, experts caution that it is not a cure-all.
The research also highlights growing evidence that spending time outdoors—barefoot or not—can improve physical and mental well-being.
Research on grounding is new, and many existing studies are funded by the companies producing the sheets.
Health influencers, like Brecka and Flynn, claim that these sheets can help users reduce their stress among other benefits. Even though users like Ducharme can testify to sleeping better using these sheets, the claims are misleading and do not acknowledge the need for further research.
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