The Science of Grounding: How Nature Restores Your Mind and Body

By Dr Tara Swart, Neuroscientist and Author

When was the last time you felt truly present?
I don’t mean ticking off your to-do list or replying to emails while on a walk. I mean fully rooted in your body and your surroundings, breathing deeply, noticing the wind on your skin, the feel of the earth beneath your feet—that moment of real presence.

If you can’t remember, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Modern life keeps us mentally switched on, but often physically disconnected. That’s why I’ve become a strong advocate for a practice called grounding, or earthing, which simply means connecting your body — most commonly your bare feet — to the Earth’s surface.

This isn’t just a feel-good wellness trend. Research suggests that grounding may reduce inflammation, regulate cortisol (our main stress hormone), improve circulation, support immune health, and enhance mood. It’s an incredibly simple way to reset your nervous system, and the science behind it is genuinely fascinating.

What is Grounding — and Why Does It Matter?

Grounding involves making direct physical contact with the Earth’s surface, allowing your body to absorb free electrons from the ground. This subtle exchange of electrical energy has been studied for its potential physiological effects, especially on stress, inflammation, and circadian rhythm.

A 2012 study published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health proposed that grounding could be a “universal regulating factor” in health and healing, with observed improvements in sleep, pain, immune response, and blood flow.

Here’s what else grounding has been shown to do:

• Reduce cortisol levels and support more restorative sleep
• Improve heart rate variability (a marker of resilience to stress)
• Reduce blood viscosity, lowering cardiovascular risk
• Decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines
• Improve mood and decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression

Grounding is a practice in simplicity — and in reconnecting with your body’s natural rhythms.

How to Ground Yourself (It’s Easier Than You Think)

Go Barefoot Outdoors
Find natural surfaces like grass, soil, sand, or even stone. Your feet have thousands of nerve endings, and walking barefoot stimulates both physiological and energetic grounding.

Lie or Sit on the Earth
You don’t always have to be walking. Sitting on the grass to read, or lying down and gazing at the clouds, can be just as effective — especially if your skin is in direct contact with the Earth. Try being fully immersed in the sea as an alternative, too. 

Use Grounding Products Indoors
Grounding mats, bands, and sheets conduct electrons via a grounded plug and are ideal for consistent daily exposure (especially during colder months). A randomised, double‑blind, placebo-controlled trial found that using an earthing (grounding) mat significantly improved sleep quality by helping regulate the body’s stress response.

Be Consistent
Aim for at least 30 minutes a day, ideally an hour. Morning grounding can set your circadian rhythm. Evening grounding can unwind your nervous system for better sleep.

The Neuroscience of Grounding and Mind-Body Balance

As a neuroscientist, what fascinates me about grounding is how it interacts with our autonomic nervous system. Grounding appears to shift the body from a sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state to a parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) mode.

This can lower heart rate and calm brain activity. It’s why many people report feeling centred, more focused, and even emotionally balanced after time outdoors.

Grounding doesn’t just benefit your body. It also helps realign your brain, bringing clarity, calm, and improved emotional regulation.

DIRTEA’s Grounding Allies: Mushrooms for Mind-Body Balance

While grounding through your feet is a direct and physical experience, we can also support this “grounded” state internally. Certain functional mushrooms are natural allies for this.

1. Reishi Mushroom: Calm and Centred

Known as the "mushroom of immortality," Reishi has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine for balance, serenity, and longevity.

DIRTEA’s Reishi Calm Powder is infused with organic Vitamin B12, supports:

• Normal function of the nervous system
• Reduction of tiredness and fatigue
• Normal psychological function

This makes Reishi a brilliant daily ritual if you’re looking to recalibrate after a stressful day or to transition into rest. Try pairing it with an evening grounding session outdoors to enhance the calming effects on your body and mind.

2. Lion’s Mane: Rooted Focus and Presence

While Reishi calms, Lion’s Mane keeps you sharp — but without the frazzle, this nootropic mushroom supports cognitive clarity, memory, and focus.

DIRTEA’s Lion’s Mane Focus Powder, fortified with zinc, contributes to:

• Normal cognitive function
• Protection of cells from oxidative stress
• Normal immune function

Taken in the morning, it can help you feel more present and not pressured — ideal for those seeking to stay focused and connected during busy days, especially when paired with a mindful barefoot walk.

Nature’s Playground: 10 Parks to Ground in London

Whether you live in London or come to visit, grounding is just a stroll away. Here are some of my favourite grounding spots — some well-known, others hidden gems:

 City Staples

• Regent’s Park – Rose gardens and theatre under the sky
• Hampstead Heath – Wild, vast and perfect for full-body barefoot resets
• Victoria Park – Picnic-ready lawns with bustling weekend markets
• Hyde Park – Iconic and expansive, with lakeside serenity
• Greenwich Park – Skyline views and historic energy

Hidden Nature Escapes

• Isabella Plantation (Richmond Park) – A floral wonderland (and a personal favourite)
• Morden Hall Park – Wetlands, wooden bridges, and meadow walks
• Horniman Museum Gardens – Family friendly with a butterfly house
• The Phoenix Garden – A pocket of peace in the city
• Rembrandt Gardens, Little Venice – Canal views and a slower pace

A Mindful Ritual: Ground, Sip, and Breathe

Here’s a simple ritual I often share with clients to reconnect with calm:

1. Step outside barefoot – ideally in the morning.
2. Sip your favourite DIRTEA – try Reishi for calm or Lion’s Mane for focus.
3. Close your eyes and take 10 deep, diaphragmatic breaths.
4. Visualise your energy rooting into the Earth, drawing up stability and calm.

Final Thoughts: Health is Connection

Grounding reminds us that connection — not control — is the real foundation of health.
Whether it’s your bare feet on the Earth, your body immersed in the sea, your mind connected to your breath, or your daily mushroom ritual with DIRTEA, it’s these small, conscious choices that bring us back to ourselves.

In our overstimulated world, this grounded presence is the most radical form of self-care.

My best,

Dr Tara Swart
Neuroscientist, Author, and Advisor to DIRTEA

References

• Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S.T., Oschman, J.L., Delany, R.M. & Kapoor, R. (2012). Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth's Surface Electrons. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012:291541. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/291541
• Park HJ, Lee GR, Kim Y, Kim J, Sohn M, Kim SH, Rhie SJ, Kim KR, Shim I. A randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study on the improvement of sleep quality with earthing mat. Adv Integr Med. 2025;12(3):100458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2025.01.005