Is Grounding a Hoax? Asking for a friend...
- Jeana Wilson
- Jan 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 29
Introduction
As a mother of a severely autistic, non-speaking 13-year-old son, my life is a constant search for answers—and often those answers feel as hard to find as my son's clothes after he's stripped them off in the car, somehow without unbuckling his safety harness or seatbelt! Like many families on this journey, we face immense challenges—particularly with sleep and mood regulation. These struggles affect not only my son but ripple through every aspect of our family's daily life. Over the years, we've tried countless strategies, from traditional therapies to "magic" solutions. While some have helped, others have fallen short.
Recently, I came across the concept of grounding—a practice that involves connecting with the Earth to improve physical and emotional health. At first, it sounded like one of those ideas you'd find in the "life hacks" section of the internet: simple, slightly odd, but maybe worth a try. Could grounding help my son's sleep and mood? Intrigued but skeptical, I decided to investigate further.
I hold a masters in biomedical nutrition which gave me rigorous training in evaluating the quality and legitimacy of scientific studies and the tools to critically assess health claims, particularly those tied to treatments and products. Armed with this background, I began exploring the research behind grounding to understand whether it could be a valuable tool for families like mine.
My goal in writing this article is partly free therapy (because, let's face it, we could all use some) and partly to cut through the BS of all the desperate purchases we make while clinging to hope. Hopefully, these insights offer a hopeful perspective on creating holistic therapeutic environments—even if we all know that parenting often feels more like navigating a tornado with a flimsy umbrella. #knowledgeispower!
Facts or Hoax
I found a study focusing on grounding in patients with Alzheimer's disease. While the populations are different, the symptoms of Alzheimer's patients and those of individuals with severe autism have striking similarities. Both groups often struggle with disrupted sleep patterns, heightened stress levels, and difficulty regulating mood.
The Alzheimer's study demonstrated that grounding helped improve sleep quality, with participants experiencing longer sleep durations and fewer awakenings. Additionally, grounding proved to be calming to the participants in the study, which is likely due to its influence on stress hormones such as cortisol. For individuals with Alzheimer's, who frequently experience agitation and difficulty relaxing, these findings are significant.
While the study focused on a different population, the mechanisms by which grounding works—normalizing cortisol levels and promoting relaxation—are universal. Sometimes, 'universal' fixes feel as elusive as unicorns when navigating the chaos of severe autism, but this study suggests that grounding could be used to address some of the overlapping symptoms in both populations!
Another study that captured my attention explored the use of natural environments to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This research emphasized how nature-based interventions, such as sensory gardens and physical interaction with natural elements, can help address sensory integration challenges common in severe autism.
The study highlighted that many children with ASD struggle with both hyper-reactive and hypo-reactive sensory responses. Therapeutic environments designed with natural features—such as tactile surfaces, water features, and diverse textures—were shown to calm overstimulated children and engage under-stimulated ones. For example, water zones incorporating waterfalls, streams, or pools provided sensory input that helped regulate mood and promote relaxation.
This aligns with the benefits observed in Alzheimer's patients, where grounding through physical connection to natural elements improved sleep and reduced stress. The study's findings suggest that incorporating grounding techniques into nature-based interventions could be particularly effective for severe ASD.
Another study explored how grounding during sleep might influence cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. Twelve participants, all experiencing sleep dysfunction, pain, and stress, slept on conductive mattress pads connected to the Earth for eight weeks. Saliva samples were taken at four-hour intervals to measure diurnal cortisol secretion before and after the intervention. Participants also tracked their sleep, pain, and stress symptoms daily.
The results were remarkable: cortisol levels significantly decreased during night-time sleep, and the 24-hour cortisol profiles shifted closer to the body’s natural circadian rhythm. Subjective reports showed notable improvements in sleep quality, reductions in pain, and decreased stress levels, with changes most pronounced in female participants.
This study highlights grounding’s potential to address hormonal imbalances, aligning cortisol secretion with the body’s natural rhythm.
For families like mine, where disrupted sleep and heightened stress are daily battles, this research offers hope that grounding could provide tangible benefits in managing these challenges.
A Study of One
I've decided to take the leap and test some grounding products myself. Why me, you ask? Because the dark comedy that is my life has created an undeniable need to be grounded—literally and figuratively. If these products can ground me, they could ground anyone!
My Amazon haul includes a fitted grounding sheet and a grounding mat designed to replicate the effects of outdoor earthing indoors. For now, I'll be the test subject, logging my experiences and assessing whether these products live up to their claims. As a mother constantly looking for solutions, I'm determined to find what works for my family. I know that the real test of any product is whether it can withstand the chaos of family life, and I'm ready for the challenge.
This blog marks Part 1 of my grounding journey. In Part 2, I'll share the results of my case study of one—highlighting whether grounding can bring balance to my own life and, more importantly, offer hope! Stay tuned...
UPDATE
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