http://web.me.com/thriiive/NeuroVascularity.com/NeuroVascularity.com_files/Zeta%20Potential%20Paper%20for%20JACM%207-22-11%20Gaetan%5B1%5D.doc
Previous studies demonstrated that conductive contact of the human body with the surface of the earth has beneficial effects on various cardiovascular risk factors. This study examined effects of a 2-hour earth connection on the electrical charge (Zeta potential) on red blood cell (RBC) membranes. Ten healthy adults were grounded with conductive patches on the soles of their feet and palms of their hands. Wires connected the patches to a stainless steel rod inserted in the earth outdoors. Small fingertip pinprick blood samples were placed on microscope slides and an electric field was imposed on them. Electrophoretic mobility of the RBCs was determined by measuring the terminal velocities of the cells in video recordings taken through the microscope. RBC aggregation was measured by counting the numbers of clustered cells in each sample. Earthing or grounding increased zeta potentials in all samples by an average of 2.70, and reduced RBC aggregation. (150 words in abstract)
Key Words: Earthing, grounding, anticoagulants, blood flow, circulation, coagulation, inflammation, cardiovascular disease.
Here is a book if you really want to be earthed:
Why have you listed this under quackery and why do you find it so hilarious?
ReplyDeleteHave you read the book you quote and have you read the 20 or more studies now on this subject?
I can think of no physical possibility of this occurring. Specify the studies you mention. I point to all the research I talk about so others can critique my analysis. Don't expect me to do the work to prove your point.
DeleteI've previously posted here but it hasn't appeared. I asked Dean why he found this so hilarious and filed it under quackery.
ReplyDeleteI wrote to him saying had he read the Earthing book and considered the various medical studies.
Dean didn't give me an answer but basically talked of 'evidence based medicine' giving certain criteria to be reached before he considers something is worth taking seriously.
He seems to forget that every new discovery has many years before all these criteria can be met for many reasons including financial restraints on the cost of medical studies especially for ventures of this kind which people like Dean and mainstream medicine will assume is quackery. Very sad.
Anyway here's a link to some of the studies
http://www.earthinginstitute.net/index.php/research
scroll down to Earthing Studies.
It seems rather tragic that thousands of people are getting health benefits from earthing but people like Dean stubbornly would deny them their perceived recoveries until he decides on some criteria being met.
Until that happens obviously it's not worth even looking at - a very head in the sand attitude in my opinion.
Dave, Don't expect me to refute your strawman argument. Provide research links to your studies. If you don't I'll consider it indefensible
DeleteI think this pretty much sums up my distrust of the subject
Deletehttp://www.marksdailyapple.com/earthing/#axzz2P4ZCS2lR
anectdotal evidence mainly.
I explained where you could find the links.
ReplyDeleteAnd even in your sceptical review link above you dismiss it with 'anecdotal evidence mainly' rather than inform your readers the guy's conclusions which are these - if you will deem to allow this post! :
A large part of the book contains anecdotal descriptions of people helped by earthing, which (while intriguing) can’t be counted as objective support. Thermography images (PDF) of patients’ with a variety of ailments and injuries show – after a half an hour of grounding (with no other intervention) – surprising reductions in inflammation where other medications and therapies have had little impact. Microscopic images comparing blood samples after less than an hour of grounding in several subjects suggest a dramatic improvement in viscosity.
One double-blind, controlled clinical trial demonstrated earthing’s impact on a number of biomarkers. Subjects who slept grounded showed statistically significant decreases in serum sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron, total protein, albumin concentrations, inorganic phosporus. Free T4 and TSH increased while free T3 decreased. (PDF) In another study, participants were given exercises that induced muscular pain. Those who were grounded showed altered immune activity and reported lesser pain levels than those who were ungrounded. (PDF)
Another controlled study suggested that sleeping grounded can impact cortisol levels and sleep quality. Subjects who slept grounded with conductive mattress pads showed lower night-time cortisol levels as well as an overall “resynchronization” of cortisol secretion “more in alignment with the natural 24-hour circadian rhythm profile.” (PDF) Subjects who were grounded during sleep also reported better sleep and less physical pain and emotional stress. You can check out links to other earthing related studies here.
Clearly, something is happening here. The results are pretty suggestive of some significant phenomenon. As for my part, I’m hopeful but still cautious about the authors’ general theory and the compelling (albeit modest) collection of research that supports earthing’s impact.
Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/earthing/#ixzz2PLPDxLsw
Well Dave, I'll do the exact thing you did.
DeleteHere are a bunch of links that prove earthing is quackery. Look at them and dispute every single one. If you are so enamored of earthing, write your own blog.
Dr. Oz promotes quackery…again
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2012/04/04/dr-oz-promotes-quackeryagain/
Earthing: Another Reason to Go Barefoot?
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/earthing/
The Golden Age of Medical;Quackery
from the book, "Petrified Lightning"
http://www.fascinatingearth.com/node/296
What scientific evidence is there to support the claims about "earthing"?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110801180835AAxyr4N