Using an Earthing Mat Helps You Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola November 02, 2024

STORY AT-A-GLANCE
 Earthing mats boost sleep quality by cutting down wake time and ramping up REM and
NREM sleep, as shown in an animal study

 Exposure to these mats amps up your antioxidant activity and dials down the expression
of orexin, a wake-promoting neuropeptide in the brain

 Grounding, the practice of connecting with the Earth’s surface, promotes body stability by
reducing inflammation, pain and stress

 The health advantages of earthing include better blood flow and faster recovery from
muscle damage

 Nondrug treatments like earthing offer safe options for improving sleep and lowering
anxiety, without the side effects of medications

Are you looking for a simple way to improve your sleep quality? Investing in an earthing
mat might be the answer you’ve been searching for.

Grounding, the practice of making direct contact with the earth’s surface, has been
gaining interest for its various health benefits, and recent research highlights its ability
to enhance sleep quality.1 Exploring its practical applications, such as using an earthing
mat or going barefoot outdoors, offers a natural way to improve your sleep patterns.

But the benefits of grounding go beyond just sleep improvement. Research suggests
this strategy also influences other physiological processes that impact your overall well-
being.

Using an Earthing Mat Boosts Sleep Quality

An animal study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences2 revealed

that earthing mats significantly reduce wake time and increase both REM (Rapid Eye
Movement) and NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement) sleep in animal subjects.

Conducted by Korean researchers, the study demonstrated that when exposed to

earthing mats, animal subjects showed considerable improvements in their sleep
patterns, demonstrating a notable extension of total sleep duration as exposure time
increased.

To test their theory, the researchers divided their test subjects into four groups — a
control group (Nor), a group that used an earthing mat for seven days (A-7D), a group
that used an earthing mat for 21 days (A-21D) and a group that used an electronic
blanket for 21 days (EM).3

Based on electroencephalography (EEG) results, they found that the A-21D group had
significantly reduced wake time and increased rapid eye movement (REM), non-rapid
eye movement (NREM), and total sleep time compared to the Nor group. The A-21D
group also demonstrated a significant increase in NREM, REM and total sleep time, and
a decrease in wake time compared to the EM group.

These findings make earthing mats a compelling non-pharmacological alternative to

traditional sleep aids, which often come with undesirable side effects. As noted by the
study authors:

“Traditionally, pharmacological treatments such as benzodiazepines and

barbiturates have been employed to manage sleep disorders or insomnia.
However, these medications are associated with potential adverse effects,
including dependency, cognitive impairment, and residual daytime sedation.
 We anticipated that this study would elucidate the effects of the earthing mat
on sleep and provide insights into its influence on sleep-related mechanisms,
thereby laying the groundwork for future research on the interactions between
earthing and sleep regulation.”

So how exactly do earthing mats impact your sleep? The study focused on two key
areas that led to better sleep — orexin and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in your
brain.

Grounding Regulates Levels of This Wakefulness-Promoting

Neuropeptide

Orexin is a crucial neuropeptide that regulates wakefulness. According to the featured

study:

“The orexin system is recognized as a significant target in the regulation of

endogenous adenosine-mediated sleep homeostasis. Orexins, neuropeptides
expressed exclusively by neurons in the LH, are implicated in a variety of
functions, including feeding, addiction, and the regulation of sleep/wake
cycles.”

To put it simply, when your orexin levels are high, you feel more alert and find it harder to
sleep. Think of orexin as your brain’s alarm clock — an earthing mat essentially turns the
volume down, making it easier for your body to switch into sleep mode. You also spend
more time in both REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement)
sleep.

Furthermore, the researchers found that prolonged exposure to earthing mats led to
more significant decreases of orexin in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), which resulted in
extended periods of uninterrupted sleep.4

“We examined orexin expression in the LH and found that the number of orexin-
positive cells was lower in the A-7D group and A-21D group than in the Nor
 group. The A-21D group exhibited a significantly decreased number of orexin-
positive cells compared to the EM group.”5

By lowering orexin levels, earthing mats help achieve longer and more stable sleep. It’s a
natural and non-pharmacological way to improve sleep quality, unlike using medications
that have adverse side effects.

Using an Earthing Mat Boosts Levels of Antioxidants in Your

Brain

When you sleep, your brain goes through a recovery and regeneration process that helps
inhibit oxidative stress. But if you’re sleep-deprived, your levels of superoxide dismutase
(SOD), an antioxidant enzyme that reduces oxidative stress in the brain, decreases.

With the help of an earthing mat, your SOD levels increase, which then reduces oxidative
stress and promotes relaxation and mental calmness. As explained by the authors:

“Previous studies have shown that antioxidant enzyme activity, including SOD,
increases in animal models subjected to sleep deprivation. Consistent with
these findings, the present study demonstrates that exposure to A-7D and A-
21D significantly increased SOD levels in the LH.

This result suggests that these treatments may reduce oxidative stress and
improve the brain’s oxidative defense system. The observed increase in SOD
levels supports the hypothesis that interventions designed to maintain or
restore antioxidant enzyme activity can mitigate oxidative damage associated
with sleep deprivation and enhance overall brain health.”6

Grounding While Sleeping Eases Chronic Pain and Speeds Up

Muscle Recovery

The connection between grounding and improved sleep offers an intriguing avenue for
enhancing overall well-being without the side effects associated with conventional sleep
aids. However, the benefits of grounding go beyond sleep improvement. Connecting to
the Earth also reduces inflammation, pain and stress.

For instance, grounding has been reported to alleviate delayed onset muscle soreness
(DOMS) and promote faster recovery from muscle damage, highlighting its ability to
boost physical recovery in athletes and active individuals.7

The study,8 conducted by researchers from the University of Salzburg, found that
participants who were grounded using an electrically conducted device while they were
sleeping exhibited faster recovery from muscle damage and/or less pronounced
markers, as compared to those who did not.

The grounded individuals showed less muscle soreness, lower levels of creatine kinase
in the blood and quicker overall recovery. These positive outcomes were attributed to
reduced muscle damage-associated inflammation markers, which grounding appears to
mitigate effectively.

“GRD [grounded sleeping] might be seen as a simple methodology to enhance

acute and long-term recovery after intensive eccentric exercise,” the
researchers concluded.9

Other Notable Benefits of Grounding

Grounding through earthing mats or direct contact with the Earth has shown promising
results in various areas of health, such as:

• Keeping your heart healthy — An intriguing study investigated grounding’s impact

on blood viscosity post-exercise. According to the researchers, individuals who
were grounded showed a noticeable reduction in both diastolic and systolic blood
viscosity compared to those who were not.10 This finding is significant because
lower blood viscosity is associated with improved circulation and cardiovascular
health.
 • Improving sleep in Alzheimer’s patients — A 2022 randomized, double-blind study
involving individuals with mild Alzheimer’s disease also demonstrated its
remarkable benefits on sleep quality.11

The participants, who were either grounded or sham-grounded for 30 minutes daily
for over 12 weeks, reported significantly better sleep, as measured by the
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.12 This suggests that grounding helps enhance sleep
for those suffering from cognitive impairments.

• Easing chronic pain — Another study published in the journal EXPLORE13 tells the
story of an 85-year-old man suffering from chronic pain whose quality of life
improved after grounding while sleeping. He had persistent low back pain and
shoulder pain that interfered with his sleep, experiencing stiffness and soreness
upon waking.

After just two nights of grounded sleep, he reported having “50% less pain, 80%
reduction in pain interfering with sleep, and 75% reduction in waking stiff and sore.”
He continued doing this, and after four weeks, reported that the pain was “totally
gone with only occasional mild stiffness.”14 This case exemplifies how grounding
brings rapid and tangible relief for chronic pain sufferers.

How to Maximize the Benefits of Grounding

There are significant concerns about grounding practices in North America, particularly
regarding high voltage transients from utility stations that can contaminate ground
electrons. Dr. Sam Milham, author of "Dirty Electricity," is among the experts who have
raised these concerns.

Due to this issue, which appears to be unique to North America, I personally avoid
grounding practices on the continent — with one exception, I still enjoy grounding while
walking in the ocean, as it provides the purest form of electrical grounding available.

Having said that, if you choose you can incorporate earthing mats into your daily routine
is a practical solution to improve sleep quality. To get maximum benefits, follow these
tips:

Ground your mattress while sleeping — Place the mat on your mattress and ensure
direct skin contact. This continuous grounding throughout the night helps to reduce
wakefulness and promote longer REM and NREM sleep phases.

If you’re working at a desk, keep your bare feet on an earthing mat while working —
Grounding mats work well provided you have a grounded electrical outlet and are
particularly beneficial if you live in a high-rise. When using an earthing mat, make
sure your bare skin is in contact with it. There should not be a layer of clothing
between you and the mat.

Use a grounded yoga mat when exercising indoors.

In addition to using earthing mats during bedtime, I recommend spending time outdoors
whenever possible. Exercising barefoot outdoors is a great way to incorporate earthing
into your daily life and will also help speed up tissue repair and ease muscle pain
associated with strenuous exercise.

The ideal location for walking barefoot is the beach, close to or in the water, as saltwater
is a great conductor. (Your body is also somewhat conductive because it contains a
large number of charged ions, called electrolytes, dissolved in water. Your blood and
other body fluids are therefore good conductors.)

A close second would be a grassy area, especially if it's covered with dew, and /or bare
soil. Ceramic tiles and concrete are good conductors as long as they've not been sealed;
painted concrete does not allow electrons to pass through very well. Materials like
asphalt, wood and typical insulators like rubber or plastic will not allow electrons to pass
through and are not suitable for barefoot grounding.

While any amount of grounding is better than none, research has demonstrated it takes
about 80 minutes for the free electrons from the Earth to reach your blood stream and
transform your blood, which is when you reap the greatest benefits. So, ideally, aim for
80 to 120 minutes of grounding each day.
If you’re still experiencing sleep difficulties even after incorporating grounding into your
routine, you must look at other areas of your lifestyle, such as adjusting your pre-
bedtime habits, modifying your sleep area or eliminating sources of light and EMFs in
your bedroom. I recommend reading my 33 tips for a good night’s sleep to help guide
you in improving your sleep sanctuary.

Sources and References

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 9791
7, 13, 14 Explore, Volume 16, Issue 3, May–June 2020, Pages 152-160
8, 9 Front. Physiol., January 28, 2019, Sec. Exercise Physiology, Volume 10 - 2019
10 Biomedical Journal, February 2023, Volume 46, Issue 1, Pages 30-40
11, 12
Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Mar 20;10(3):581