Entering "inflammation" in the search field on the U.S. National Library of Medicine (Pub Med) yields approximately 700,000 medical research articles, with the earliest dating back to 1813, focusing on inflammation in the eyes.
The link between inflammation and disease, especially the connection between chronic inflammation and chronic diseases, has become a focal point of medical research since the year 2000. Previously, inflammation was mainly associated with the body's response to injury and infection - known as acute inflammation. However, the current research interest lies in understanding how long-term, chronic inflammation is a key factor behind many prevalent health disorders, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Presently (2020), there are over 117,000 articles exploring chronic inflammation, with around 100,000 published in the last two decades.
The surge in chronic inflammation research began in the 1980s when medical researchers noticed immune cells gathering at diseased tissue sites across a variety of seemingly unrelated conditions. One of the initial observations was in atherosclerosis, characterized by inflamed and damaged artery linings, leading to life-threatening blockages. Russell Ross from the University of Washington highlighted the involvement of macrophages, a type of white blood cell, in atherosclerotic tissue. Over the next two decades, arterial disease was increasingly linked to inflammation. By 2000, Harvard researchers concluded that cardiovascular disease is fundamentally inflammatory. By 2004, chronic, "smoldering" inflammation was identified as a silent contributor to various diseases, bringing inflammation research to the forefront of medical science.
Our book on Earthing significantly covers inflammation, proposing that the Earth itself, through direct contact, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent. This unique perspective suggests that Earthing reduces inflammation by allowing negatively-charged electrons from the Earth to neutralize free radicals, which are the agents of chronic inflammation. Although still a theory, Earthing's effect on reducing inflammation is compelling and merits further exploration.
Considering aging, chronic inflammation might be a primary aging factor or significantly accelerate it. Can Earthing slow down aging by its notable influence on inflammation?
Modern gerontology aims to improve the health of the elderly to reduce hospitalizations, the risks associated with multiple medications, and the costs of age-related diseases. Aging involves a natural decline in physiological functions and nutrient metabolism, compounded by medication side effects. The aging immune system, or immunosenescence, is marked by chronic low-grade inflammation, termed inflamm-aging by researchers.
Current recommendations for delaying aging include healthier nutrition, exercise, and antioxidants to combat oxidative stress. However, the concept of Earthing is relatively new to aging researchers. Based on Earthing studies and feedback, routine contact with the Earth shows significant potential in combating chronic illnesses by reducing or eliminating inflammation among other benefits, potentially becoming a simple yet effective method for enhancing health and healing.
Earthing's impact on free radical damage and stress reduction suggests it could play a role in improving longevity. Chronic antigenic load from a lifetime of exposure to infectious agents, combined with modern lifestyle disconnect from the Earth's electrons, might contribute to aging and chronic inflammation. Reconnecting with the Earth could reduce the severity of chronic illnesses and improve life quality and longevity, echoing observations from a back-to-Nature movement in Germany during the 1880s.
Feedback and studies on Earthing indicate significant decreases in inflammation and stress, enhancing the body's healing mechanisms. This points to a potential link between inflamm-aging and prolonged periods without Earth contact, offering a straightforward solution: reconnect with the Earth. While not a cure-all, Earthing may significantly influence our longevity and quality of life.
Source, Credit: GroundingWell