It’s been proven beyond doubt that being barefoot helps both physical and mental health – by stimulating blood circulation; helping your body eliminate a fair amount of fats and toxins; reducing stress, depression and neurosis, which strengthens the nervous system; preventing varicose veins; and improving posture and balance.
And, of course, when your bare feet are in direct contact with the ground, it’s also like a prolonged reflexology session, freeing accumulated energy, which, if not allowed to flow naturally, causes many types of disease. Reflexology simply stimulates certain parts of the sole of the foot which are connected to our organs and other parts of the body. Walking barefoot does this naturally.
While the philosophy and practice of earthing, or grounding, has been around since the dawn of human civilisation, the science behind it is a relatively new concept…and to be honest I’m not quite sure what to make of it. The principal is that by walking barefoot we absorb electrons from the earth through our skin. This raises the number of electrons in our bodies, which help with our health and wellbeing. It also increases the number of antioxidants, reduces inflammation and improves sleep.
Don’t ask me to explain the science behind it, but in a nutshell, absorbing these electrons balances what’s called the body’s energetic flow.
All of which, apparently, makes us fitter, both mentally and physically.
And many podiatrists and the medical profession now recognise the enormous health benefits of going barefoot, when it comes to sleep disturbance, muscle and joint pain, asthmatic and respiratory conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, stress, heart rate variability, and immune system activity and response.
So there you go. I’ve known for decades that having bare feet gives me additional vitality and keeps me fit and healthy. I just didn’t know there was a scientific term for it that’s gaining credence in medical circles.