Today when I was just scrolling my phone I came across a sanskrit phrase. The phrase was as follows: हरितपद्मप्रसूने निर्मले चरन्। अभिवृद्धिं प्राप्नोति चेतने च।।
( Haritapadmaprasūne nirmale charan। Abhivṛddhiṁ prāpnoti chetane cha।।)
Which means:
"Walking on the pure green lotus petals, one achieves both physical and spiritual growth."
Now the question arises, what is the relation of this phrase with our health? So, let's find out...
According to some studies, there's a shift in the percentage of chronic diseases, also called lifestyle diseases/disorders, from 1990 (30%) till today (>55% - 63%). Now here is the question, why there is such a drastic increase in these diseases over the period?
As per our ancient medical science, 80% of our health depends on the amount of our harmony with our mother Earth. In today's Era, under the name of modernization and being in competition, we usually neglect ourselves. We forget to cherish ourselves. Along with this, we are also losing our connection with nature. Due to this disharmony with nature and carelessness, this kind of disease flourishes. This can be prevented by a simple method of re-establishing our connection with the earth.
According to Ayurveda, our body is the most miraculous result of the mixture of nature's 5 elements ( Panchamahabhoota), and one of the ways to re-establish a connection with earth and the five elements of nature is walking barefoot on grass in the morning while focusing on the rising sun. The latest scientific studies state that Gorasnana offers great therapeutic value.
The practice of Gorasnana was one of the important aspects of our ancestor's daily lifestyle. This helps them to be in connection with nature, which ultimately results in a healthy body. This was one of the reasons for very few cases of lifestyle diseases in our ancestors. So how did Gorasnana prove beneficial, to know that let's dive into the science behind it...
The science behind walking barefoot:
Earth is a huge magnet and its electromagnetic field is known as a geomagnetic field, which is generated by the movement of molten metals in the Earth's outer core. Connecting our body with the stable electromagnetic field of Earth has a remarkable effect on our overall health and well-being. Walking barefoot is also known as earthing or grounding, which helps us to establish direct contact with the earth's surface. Also, we all know that each and everything in our surroundings is made up of atoms, and this fact remains unchanged for our bodies as well. Hence being grounded ( in direct contact with the earth) helps our body to maintain homeostasis a little more effectively.
Benefits of walking barefoot:
1. Reduces inflammation and relieves pain:
The earth's surface holds a net negative electrical charge, which upon contact neutralizes excess positive charge, reducing inflammation. The flow of electrons from the ground into the body acts as an analgesic, soothes irritated nerves, and thus alleviates any discomfort and pain.
2. Enhances the quality of sleep:
One of the vital benefits of walking barefoot is, that it aligns our body's electrical rhythms with those of Earth, akin to the natural cycles of day and night. This synchronization promotes the proper secretion of melatonin, facilitating quicker, deeper, and uninterrupted sleep.
3. Detoxifies the body:
Earthing aids in the transfer of free radicals and toxins, such as heavy metals, from the body tissues to the earth, which can absorb them, enabling deep cellular cleansing.
4. Enhances foot strength:
Walking barefoot can fortify the tendons of our feet and effectively stretch the muscles. To add more to it, it enhances flexibility and reinforces bone structure and spinal health. It also minimizes the likelihood of sprains in our legs, ankles, and calf muscles.
5. Circadian rhythm and Nervous system:
Research indicates that physical contact with the Earth's surface can help regulate our autonomic nervous system and synchronize our circadian rhythms with the day and night cycle. Circadian rhythm is the physical, mental, and behavioral changes an organism experiences over a 24-hour cycle. It is also termed the body's internal clock. Disruption of these internal clocks has been associated with various health issues, particularly among shift workers. The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in this process. As the largest nerve in the autonomic nervous system, it
influences heart, lung, and digestive functions. A strong vagal tone promotes
faster relaxation after stress, while a weak tone is linked to chronic
inflammation. Inflammation, in turn, is connected to several chronic diseases,
including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Vagal
tone is often evaluated by measuring heart rate variability, and studies have
shown that grounding can improve this variability and thus vagal tone, as seen
in preterm infants and adults. In adults, even a single two-hour session of
grounding has been shown to reduce inflammation and enhance blood flow.
6. Elevates our mood and boosts our energy:
Earth's
cooling, negatively charged energy has a calming effect on an overly stimulated
nervous system, leading to a decrease in anxiety-inducing hormones such as
cortisol. This fosters a sense of peace and emotional equilibrium. It also
mitigates emotional stress, anxiety, sadness, and depression by harmonizing
electrical systems and neurotransmitter activity in the brain.
Walking
barefoot on grass enhances the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells while
clearing energy pathways, resulting in a revitalizing surge of vital life force
or "prana."
Walking
barefoot on grass offers additional benefits, including potential improvement
in eyesight. It promotes mental grounding, enabling the presence at the moment,
acknowledgment of surroundings, and appreciation of life. Early morning walks
in summer are particularly advantageous, as the cool dew stimulates temperature
receptors and encourages warm blood flow to the feet. Moreover, the grass acts
as a cooling agent, potentially aiding in body temperature regulation.
Precautions to be taken while walking barefoot:
While walking barefoot one should be cautious regarding the land where you are walking. See if there are any broken pieces of glass and/or any other sharp objects. Care should be taken to avoid stepping on an animal or an insect, to avoid being bitten by it.
Also one should not walk barefoot on extremely hot surfaces, to prevent any burn injuries to the sole of the foot. Avoid going barefoot in the presence of any open injury or cut.
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