Multi-disciplinary research has revealed that electrically conductive contact of the human body with the surface of the Earth (grounding or earthing) produces intriguing effects on physiology and health. Such effects relate to inflammation, immune responses, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this report is two-fold: to 1) inform researchers about what appears to be a new perspective to the study of inflammation, and 2) alert researchers that the length of time and degree (resistance to ground) of grounding of experimental animals is an important but usually overlooked factor that can influence outcomes of studies of inflammation, wound healing, and tumorigenesis. Specifically, grounding an organism produces measurable differences in the concentrations of white blood cells, cytokines, and other molecules involved in the inflammatory response. We present several hypotheses to explain observed effects, based on current research results and our understanding of the electronic aspects of cell and tissue physiology, cell biology, biophysics, and biochemistry. An experimental injury to muscles, known as delayed onset muscle soreness, has been used to monitor the immune response under grounded versus ungrounded conditions. Grounding reduces pain and alters the numbers of circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes, and also affects various circulating chemical factors related to inflammation. J Inflamm Res J Inflamm Res 1652 jinres Journal of Inflammation Research 1178-7031 Dove Press PMC4378297 PMC4378297.1 4378297 4378297 25848315 10.2147/JIR.S69656 jir-8-083 1 Hypothesis The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases Oschman James L 1 Chevalier Gaétan 2 Brown Richard 3 1 Nature’s Own Research Association, Dover, NH, USA 2 Developmental and Cell Biology Department, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA 3 Human Physiology Department, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA Correspondence: Gaétan Chevalier, Developmental and Cell Biology Department, University of California at Irvine, 2103 McGaugh Hall, Irvine, CA, 92697-2300, USA, Tel +1 760 815 9271, Fax +1 858 225 3514, Email dlbogc@sbcglobal.net 2015 24 3 2015 8 247914 83 96 24 03 2015 06 04 2015 21 03 2024 © 2015 Oschman et al. This work is published by Dove Medical Press Limited, and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License 2015 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. Multi-disciplinary research has revealed that electrically conductive contact of the human body with the surface of the Earth (grounding or earthing) produces intriguing effects on physiology and health. Grounding reduces pain and alters the numbers of circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes, and also affects various circulating chemical factors related to inflammation. The findings merit consideration by the inflammation research community, which has the means to verify, refute, or clarify the interpretations we have made thus far. Grounding reduces or even prevents the cardinal signs of inflammation following injury: redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function ( Figures 1 and 2 ). Rapid resolution of painful chronic inflammation was confirmed in 20 case studies using medical infrared imaging ( Figure 3 ). 2 , 3 Our main hypothesis is that connecting the body to the Earth enables free electrons from the Earth’s surface to spread over and into the body, where they can have antioxidant effects. Taken together, these observations indicate that grounding or earthing the human body significantly alters the inflammatory response to an injury. Anatomical and biophysical aspects The concept that the inflammatory barricade forms from collateral damage to healthy tissue surrounding an injury site is supported by Selye’s classic studies published along with his description of the granuloma or Selye pouch ( Figure 10 ). 25 , 30 Moreover, research in cell biology and biophysics reveals the human body is equipped with a system-wide collagenous, liquid–crystalline semiconductor network known as the living matrix, 31 or in other terms, a ground regulation system 32 , 33 or tissue tensegrity matrix system ( Figure 11 ). 34 This body-wide network can deliver mobile electrons to any part of the body and thereby routinely protect all cells, tissues, and organs from oxidative stress or in the event of injury. 23 , 31 The living matrix includes the extracellular and connective tissue matrices as well as the cytoskeletons of all cells. Another example is the immune system attacking cartilage in joints, producing rheumatoid arthritis. Lupus erythematosus is an extreme example of an auto-immune condition caused by the body’s immune system attacking host tissues and organs. Lupus, for example, can affect many different body systems, including skin, kidneys, blood cells, joints, heart, and lungs. With time, the immune system becomes weaker and the individual more vulnerable to inflammation or Specifically, which part or parts of the body the weakened immune system will attack first depends on many factors such as genetics, habits (sleep, food, drinks, exercise, etc), and toxins in the body and in the environment. 65 , 66 A repeated observation is that grounding, or earthing, reduces the pain in patients with lupus and other autoimmune disorders. 1 Conclusion Accumulating experiences and research on earthing, or grounding, point to the emergence of a simple, natural, and accessible health strategy against chronic inflammation, warranting the serious attention of clinicians and researchers.