Earthing has a patent in the U.S. as a method to reduce and prevent inflammation! This patent was granted on May 25, 2010, see USPTO Patent Database.

INFLAMMATION IS OFTEN THE CAUSE OF MANY CONTEMPORARY DISEASES AND CHRONIC PAINS
Your immune system protects you from outside invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, and helps repair damaged tissue. When there is a problem somewhere in the body, white blood cells and other special cells rush to that spot as a first response. Some of those cells then release free radicals, which help break down the invading microorganisms and damaged tissue.
Free radicals are positively charged molecules (lacking in one or more electrons) that are always looking for free electrons. Normally, they take these missing electrons away from the invaders and damaged tissue and kill these unwanted guests or break down the damaged cells to be disposed of.

This immune response is also called an inflammatory response and often produces the familiar symptoms of inflammation: swelling, warmth and pain, redness and, depending on the site, a restriction of movement.

When this recovery process comes to an end, the excess free radicals must be neutralized by antioxidants or free electrons in the body. If there are too few free electrons, the free radicals can attack the healthy tissue, triggering an immune response. Thus we end up in a vicious circle and chronic inflammation develops, the cause of many contemporary chronic and autoimmune diseases and an accelerated aging process.

THE EARTH HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF ELECTRONS
Because the earth has an abundance of free electrons, earthing is the perfect way to supply our body with the need for free electrons. In this way we can break the vicious circle mentioned above.

ELECTRONS ARE POTENT ANTIOXIDANTS
Conclusion: In order to control inflammation in our body, we need an adequate supply of antioxidants, or free electrons. Grounding is the easiest way to get here.

HEALTH PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH INFLAMMATION
Research has shown that the following health problems can be directly linked to inflammation:
* high blood pressure, heart disease, arteriosclerosis
* a slowed down metabolism, which can lead to greater fat storage
* intestinal disorders
* problems with memory and cognitive decline
* deterioration of the eyes and AMD (also called AMD: Age-related Macular Degeneration)
* poor energy level and poor sleep
* chronic pain, including back pain, joint pain and fibromyalgia
* stress and adrenal exhaustion
* chronic fatigue
* allergies
* multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
* osteoporosis
* rheumatoid arthritis
* accelerated aging process

EARTHING REMOVES THE CAUSE OF INFLAMMATION
One of the main consequences of earthing is that free electrons flow into our body, which neutralize the free radicals. When this happens, the free radicals will stop attacking healthy tissue. In this way we remove the cause of many inflammations and the body is given the opportunity to recover.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES USUALLY CAUSED BY INFLAMMATION
Many studies have now been done into the causes of cardiovascular disease.
It is becoming increasingly clear that inflammation of the vessel walls is the cause of vascular complications with clots.
The large Jupiter trial showed a clear link between inflammation and cardiovascular complications, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. In technical terms: a relationship with an increased CRP level (C-Reactive Protein) as an indicator of inflamed endothelium (lining of the vessel wall).
Are you taking "blood-thinning" medication?
Consult with your doctor to see if the amount of medication is still correct. Earthing makes the blood flow better and the red blood cells clot less.

EARTHING, MANY POSITIVE EXPERIENCES
The many thousands of experiences of people who experienced earthing, and in particular to sleeping grounded, show that there are indeed improvements in the health problems mentioned above, which often have inflammation as a major cause. Sometimes these improvements are minor, often they are significant and sometimes they are spectacular!

EARTHING INFORMATION SOURCE
The US website www.earthinginstitute.net has articles on the effect of grounding on inflammation and explains the good and bad free radicals. It also explains that too many free radicals accelerates the ageing process and that grounding slows down the ageing process by, among other things, neutralizing the bad free radicals.