Grounding Sheets vs. Grounding Mat: Which Is Best for You?

Grounding, or earthing, involves making direct contact with the Earth's surface to absorb its electrons. If you are unable to practice outdoor grounding, grounding sheets and grounding mats use conductive materials to help you engage in grounding indoors. Read our article to learn more about grounding and how it can improve your well-being. We also discuss the differences between the two indoor grounding products.

What is grounding?

Grounding, also called earthing, is when you stand on the ground or come into contact with something grounded in the Earth. This can happen when you walk barefoot on grass, soil, or sand.

It is believed that the Earth’s electrical charge is negative due to the presence of free electrons. The direct physical contact may help absorb these electrons into the human body, which may help relieve inflammation and stress and improve your sleep patterns. However, the benefits of grounding need to be further explored by research and studies.

While lifestyle habits or busy schedules have made it impossible for some people to practice grounding, products like grounding bedsheets and mats can help you achieve the earthing effect indoors.

What are grounding sheets?

Grounding or earthing sheets are products that can connect your body with the Earth during sleep. Their fiber consists of a conductive material, which is usually silver or carbon. The bedsheet is connected to a wire that goes into a grounded outlet. Alternatively, it can be connected to an earthing rod that you can place outside. You can sleep directly on the sheet.

Benefits of grounding sheets

Grounding sheets offer some health benefits. An older study reports that sleeping grounded may help relieve pain in people who have been injured from sports activities.

In a case study from this report, a participant had chronic pain and swelling to the right knee, and certain activities, such as driving, aggravated their symptoms. They were treated with medications and physical therapy for a long time, and they also placed a pillow between the knees to lower their pain levels during sleep, but they didn't see a lot of improvement.

Sleeping grounded for six days helped reduce the pain by 50%, and they no longer needed to place a pillow between the knees. By the 12th week, the knee swelling had disappeared and the pain had reduced by almost 90%.

Another study found that grounding may also help improve sleep quality in people with dementia. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, it can cause sleep problems, agitation, and hallucinations, which can be difficult to treat.

Another potential benefit is that sleeping grounded may help improve digestion and make you feel more energized.

It must be taken into account that the studies on the benefits of grounding are limited and more research is needed to fully evaluate its impact on health.

What are grounding mats?

Grounding mats are portable products that mimic the experience of physical contact with the Earth when walking barefoot. Grounding mats tend to have carbon as a conductive surface material. This allows transfers of the electrons from the Earth to your body so that a neutral electrical charge is created. The mats come with a wire that connects to the electrical outlet's ground port.

You can use them anywhere. For instance, you can place them under your feet to practice grounding exercises while sitting on a chair. Alternatively, you can place the earthing mat under your arms when working on your computer or bed.

Benefits of grounding mats

Grounding mats also come with health benefits. A 2019 randomized-controlled trial studied how grounding mats can improve the well-being of massage therapists. A lot of massage therapists develop fatigue, anxiety, reduced sleep quality, and other health issues.

In the study, the participants installed a grounding mat under the massage table sheet and a bigger grounding mat surrounding the massage table.

The researchers report that the grounding mats helped:

• Relieve anxiety and depression
• Improve physical function
• Reduce pain levels
• Improve sleep quality

Studies also show that indoor earthing can be beneficial if you have an autoimmune condition. Earthing may help reduce your body's stress levels, which could reduce flare-ups. Your immune system protects your body from illnesses and infections as it fights bacteria and viruses. However, in autoimmune conditions, it mistakenly attacks healthy cells.

Grounding sheets vs. grounding mats: key differences

Below is a table that summarizes the differences between earthing sheets and mats:

Potential side effects

Indoor grounding might not work for everyone. For example, even though earthing mats can improve sleep quality and mental health symptoms, people with dementia may not experience any changes in their anxiety and depression.

The use of earthing products comes with risks as well. These include:

• Interactions with medical devices. If you have a pacemaker, you should ask your doctor if you can use indoor earthing products before making your purchase. Some devices, such as electric blankets, may pose little known risks; however, it's still advised to keep any antennae or motors at least 6 inches away from your pacemakers.
• Electric shock. An electric shock can happen if there is a wiring fault. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and contact the supplier if the product is damaged.
• Undertreatment. You should not rely solely on grounding if you have a chronic condition. Take your medication as instructed by your doctor, as stopping treatment without medical advice can be harmful to your body. The healthcare professional can also advise if you can use a grounding sheet or mat as additional therapy.

Grounding sheets vs. grounding mat: how to choose

There are some factors that you may have to consider when choosing indoor earthing products. These include:

• Maintenance. Earthing sheets require more maintenance, as they can be placed in a washing machine with regular bed sheets. If you have a busy schedule and are looking for something that requires less maintenance, you may opt for a grounding mat, as you can clean it with a cloth.
• Comfort. You can use an earthing sheet in bed for all-night use, so you can sleep in any position you’d like. With mats, you have to remain in a limited area, which may require the same positions for long periods, as they are placed either under your feet or arms. This can be tiring or uncomfortable for some people.
• Lifestyle. Both grounding products suit different lifestyles. If you are on the go, you may want to get an earthing mat. It is portable and easy to carry, so you can engage in grounding while you’re at work or a friend’s house. If you spend a lot of time in bed, a grounding sheet could be an option, as it's not so convenient to take to other locations.
• Space availability. Consider the space availability you have for indoor grounding. Bed sheets require a bed or a large sleeping area. Mats can be an option if you have limited grounding space availability, as they are suitable for compact areas.
• Medical conditions. Sheets can be suitable if you have pain and inflammation, while earthing mats can be beneficial for situational relief, such as stress reduction. A healthcare professional can help you choose one for your well-being.

Grounding products consist of high-quality materials to help the body connect with the Earth’s energy indoors. These can be beneficial to your well-being, as it can improve sleep quality and reduce pain.

When choosing grounding products, it may be a good idea to consider factors like maintenance, comfort, lifestyle, and health needs. You should also ask your doctor to help determine if indoor grounding is safe for your condition.

What do you make of this article? Have you ever used a grounding sheet or mat? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments section below!