Earthing, or grounding, is an essential part of maintaining health and wellness. I’m going to show you how to properly set up an earthing mattress cover and demonstrate how to verify its functionality using a voltmeter. Grounding is about creating a direct connection between your body and the Earth, which can reduce exposure to harmful electromagnetic fields (EMF) and improve overall well-being. Let’s dive into the process step by step.

The first thing you’ll need to do is check your outlet for proper wiring. The earthing mattress cover comes with a ground checker plug designed to make this easy. Plug it into the outlet, and if two orange lights illuminate, it indicates the outlet is wired correctly. However, it’s important to note that this tool does not verify the quality of the ground itself. That’s a step we’ll address later using a voltmeter. For now, the orange lights confirm that your outlet is configured to accept the grounding cable. If you ground with the outlet and feel ill (i.e., grounding detox), then stop using the outlet to ground, and use an outside grounding rod.

Next, plug the earthing cable into the grounded port of the outlet. This cable serves two purposes: it grounds the mattress cover and acts as a ground connection for your voltmeter during testing. With the cable in place, your mattress cover is now grounded, but let’s confirm everything is functioning as expected.

I like to use a Trifield EMF meter for this next step. This device measures electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in volts per meter, allowing us to see the levels of EMF present around the mattress cover. Sitting on the cover, I’ve noticed that the EMF field is incredibly low, which is what we want. Some online videos claim that grounding mats pick up EMFs like antennas, but my testing shows this is not the case. The EMF levels remain steady, hovering around 3 to 4 volts per meter—remarkably low.

To further demonstrate this, I brought a fan close to the bed. Fans often generate significant EMFs, and the meter confirmed a spike in readings when placed near the fan. However, when I moved the meter back onto the mattress cover, even with the fan running, the levels dropped back to around 8 volts per meter. This proves that the grounding mat does not amplify EMF exposure but instead helps maintain low levels. If your mat shows unusually high EMF levels, it could indicate that the outlet is not properly grounded, and you should investigate further or use a grounding rod instead of the outlet to ground.

This brings us to a critical point: the three-prong outlet checker only confirms that the outlet is wired correctly. It does not verify the quality of the grounding connection. For that, we need a voltmeter. Specifically, I use a voltmeter capable of measuring alternating current (AC) voltage in millivolts. This tool helps us see how much voltage our body carries and how grounding reduces it.

Here’s my setup: I connect the black lead of the voltmeter to the earthing cable using an alligator clip. This establishes a connection with the grounded port of the outlet. My body, while wearing shoes, typically shows around 2.8 volts of AC electricity. However, when I touch the earthing mat, that number drops dramatically to about 133 millivolts. This significant reduction in voltage illustrates how effective grounding can be. You should see at least a 90-95% reduction in EMF-induced AC voltage on the body when using a grounding mat, sheet, or product.

An important note: I don’t sleep directly on the conductive mat. Instead, I place a 100% cotton sheet over it. Despite this layer, my body voltage still drops to approximately 190 millivolts when lying down. As I continue to lay on the mat, the voltage decreases further due to factors like perspiration and body heat, which enhance conductivity over time. This demonstrates the long-term benefits of sleeping grounded.

There’s been some debate on forums about whether devices like grounding mats cause bad EMF exposure. To test this, I placed my EMF meter near an iPad. As expected, the EMF levels spiked when I touched the iPad, showing high readings of around 160 to 170 volts per meter. However, when grounding on the mat, my body voltage dropped significantly, even with the iPad nearby. This experiment highlights the protective effects of grounding against external EMFs, especially from electronic devices and 50/60 Hz EMF (i.e., extremely low-frequency EMFs).

Grounding isn’t just about reducing EMFs; it’s also about improving overall health and well-being. By connecting to the Earth’s energy, you can experience better sleep, reduced inflammation, and increased energy levels. Sleeping on a grounded mattress cover creates a safe environment that minimizes your exposure to harmful EMFs and promotes restorative sleep.

For those who want to dig deeper into the science behind grounding, I’ve created a video and written an article that explains the research and peer-reviewed studies supporting this practice. As a physician, I take a cautious approach to health recommendations. I’ve reviewed the data extensively, and grounding has shown consistent benefits in clinical studies. If you’re curious about the evidence, check out my video for a detailed discussion of the science and citations.

Many people use their home outlets to ground. Roy Cooke, a former master electrician, has conducted over 4,000 home inspections in Canada, and his findings are alarming: only about 50% of the homes he inspected were wired correctly. This statistic highlights a significant concern for those who rely on grounded outlets for their earthing practices.

While many believe that grounding through electrical outlets is safe—citing personal experiences and endorsements from earthing companies—Cooke’s findings suggest otherwise. A substantial number of homes have outlets with stray electrical currents in the ground, posing potential risks. To complicate matters, outlet testers are often unreliable, providing false assurances about proper grounding.

Given these issues, those experiencing serious electromagnetic field (EMF)-associated symptoms should consider switching to an outdoor grounding rod. Grounding directly with a rod reduces the risk of exposure to stray currents, which can flow into grounding devices through improperly wired outlets.

As one of the administrators of the Earthing & Grounding HEALS forum for over five years, I have observed an interesting trend: individuals who report “detox symptoms” from grounding often use outlets for grounding. Symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, brain fog, heart palpitations, and insomnia appear to be linked to EMF exposure rather than the grounding process itself. Conversely, such detox symptoms are rarely reported by those who practice earthing barefoot on natural ground. A poll generated 152 responses in less than 12 hours. People polled reported the following as of 29 DEC 2024: 1% experienced detox symptoms with barefoot earthing, 4% had detox symptoms using a grounding rod, 43% reported detox symptoms using the outlet, and 52% reported no detox symptoms. The majority of people experiencing detox symptoms are using the outlet to ground.

This pattern suggests that grounding detox may be a response to mild EMF toxicity rather than an inherent effect of grounding. While some people adapt to this exposure over time and experience the benefits of grounding despite mild EMF toxicity, others do not. For these individuals, the high levels of stray currents or EMF exposure in improperly wired outlets exacerbate their symptoms, leading to continued discomfort.

In light of these findings, it’s clear that using an outdoor grounding rod is a safer and more reliable alternative for those seeking the health benefits of grounding. Ensuring proper grounding is essential, particularly for individuals with heightened sensitivity to EMF or those experiencing persistent symptoms. For optimal health and safety, grounding practices should prioritize direct connection with the earth whenever possible.

Here are the key takeaways:

• First, improperly grounded earthing devices can introduce electricity into your body, making symptoms worse instead of better.
• Second, ensure your outlets are properly grounded, but don’t rely solely on outlet testers because they can be incorrect a significant portion of the time.
• Third, shared grounding systems in apartments or homes can introduce stray electricity from other appliances, so an outdoor grounding rod or connect to a metal cold water pipe are better solutions.
• Finally, if you continue to feel ill while using a grounding product with an outlet, stop using it and switch to a rod-based system.

In conclusion, setting up an earthing mattress cover and verifying its functionality is a straightforward process that can have profound effects on your health. By following the steps outlined here, you can ensure your grounding setup is effective and safe. Remember to test your outlet with a ground checker plug, verify grounding quality with a voltmeter, and enjoy the benefits of reduced EMFs and better sleep. If you found this guide helpful, please share and subscribe. Your support means a lot to me, and I’m excited to share more health and wellness tips with you in the future.