Alternative Medicine 4:
Grounding, a Key to Preventative Medicine

In this column we are exploring some of the exciting and interesting options that now exist in health care. Each issue we will focus on different aspects of alternative medicine, examining some of its basic tenets, some important issues involved as well as a closer look at specific therapies and treatments.

Preventative medicine is a cornerstone of wholistic (also spelled "holistic") health care. The personal growth movement, which teaches us ways of reaching our full human potential, has evolved as a part of alternative and preventative medicine. This includes the myriad of alternative therapies that focus on ways to stay healthy such as yoga and various exercises, massage therapy and other forms of bodywork, nutritional supplementation and natural remedies (not to mention natural foods and a healthy diet) and different forms of mind/body, emotional process work that focus on keeping us healthy emotionally, mentally and spiritually as well as physically.

What these, as well as the many other preventative and wholistic approaches to health, all have in common is a concept called grounding or being grounded. This is a common thread, that although may not necessarily be spoken of in all of these types of therapies, can nonetheless be seen running through them as an important tenet of each.

This concept of being grounded can perhaps best be understood when we think of the various native or aboriginal cultures that were (and a few of them still are) well connected to the earth, our ultimate source with which to be grounded. Or like an electrical appliance such as a simple light, we notice that it will not work unless the electricity running through it is well grounded, which also means to the earth. For otherwise there will be a short in the circuit and the light will not go on or perhaps it will go on briefly and then blink on and off intermittently.

Being grounded is being present, "being here now", being in one's body, being connected to the earth, being aware of oneself and oneâs surroundings. When grounded, it is difficult to be Îin denialâ and pretend something is a certain way versus as it really is. It is much more difficult to lye to oneself when grounded. A tree is grounded and trees with very deep roots into the earth are even more grounded. A mountain is grounded. The ocean and lakes are all well grounded. Humans rarely are grounded. When we say somebody "has their head up in the clouds" or "is clueless" as to what is happening around them, we know that person is not grounded. People are sometimes grounded when engaged in something important to them that requires a strong presence of being (being consciousness and very aware).

Similarly when we are well grounded we then are "centered" or "well-rooted" like a healthy plant and there is a flow of our vitality or life force running through us keeping us healthy and better able to cope with the many types of stress that we encounter each and every day. So being grounded ties in with good nutrition, regular exercise, emotional movement and positive mental attitude to keep our spirit happy and healthy and thus in a better position to deal with infections, physical injuries, emotional upsets and psychological stresses that we may encounter in life. Thus we can see the importance of this inherent concept of grounding or being grounded as a critical component of good preventative health care.