Going barefoot is free and significantly reduces chronic pain and inflammation.

Crazy as it may sound, going barefoot on the earth connects and charges you to the natural supply of free electrons that are on the surface of the earth.

Inflammation, as reported by professionals, is the foundation of many diseases including autoimmune diseases and oxidative stress. Initially, the inflammation process occurs to destroy pathogens and repair injured tissues in the body.

It is the chronic inflammation in conditions such as chronic pain, cancer, arthritis, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and quite possibly all disease processes that causes the detrimental overproduction of free radicals. These free radicals are positively charged molecules and seek out negatively charged ones. When operating properly, the free radicals take away the negative electrons from bacteria and unhealthy tissues. This is how the body breaks down damaged tissue cells before ridding it from the body.

When chronic inflammation is present, the free electrons are not present to shut off the production of free radicals. These free radicals start attacking and take away the electrons from normal, healthy tissues. These now damaged cells alert the immune system to fight off what it thinks is an ongoing attack from pathogens (autoimmune response).

Now, the free radicals are signaled to be released creating a harmful, unhealthy cyclic, destructive process #- chronic inflammation.

In “The Inflammation Cure,” the author, William Joel Meggs, MD, PhD, states that inflammation may be the Holy Grail of medicine, storing the secrets to sickness and health.

Dale Teplitz, MA, in the article, “Going Barefoot May Be The Most Important Health Discovery Ever,” reports that teams of scientists including medical doctors, electrical engineers and biologists have discovered that when you stand on the earth with barefeet, a continuous flow of free electrons flow from the earth to the body.

It is thought that this flow

of free electrons could be the main antioxidants that decrease the free radicals that create inflammation in the body.

So, when you tip toe through the tulips, make sure you do it in barefeet.

One hour at a time is recommended to obtain significant reduction of pain and inflammation. It doesn't cost anything and just may be the best thing for you #- only you can tell.

Karen Fitzgerald, of Auburn, is a local occupational therapist. She can be reached at kmfot@yahoo.com