Earthing mat is making me ill !

[sunnyod]

Hi All


Sorry for the lengthy first post and use of any non-standard terminology. I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to electronics, hopefully I've done enough due diligence so I'm not asking anything too silly lol ?


I've bought a Grounding mat that plugs into the mains (earth wire only) which I use for grounding my body during the day and overnight. Problem is I'm waking up in the middle of the night and my I feel like i've got an electric charge wherever my body is in contact with the mat. I've only been using it for a few days so far and the seller is saying it'll pass, however i'm not sure. I'm also sometimes getting head & neck in the morning. It's a mat like this one... Grounding mats, Earthing Yoga and Fitness mat - https://www.groundology.co.uk/earthing/grounding-mats.


I've done a bit of research into this and found that it's possible that I've either got electro hypersensitivity, or there could be some electrical interference on the earth in my house (or maybe something else?). I've got a multimeter and have tried to compare the earth with a baseline source (earthing rod in garden) and I can't see much AC current coming off of it, but I do notice that it's frequency is 50hz (I'm in the UK), so maybe it's picking up some EMF or something not sure. I've tested all plug sockets with a socket tester and all seems to be fine, earth is working normally apparently. I've got a couple of options from what I can tell

1. Find out if the mains is faulty and fix that. Socket tester shows it's clean, so not sure if there's anything else I can do to test this?
2. Upgrade the cable that I'm using to connect the mains to the mat. Guess it would need to be shielded from EMF and also filter/block out any AC current that might on the mains earth and is leaking onto the mat
   Here is an example of a product that already does this and Video here, but I'm not sure what components would be needed to replicate this. Maybe it's a ferrite core to filter any leaking current? Any recommendations for what shielded cable to use? I guess it's not advisable to use something like speaker cable that can carry too much voltage, for safety reasons? Btw, I'm trying to save money otherwise I'd just buy the example cable above (I'm looking at a multi room setup so would work out a lot)
3. Fit a grounding rod like this one (3/8in (9.5mm) x 4ft (1200mm) Copperbond Earth Rod with Cable Clamp - https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/229310) and connect it with shielded cabling into the house
   Can I use thicker cable initially so I can split it and connect up a few rooms (then use thinner (safer) cables to join with connections to the mats)? Again, I'm guessing both types of cable would need to be shielded?

Thanks so much for any help guys! Reason I'm doing this is because I've recently found a skin melanoma and noticed that the EMF levels (high and low) in the house are really high. I'm trying to reduce them all as much as I can


Cheers


Sunny

 

[static zap]

Now there’s an experiment that needs a do not try at home warning!

Alternatively ,get yourself well insulated and gently touch a cheap metal cased touch dimmer lamp. Similar tingle with a little less risk !

 

[static zap]

I will come clean and admit -to being extra nervy in these Covid times.
Sniffing a roll of cheap new carpet , fitted in a friends flat .
Remembering USA RVs fitted out in Formaldehyde "cheap carpeting..."

( then I realised I was heading for that "looked it up on the Internet"
..nearly as good as checking the BAD reviews ...

My long time ago event ..was a Rash from a white settee ...

.. I'm beginning to get nervous and flighty ..like a prey animal ..

Rather than that Dominant Species .. armed with a flame thrower !
..Killing weeds in the garden. Stay positive -Assertive ..

 

[sunnyod]

@sunnyod

It is nice to see someone deliver on information and support on why they believe what they do, in looking at the links however...

Reading the study I find it still lacks in a control standard I would believe would be needed to gather any real results that are reliable...

-No of participants 8

-No of control groups 2

-Peer review time limit of 10 business days

-Peer review is classed as single blind IE we have no information on the reviewers or their impartiality here or their understanding of the subject they are reviewing, it is very easy to present a paper that is very convincing if there is a general lack of understanding on the subject matter by the reader,

-The company from which these papers were passed to for peer review also have a chequered history, in 2013 a sting was set up with deliberate false and intentionally flawed paper was submitted to them which they failed to realise and subsequently published it, this actually got their membership of the OASPA terminated and it wasn't for a couple more yrs until they provided proof that they had taken adequate steps to stop this happening again did they get their membership reestablished, I also add that this company also is a small entity in the scope of things having only approx 50 employees, now this on its own does not mean the review and publication of 'grounding' is in anyway a hoax or scam but all together as a combined list as above it does raise some serious questions on the whole subject matter.

What I would like to see is these papers been presented to larger organisations who allow extensive peer review periods to allow repeat experimentation and confirmation of results, also open peer identity so we have full transparency of reviewers, their field of knowledge and their credibility.

Any credible study of this would be done with hundreds if not thousands of subjects with a 3 point control method to rule out coincidence or subconscious influence that could easily occur in the above study.

What needs to be realised is that this kind of market place is worth millions and sometimes billions to certain people, groups and companies and it is not unheard of to see orchestrated scams been pulled, the recent incident with one of the world's most respected medical journal publishers Lancet and the New England Medical Journal regarding a study on hydroxychloroquine use for treatment of covid 19 hit the world last year as both groups retracted the papers and demonstrates the lengths some people go to for recognition, financial support or political motivation.

Amazing research done there bud. Thank you! I hear ya, yes it's very possible that this is a scam. It may seem to most like it's not worth much, but I can tell you a lot of people take credence with this stuff and it's easily worth millions. I didn't know that their membership at OASPA was terminated. I would have assumed they did their due diligence, but clearly not. Interesting...

So far my "proof is in the pudding" results are such:

1. Being able to get a FULL nights sleep:
Sleep appears to be deeper (subjectively so) but i am STILL waking up at 4-5am every night since I started nearly a week ago. I'm planning to take a night off of using the mat and see if I wake up, this week

2. Feeling more rested than I normally do
During the day I'm feeling tired still, it's about the same as normal. Given i'm not sleeping fully, it could be a good thing. I guess i want to get a full nights sleep while using the mat to get a definitive result on this

3. Having less 'brain fog' the next day due to the rest
Ties into 1 & 2, but I do feel sharper, but again this is subjective

4. Managing stress better (I'm a trader by trade so am used to a good amount of stress)
This is one thing that I can say has improved significantly. I'm not feeling as stressed whilst trading and am able to recover from negative emotions quicker than usual. Still this isn't something that can be assessed after only a week. So will keep track

5. Any other benefits are icing on the cake at this stage
I normally do yoga once a week and have wanted to increase this to 2-3 times per week. I've not been able to do it as i've got more than average muscle tension in the legs, so when I do yoga exercises on them I get really stiff the next day and i end up giving up and resting them. This week I've done yoga 2 times so far and have been able to push myself harder and haven't had as much leg tension. I'd say it's about 50% reduced compared with normal. Not sure if this is placebo, will monitor

Other thing I've noticed is stamina overall. I seem to be getting a lot more stuff done (physical and mental work).

Will keep an eye on this stuff and report back in about 3 weeks (after a month of usage)...

Cheers all for following along
S

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I've connected the speaker wire with the same skewer I used last night and have tested for continuity. There is still 100 megohm resistance as per the original spec of the cable that came with the mat.

Been away from the interwebs for a few days. This interests me. Please can you tell me about the 100 megohm resistance, where it is installed and which of your configurations it has been used with. E.g. is it built into the mat grounding cord? Please can you confirm that it is stated to be 100 megohms.

People, please let the OP respond to this before commenting further.

 

[sunnyod]

Hi Lucien. Yes the mat's cord has a 100 megohm resistor built in (not confirmed on website I purchased from but it's universally used in the DIY builds). I'm not 100% certain where in the cord it is located as I can't tell without cutting it open. I've seen it located closer to the side which connects to the earth on the mains on other peoples DIY build's however. This would make sense for this cord too as there is a 'banana plug' like pin on that side which might house it. See the image.

I don't suppose you know what the name of that pin is on the mat cord (I bought a female banana plug connector for the grounding rod extension wire but it's too small at 4mm. I think the pin is closer to 5mm)

FYI. I've not added any resistance onto the grounding rod extension wire as I believe the grounding mat resistance should be enough to protect me from any accidents. What do you think?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Are you familiar with the significance of a resistance in the order of 100 megohms?

 

[sunnyod]

Are you familiar with the significance of a resistance in the order of 100 megohms?

Nope. I'm assuming it would act like a fuse, but it's just a guess tbh

 

[sunnyod]

Hold up. I may have misquoted. It might be a 100k Ohm resistor as per this DIY guide...

Home-Made Grounding Device

Build your own Earthing Device cheaply and safely. Many health benefits, including sounder sleep, more energy and relief from chronic pain.

www.naturesplatform.com

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Please confirm what resistor is fitted to your cord. I would like to discuss its significance but it is important to get the numbers right, as the ratio between a kilohm and a megohm is the same as the ratio between an hour and six weeks.

 

[sunnyod]

Please confirm what resistor is fitted to your cord. I would like to discuss its significance but it is important to get the numbers right, as the ratio between a kilohm and a megohm is the same as the ratio between an hour and six weeks.

This is the exact mat that I bought but it doesn't mention the resistor value. I've sent them a tweet and will update when I hear back...

earthingLAB Desk Mat

Working on a desk is an arduous task. The postures and long working hours cause severe strains and fatigue too. Avail maximum healing power of earthing during those blatant work hours with Earthing LAB’s desk mat. Make a great surface for your arms to rest around your laptop or mouse while...

earthinglab.co.uk

Thanks bud!
S

 

[sunnyod]

This is the exact mat that I bought but it doesn't mention the resistor value. I've sent them a tweet and will update when I hear back...

earthingLAB Desk Mat

Working on a desk is an arduous task. The postures and long working hours cause severe strains and fatigue too. Avail maximum healing power of earthing during those blatant work hours with Earthing LAB’s desk mat. Make a great surface for your arms to rest around your laptop or mouse while...

earthinglab.co.uk

Thanks bud!
S

So I got a reply, they're saying it 100k ohm. I've confirmed this using the multimeter set to resistance and connecting it to both sides of the cable and also Clint Ober (the original creator of the first grounding mat) has confirmed that he uses 100k ohm on his mats

 

[Baulwall23]

If you think it's making you ill, disconnect it, roll or fold it up, and place it in the bin.
Then stay away from pseudo scientific drivel on social media or the internet, placed there by persons whose only interest is in parting you from your money.

Do you know The different between pseudoscience and real science? Because the grounding mat… is real science…. Studied for years… with research articles and clinical trials…. With results…. Positive results…..

 

[James]

Do you know The different between pseudoscience and real science? Because the grounding mat… is real science…. Studied for years… with research articles and clinical trials…. With results…. Positive results…..

Do you have a link to any of these studies?

 

[OnlQQker]

I can see where the OP is coming from with the Earth mat and skin melanoma.
Whether it works or not is another question, to me it sounds a bit like the rife machine approach How to Build Your Own Rife Machine or TENS Unit - https://eternalspiralbooks.com/how-to-build-your-own-rife-machine-or-tens-unit/



Personally if it was me I'd spend money on the food approach, I wish you well OP!

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Triterpene glycosides are characteristic secondary metabolites of sea cucumbers (Holothurioidea, Echinodermata). They have hemolytic, cytotoxic, antifungal, and other biological activities caused by membranotropic action. These natural products suppress ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov