Medical Hypotheses 5: 1071-1077, 1979

ELECTROLYSIS BETWEEN THE FEET AND THE GROUND

AND ITS PROBABLE HEALTH EFFECTS

A.A. Robinson, 16 Quayle St., Sandy Bay, Hobart, 7005, Tasmania

ABSTRACT

This paper describes experiments which show that a person with bare feet
on the groun or with conducting sole shoes, sets up between his feet a
redox cell(lQ and that current of a significant magnitude flows up one
leg and down the other. It suggests that this electrolytic activity
could have very wide significance in various aspects of health.

INTRODUCTION

The redox cell illustrates that the flow of electrons, to bring about
electron and chemical balance in a system, is possible along a wire.
Such a current flow can be measured by placing a micro-ammeter in the
circuit between the two half cells which are also connected through
a salt bridge. Fig.1.

Volt meter
e

e (i_
I
3
Fig.1. @ Pt Pt’ @
f, \
Salt bridge
w 7 r

_--- Cat ions

I Anions-- 1

Solution 1 Solution 2
\ L /

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This system can bring about the reduction or oxidation of various
chemicals. The rate at which this action takes place is governed
by the electrode potential of the particular redox system.

Oxidation in living cells serves important bodily functions, in providing

energy, and the transformation of dietary materials into cellular
constituents. Important effects may occur as a result of any natural
electrochemical activity between the feet and the ground by setting up
a redox cell e.g. the healing and maintenance of bone12).

This paper sets out to demonstrate that a possible reduction or oxidation

process of importance to bodily function exists between the feet and the
ground, and that the wearing of shoes with a sole of a non-conducting
material prevents natural current flow, and consequently prevents effects,
on bodily function, which would be caused by the natural current flow.

As in the redox cell, electron flow takes place up one leg and down the
other when both bare feet are on the ground; the feet acting as
electrodes and the ground the electrolytes.

Because of the nature of the ground the electrolyte under each foot must
be different; this presents a condition where electron flow takes place
as a natural function, thus the feet and ground form a redox cell.

The gradual change in the manufacture of foot wear over the years is
bringing about the wearing of more and more plastic soled shoes; a check
on these types of soles shows they have very good electrical insulating
properties, and therefore allow no current flow from the body to earth
or from earth to the body; leather soles however do allow a small
current flow but limited chemical exchange, and bare feet a considerable
current flow with corresponding chemical exchange, it is suggested that
this electrolytic action could cause chemical and metabolic changes in
the body with wide and significant advantageous effects. As an example,
the breaking down of uric acid in solution by the passing of very small
amounts of current is discussed. Assuming that this can also occur
within the body then it can be concluded that diseases stemming from the
build up of uric acid may be controlled by natural means.

INVESTIGATION

If there is to be chemical change due to electrolysis then there must be

a circuit through which current can flow. With both feet on the ground
there is a circuit, but the question is -"what causes current flow?".
It has occurred to the writer for some time that there is a possibility
that if a person were standing on the ground with bare feet an
electrolytic cell would be created and a natural current flow would occur,
and this could result in electrons and ions entering the blood via the
foot, and bringing about natural chemical change.

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To investigate this question two stainless steel pegs 12 inches long and
k inch diameter, an Avo model 8 multi-meter that measures in micro-amps
(uA), and a stop watch were used. When the two pegs were inserted in
the ground approximately 8 inches apart to an approximate depth of
8 inches and the multi-meter connected between them, set on the 50 uA
scale, a steady reading of 6 uA was recorded.

It was found that with slight movement of one peg the current increased
to 9.5 uA and faded to 5.1 uA in 30 seconds and 3.5 uA after 4 minutes.
On moving the other peg a change in polarity took place and similar
readings but with this reverse polarity were obtained; Fig.2.

Current can be
F ig.2.
a b made to flow in
either directior
by moving peg a
or b in the
ground, this
also increases
current flow
magnitude.

Maximum current
recorded
Stainless Steel Electrodes in Ground
110 uA

To check decay time of the current and voltage, peg "a" was moved up and
down until a current flow of 50 uA was obtained, readings were then taken
at intervals for a five minute period.

Fig.3.

'3;50
-501
2
5 LO - g0
t
0
5 30 -
.-
E
‘I:20 -
k - . . .
LIO -
3
I 5
*I *2 .3 4 .5 1
voits Ti& (iin)'

Current and voltage decay in 5 minute period from 50 uA.

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The final test in this position was the moving up and down of peg "a",
a maximum current flow 65 uA was obtained then moving peg 'lb", a maximum
current flow, with a change in polarity, of 60 uA was obtained.

Further tests were carried out with pegs at various distances apart,
from 2 inches to 6 feet. Readings varied according to the condition of
the soil from approximately 6 uA to 110 uA, + or -, when moving the pegs
up and down in the ground.

The questions remaining are:

(a) "Would the electrical resistance of the normal human body be too
great to allow current flow, say from one foot via the legs to the
other foot?", and

(b) "Can the foot act in the same way as a peg in the ground or a sheet
of stainless steel on the ground?".

To further investigate question (a), two stainless steel plates gl ued

either side of an insulator were made, one to go under each foot, the
current flow was then checked by connecting the meter across the
insulator, as shown in Fig.4.

When standing on the plates with plastic soled shoes there was no current
flow, but when standing on the plates in bare feet, current flow took
place up one leg and down the other; readings of 2 uA to 5 uA were
recorded on grass and 9 uA on garden soil.

Fig.4.

Stainless steel

i Perspex insulator

plates

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To investigate (b). This was checked by placing one peg in the ground
and holding the other wire from the meter in the hand as shown in Fig.5
"Cardiotrace Electrode Gel" to cut down the effect of electrolytic actior
between the hand and the lead-wire material was used on the hand holding
the wire; one bare foot was placed on the ground. A current flow of
35 uA took place. It would seem the foot on the ground differed not at
all from a peg in the ground.

Fig.5.

Stainless steel
Peg -

It is now reasonable to conclude that it is possible under natural

conditions for a current flow to take place in the body due to the bare
feet being in contact with the ground.

Although there may well be many electro-chemical changes taking place in

the body, only uric acid was selected for testing for possible break
down by current flow.

To carry out this test a constant current was passed through a saturated
solution of uric acid in deionised water using stainless steel plates as
electrodes as shown in Fig.6.

Fig.6.

Power
irr 0/
SUPPlY

Sludge formation
Electrodes

Uric acid
solution

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It was found by passing 20 mA through the solution that after 24 hours a
brown deposit was forming and building up in the bottom of the beaker.

This experiment was repeated using mild steel plates as electrodes and
a current of 10 uA (comparable to currents obtained in the earth current
experiments); similar results over a longer period were obtained.

CONCLUSIONS

The possible chemical change of uric acid solution by electrical current

has been discussed. It has been shown that natural current flow from
one foot to the other via the body, if the feet are bare or if conducting
soled shoes are worn does occur.

As shoes are worn from a very young age the building up of various
complaints could take place over a very long period.

It is suggested that if this natural current is allowed to flow it would

bring about far reaching effects in health generally, improvement in
bone structure, and help in controlling uric acid diseases, arthritis,
and nervous disorders.

The cost of a change over to shoes with conducting soles to allow current
to flow with its benefits to general health would only be small.

It is known that electrolytes break up,into positive ions and negative

ions. These ions are attracted to electrodes of opposite polarity
(e.g. positive ions are attracted to the negative electrode). An
electrolyte with positive and negative ions could exist under a bare
foot on the ground setting up a redox cell so that with the resultant
current flow to or from the ground via the foot ions could be
transferred into the blood.

To obtain the full benefit from electrolysis taking place the electrolyte
must be in contact with the foot. With this in mind a pilot experiment
with one subject was carried out over a 4 month period (test in progress).
Magnesium sulphate was sprinkled into leather shoes each morning
(leather being a conductor).

The subject (57 years of age, 228 lbs) lost 20 lbs in weight and
stabilized at 208 lbs. without diet or exercise programme, and with
a general improvement in health including breathing. It is appreciated
that this is only one test and therefore not conclusive but it certainly
does indicate that further tests should be initiated.

It is possible that various mineral salts required by the body may be

supplied by electrolytic means via the foot; also positive hydrogen
ions having great influence in the urinary and respiratory functions
may well be supplied into the blood via the feet from the electrolytic
process described above.

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Electrolysis occurring between a bare foot and the ground would almost
certainly cause chemical transfer to or from the foot.

If this were the case, to get the full benefit of any chemical exchange
due to electrolysis and current flow (when wearing shoes with conducting
soles) it may be necessary to incorporate certain chemicals in the soles
of the shoes e.g. disposable, chemically-treated inner soles could be
used.

REFERENCES

(1) "Chemistry a Structural View". D.R. Stanks, M.L. Heffernan,

K.C. Lee Dow, P.T. McTigue, G.R.A. Withers. - Page 307.

(2) "Time". February 5 1979 Electrical Healing - Page 68.

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