Negative Ions and How They Might Help You

There are so many things happening right in front of your eyes but it turns out that you’ll never see them. These are the vibrational waves, light bending prisms, and floating particles that you move through every day but they remain invisible to your naked eye.

Negative ions are in the mix and may be something you want to increase. These compounds are found in abundance in places that usually make us feel good. So, naturally, scientists looked into their overall effects and found some remarkably positive results.

A Negative Good

Positive ions are the molecules that accumulate just before a storm and negative ions are the molecules that appear after a storm. Negative ions are also found in vast natural areas such as oceans, waterfalls, lakes, mountains, meadows and more.

The overall effect is that when you are among negative ions you feel good. It is one of the reasons, unbeknownst to them, that centuries ago it was recommended that invalids convalesce along the coastline. Some researchers believe that lack of exposure to negative ions could exacerbate or even cause depression.

This negative good used to be inexplicable, however today knowing how to harness this incredible natural power just may be what you need to rebalance, rejuvenate and recharge.

Natural Chemical Release

In lab studies it has been found that when people experience a rush of negative ions their brains respond by significantly reducing symptoms of depression, particularly during SAD, seasonal affective disorder.

In a study by JAMA Psychiatry (Journal of the American Medical Association) it was found that,

“High-density negative air ionization also appears to have a specific antidepressant effect. If the latter result is sustained in replications, the method may serve as an alternative or adjunct to light therapy and medications.”

WebMD reports that according to Pierce J. Howard, PhD, author of The Owners Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind Brain Research and director of research at the Center for Applied Cognitive Sciences in Charlotte, N.C.,

“Generally speaking, negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy,”

Depriving Negative Ions

Researchers studied the effect of negative ions on mice.

Nutrition Review reports on a study conducted at the Goldstein and Lewin Dept. of Medical Research in Stahnsdorf, Germany. Researchers,

“…isolated mice and rats in air-tight, sealed acrylic cases. Next, they filtered the ambient air to remove all negative ions from the sealed cases. Their research led to the discovery that a prolonged deficiency of negative ions led to an accelerated rate of death for the experimental animals.”

How to Gain more Negative

You can increase your negative ion intake naturally or through various devices however it is always best to start with nature.

Visiting or living near moving water areas is the best approach as this is where negative ions are most prevalent. Many people will admit that simply sitting near an ocean, river or lake makes them feel significantly better. Negative ions simply clear the air around us. This is why you can literally feel how cleansed the air is after a storm.

Some believe that these ions can actually rid the air of “dust, mold spores, pollen, pet dander, odors, cigarette smoke, bacteria and viruses.”

Even taking a shower produces a rush of negative ions which is why most feel better after taking one. It is also best to avoid too much air conditioning as these devices deplete negative ions and can make you feel sleepy.

Opening windows in your home can also increase these ions as well as purchasing specialized devices designed to increase negative ion production. It is important to note that some of these devices are overly expensive and may not be as efficient. Be sure to purchase an ionizer that has been approved in clinical trials and advertises a seal of approval.

Nutrition Review also reports that,

“…negative ions have a net positive effect on health, including improved mood, stabilized catecholamine regulation and circadian rhythm, enhanced recovery from physical exertion and protection from positive ion-related stress and exhaustion disorders.”

Get more negative ions in your life by increasing your trips into nature and keeping your home full of natural air flow. It could be a simple fix if you are struggling with the constant blues, fatigue, sleep issues or other related symptoms but just can’t figure out why.