Negative Ions: More Than Just Stress Relief
A recent trip to the beach reminded me of just how good a little fresh air does you. My day had started out with a rough morning (allergies, and feeling groggy), but ended up developing into one of the most enjoyable days of the summer. This improvement in mood and energy, I knew, was directly tied to my environment. The fresh air was full of negative ions, and their therapeutic effects did not go unnoticed.
There is a difference between your normal, everyday air and actual “fresh” air. The air you breathe in your daily life mostly comes from buildings that can recirculate air hundreds of times each day. On the other hand, that fresh air you happily breathe in every time you visit a park, beach, or lake is packed full of negative ions that help you relax and feel alive.
Negative ions have long been associated with the feelings of increased energy, revitalization, and overall stress relief that I mentioned earlier. What isn’t as well known, however, is that negative ions can have a positive impact on other aspects of your mood, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and depression. With that said, I want to take some time to shine a little light on other effects negative ions can have on our overall wellbeing, aside from stress relief.
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a common ailment that can affect anyone; but there are a few types of people who can be more susceptible:
- Women
- Residents of areas with short winter days or varying amounts of daylight
- People between 15 and 55 years old
- Anyone who has a close friend or relative that is suffering from SAD
SAD usually occurs seasonally, beginning in the fall and lasting up until early spring. Typical symptoms include fatigue, moodiness, anxiousness, and irritability. Though the exact cause of SAD is not known, medical experts strongly believe that a lack of sunlight plays a major role. What’s interesting to note here is that summer air has been found to contain a significantly higher concentration of negative ions compared to winter air, which can be devoid of any negative ions. Using this information, it becomes apparent that negative ions could offset the symptoms of SAD if you’re exposed to enough of them.
Taking it further, we can even apply this therapeutic use to patients suffering from all types of depression. A study by the National Institute of Mental Health reported that close to 10 percent of the entire United States population suffers from some type of mood disorder like depression. That’s more than 21 million American adults!
Many forms of depression can run in entire families, though it’s not genetic. Symptoms typically include aggression, apathy, anxiety, trouble falling asleep, and restlessness, and they can either be major or mild. If exposure to negative ions provides benefits that cancel out these symptoms, how can you apply that to everyday life?
By wearing a band that constantly produces negative ions, you are effectively using an all-day solution to symptoms of SAD and depression… but without any of the negative side effects that can come from being prescribed antidepressant medication.
Do you know anyone who was suffering from symptoms of depression but improved after using an ion band? We’d love you to share your comments and stories below!
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