Negative Ions and Consciousness
by Jim Karnstedt
Your awareness is in the air...For centuries, yoga masters of the East
have taught that breath is life, and by altering the intake of air, one
could alter one's consciousness. The quality of the air we describe as
prana or life energy. Now,Western science has coined a name for at
least one aspect of that energy and called it "ions." More and more
individuals are finding that these tiny electric charges have a lot to
do with their awareness.
For the uninitiated, ions are charged particles in the air that are
formed when enough energy acts upon a molecule, such as carbon dioxide,
oxygen, water, or nitrogen to eject an electron. The displaced electron
attaches itself to a nearby molecule, which then becomes a negative
ion. It is the negative ion of oxygen that effects us most. Remember
that feeling you have experienced near a waterfall, or high in the
mountains? Those are two such places where thousands of negative ions
occur. They create an effect on human biochemistry. Some of nature's
other best known negative ion resources are air friction, lightning,
falling water, earth's radioactivity, and even evergreens and ferns.
The normal ion count in fresh country air is 2,000-4,000 negative ions
per cubic centimeter (cm3 is about the size of a sugar cube). At
Yosemite falls, you will experience over 100,000 negative ions per
cubic centimeter. On the other hand, the level is far below 100 per
cubic centimeter on Los Angeles freeways during rush hour.
Research on ions began in 1950's with Dr. Albert Kreuger, professor
emeritus of the University of California at Berkeley, and Dr. Felix
Sulman, professor of pharmacology at the Hebrew University in Israel.
Dr. Kreuger excited the scientific world when he discovered ions to be
biologically active, stimulating the production of the powerful
chemical serotonin of 5-HT. Serotonin is a very active neuro-hormone
which causes profound neural, glandular, and digestive effects
throughout the body. Tests show that positive ions increase production
of 5-HT; negative ions decrease the hormone level.
Dr. Sulman corroborated Kreugers' findings while studying positive ion
victims of the hot, dry Sharav winds in Jerusalem. He demonstrated
three effects of positive ion excess: irritation and tension,
exhaustion, and hyperthyroid response. Most of these conditions, along
with symptoms of depression, anxiety, headaches, and low energy
physical and mental functions, were shown to be alleviated or totally
eliminated by increasing the negative ion count in the air.
Negative ions break down serotonin and thereby give one a clear, alert
outlook with a higher awareness function. The primary reason for this
is the increased speed with which the nerve impulses can travel along
the synapses in the brain and the rest of the body.
"Negative Ions promote alpha brain waves and
increase brain wave amplitude, which translates to a higher awareness
level."
The metabolism is enhanced to create better utilization of nutrients
from our foods and vitamins, while our brain's intuitive, nonlinear
activities flow more smoothly.
Negative ions promote alpha brain waves and increase brain waves
amplitude, which translates to a higher awareness level. Those
ion-induced alpha waves spread from the occipital areas to the parietal
and temporal and even reach the frontal lobes, spreading evenly across
the right and left brain hemispheres. All of this creates an overall
clear and calming effect, benefiting meditation and concentration.
While ionization of the air is mandatory in many European and Russian
hospitals and workplaces, it has only recently come to light in our
country with the growing problems to toxic air in our urban
environments.
"The negative ion count per cubic centimeter at
Yosemite Falls is over 100,000. On the other hand the count is far
below 100 on the Los Angeles Freeways..."
Jan Stolwijk, of the World Health Organization, stated that, "there is
probably more damage done to human health by indoor air pollution than
by outdoor pollution." Most people spend 70% to 80% of their time
indoors!
The late William Radley, a Bay Area environmental health expert, coined
the term "orthomolecular architecture" opening up a whole new area for
designers and architects to consider, namely, the choice of building
materials that will not release toxic fumes such as formaldehyde and
hydrocarbons.
It may of been difficult to be an urban mystic in the past, but now, we
can look forward to environmental solutions that will aid us in
maintaining a more conscious and healthful life. Ionization is one of
our first major steps.
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