Negative Ions and Health

Many brands of air purifiers now have built-in negative ion generators for better air purification and additional health benefits.

Features

• Joseph Marion, author of "Anti-Aging Manual: The Encyclopedia of Natural Health," explains that negative ion generators create negative ions by a corona discharge of 16,000 volts from a needle emitter, with no free electrons produced.

Types

• According to an article published June 2, 2003 on WebMD.com, positive ions carry a positive electrical charge and are emitted by equipment such as air conditioning units and computer monitors, while negative ions are generated by the ocean, waterfalls and rainfall and carry a negative charge.

Function

• According to Fred Soyka and Alan Edmonds, authors of "The Ion Effect," negative ions counteract the effects of positive ions, which are associated with sadness and suicidal feelings. Negative ions also neutralize airborne pollutants and cause them to drop to the ground.

Effects

• Negative ion generators have been found helpful against depression and allergies. According to Vijay Fadia, author of "Nature's Remedies," negative ions increase oxygen flow to the brain and have been found to elevate awareness, mental energy and mood in some people.

Expert Insight

• Studies led by Michael Terman, Ph.D., at Columbia University in New York determined that negative ions can relieve depression as effectively as antidepressant drugs, without the negative side effects.