Negative Ion Therapy For Dysautonomia?

[jbrian00]

Is anyone here familiar with negative ion therapy? According to what I've read, negative ions can help balance the autonomic nervous system. Can anyone comment about this?

James

[ajw4790]

Hi,

Just curious to where you ran across this? Have you found any reputable literature on it? I have not really heard of it before, and quickly looked it up. It seemed like it was one of those things that companies put out there with no proof behind their claims. What I saw looked more like a scam. I would be interested to know if there had been any published research on this topic and to what they may have found within different populations.

Because of the basis of dysautonomia etc. I do not see how anything like this would be very beneficial. It seems to be barking up the wrong tree. But, who knows... there are so many reasons etc. behind all of this...

[jbrian00]

Actually I first learned about negative ions after researching air purification systems, many of which contain ionizers in them. After reading about some health claims, I decided to look into it a little deeper to see if there was some science behind it.

There are some reputable sources for the positive effects of negative ions, but you have to keep in mind that research has been limited on the subject, and the clinical trials that have been done have been aimed at treatment for Seasonal Affectation Disorder (SAD). it seems like the Japanese have studied the subject a bit more in depth than here in the US.

Some sources I've come across include:

http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/nega...-positive-vibes

http://www.cet.org/ is a non-profit organization that has conducted clinical trials using negative ions

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/163/12/2126 contains some details of clinical trials

http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/2006...105A0879383.php contains a study in Japan about negative ions and autonomic nervous system balance

http://www.static-sol.com/library/articles...n%20effects.htm -- effects of negative ions on Serotonin

http://www.negativeionsinformation.org/ -- general information about negative ions

http://www.kiflow.com/info/ions.html -- sells bracelets but quotes some studies

http://www.therichwaybiomat.com/negative-ions.html -- this site sells negative ion "biomats" but they quote studies that have been performed. Most interesting is "Dr. Tanaka (a scientist in Japan) found that negative ions control the balance in the autonomic nervous system between the insulin and adrenal functions. This provides strong resistance to diseases."

http://www.nutritionreview.org/library/negative.ions.html -- effect on Serotonin and catecholamine levels

http://www.negativeiongenerators.com/negat...nsresearch.html

I've only had a brief look at negative ion therapy, but there does seem to be some sound science behind it. But yes, I would agree that companies do inflate their claims quite a bit in order to sell their products.

James

[pat57]

I checked out those links. Do you know if a fountain would create negative ions?

I am one of the people (they mentioned) that feels much improved after a thunder storm. I am setting up the water fountain- I have stored.

[Guest tearose]

If I recall correctly, and I will check my old appliance file;

I had purchased two large Ion Therapy units about 12 years ago when they first came out. I was hopeful it would help me.

True I too feel better after a thunderstorm but did not know that a by product of these units was ozone or a ozone type gas. I knew something was wrong after a week because I started to have trouble breathing. Like asthma, like when I was a flight attendant and had trouble at 38,000 feet.

So, read the information carefully.

I had to send those expensive units back minus a hefty re-stocking charge.

good health wishes,

tearose

[jbrian00]

I checked out those links. Do you know if a fountain would create negative ions?

I am one of the people (they mentioned) that feels much improved after a thunder storm. I am setting up the water fountain- I have stored.

A little water fountain in your home is not gonna create negative ions. You need something like niagara falls lol Or of course a negative ion generator.

If I recall correctly, and I will check my old appliance file;

I had purchased two large Ion Therapy units about 12 years ago when they first came out. I was hopeful it would help me.

True I too feel better after a thunderstorm but did not know that a by product of these units was ozone or a ozone type gas. I knew something was wrong after a week because I started to have trouble breathing. Like asthma, like when I was a flight attendant and had trouble at 38,000 feet.

So, read the information carefully.

I had to send those expensive units back minus a hefty re-stocking charge.

good health wishes,

tearose

Yes, you do have to be careful and look for units that do not produce ozone as a byproduct (or at least a unit well below the FDA's ozone emission threshold). Not all ionizers produce ozone or emit enough ozone to cause adverse symptoms like you mentioned.