Ionic Air Purifiers

How Can Ionic Air Purifiers Interact With SAD? 

Below is some research that shows how ionic are purifiers can helps with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a cyclical illness characterized by depressed periods in fall and winter (beginning in October/November and subsiding March/April) which alternate with less depressed, non-depressed or even euphoric, moods during the long days of July and August. 

Ten million (6%) and twenty-five million (14%) Americans are estimated to suffer from SAD and S/SAD respectively. 80% of those suffering from SAD are women, with symptoms typically appearing in the third decade and premenstrual mood changes often worsening in winter months. 

Seasonal fluctuations in mood are common, but are far more severe among patients diagnosed with SAD. A study by Michael Terman PhD, of the New York State Psychiatric Institute demonstrates the extreme reactions of SAD patients many of whom become so depressed in winter that they can hardly function. In addition to depression, people with SAD suffer during the winter months from other symptons such as: 

• Decreased energy in the fall and winter. 
• Tiredness and fatigue 
• Appetite changes (usually increased appetite) 
• Weight gain 
• Carbohydrate craving 
• Difficulty concentrating 
• Sadness or anxiety 
• Withdrawal from family and friends. 
• Achiness and frequent infections

Ionic Air Purifiers:

Ionizers create negative ions in the air, similar to what happens to the air right before thunderstorm, or near a waterfall. It seems that they can remove air-born toxins.

In the magazine, "Whole Self", Spring 1991, an article appeared entitled "Ions and Consciousness". "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 affects us most. Remember that feeling you've experienced near a waterfall or high in the mountains? Those are two such places where thousand of negative ions occur. They create an effect on human biochemistry." "The normal ion count in fresh country air is 2,000 to 4,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter (about the size of a sugar cube). At Yosemite Falls, you'll experience over 100,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter. On the other hand, the level is far below 100 per cubic centimeter of Los Angeles freeways during rush hour."

Researchers Dr. Michael Terman (head of Columbia's Winter depression department) and Dr. Jiuan Su Terman conducted a study of the impact of negative ion therapy on people suffering from seasonal affective disorder (winter depression)--an illness that is often symptomatically indistinguishable from "all-year" depression; researchers believe that the biology of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is very similar to that of "all-year" depression, hence, the same antidepressant drugs (such as Prozac) are used to treat both. The study was conducted in double blind fashion and divided clinically depressed subjects into two groups. 

The subjects in the first group were treated for 30 minutes a day for 20 days with a low density ion generator that produced only 10,000 ions/cubic centimeter (the control group). The subjects in the second group were treated for 30 minutes a day for 20 days with a high density ion generator that produced 2,700,000 ions/cubic centimeter (the experimental group). The remission or "cure" criterion used was a 50% or greater reduction in symptom frequency and severity using the SAD version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The results of this study shocked the medical community: While a low density negative ion generator provided little benefit, a high density negative ion generator gave relief from depression comparable to that given by Prozac and other antidepressants, without drug side effects.

Most recent research points to a genetic link, for it would appear from statistics that more than two-thirds of SAD patients have more than one family member who are affected.