The modern world, full of pollution and electronic devices, is a positive ion prison. Since everything in nature seeks balance, positive ions naturally seek a negative charge. Ironically, it is these negative ions that have a positive effect on human health.
Understanding the iconic ion
The process of ionisation is a natural phenomenon and can be found in sunlight, thunderstorms, lightning, and natural radiation. The aurora borealis is another beautiful manifestation of the same.
Positive ions are called cations and negative anions. The environment generally must have a balance of both, but unfortunately, modern-day developments have upended this balance leading to an increase in the positive ions. Avoiding cations is near impossible as they are continuously generated by electromagnetic devices like computers, laptops, mobile phones, and fluorescent lighting.
Constant exposure to them can cause tension, irritability, anxiety, depression, lethargy, and even allergies and asthma. Fortunately, negative ions have a contrary effect, with evidence suggesting that they are extremely beneficial for health.
Better health with anions
Negative ions are found in abundance near moving water like waterfalls, waves, and rain, due to the Lenard effect. They are also created by the friction wind causes when blowing through trees, which is why a walk in the park or on the beach lifts a depressed mood and energises the body.
So, what happens when this negative ion meets technology?
Negative ion technology eliminates the ill effects of positive ions by discharging molecules with an extra electron into the air. Although more research is required, current studies demonstrate that there are a plethora of health benefits of negative ions.
The most important being mental health. Over 970 million people in the world are affected by mental health disorders. Anxiety is the most common globally impacting 284 million people and depression is most prevalent in India impacting 45.7 million people. Anions have proven1 helpful in treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). They reduce serotonin levels in the blood, which affects mood for the better and even provides pain relief.
Moreover, they are known to regulate sleep patterns. Given that 57.2%1 of people in India experience poor sleep quality since the pandemic, negative ion technology is on the path of becoming indispensable.
An empirical study investigating the influence of negative air ions on performance and mood found that people have faster reaction times and feel significantly more energetic under negative air ion conditions compared to normal air.
Furthermore, negative ions strengthen the body’s immune system. When there are more negatively charged ions in the blood, it increases the efficiency of the metabolic processes of a cell. They also boost collagen production, the function of autonomic nerves, and the capacity to absorb oxygen.
(source: the science hive)
Negative ions bring a breath of fresh air
One of the biggest health benefits of negative ion technology is its ability to improve air quality. Particulate matter, which includes solid and liquid particles like soot, smoke, pollen, dust, and pet dander, is a significant air pollutant. These can be easily inhaled and are detrimental to human well-being.
Some cause irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat, while others can get lodged in the lungs or enter the bloodstream leading to more serious risks. For people with allergies and asthma, particulate matter can be especially inimical.
Negative ion technology not only removes this particulate matter and allergens, but it also reduces volatile organic matter emitted by household products like cleaning supplies, furnishings, and paint.
Research says negative ion exposure can increase cilia activity too. Cilia are the tiny organelles in the windpipe that prevent airborne particles from passing into the lungs. Thus, negative ions help breathe fresher air and improve overall health.
In addition, negative ion technology is instrumental for hospitals and clinics as it is an effective tool to manage the spread of diseases. Studies suggest that electron technology can eliminate airborne viruses and germs to a very high degree by purifying the air and sanitizing surfaces.
In the wake of the pandemic, a good negative ion generator is a valuable resource to reduce disease transmission and slow the spread of infection not just for medical facilities but also for homes and institutions.
Plug in for Health and Wellness
In today’s digital age, the average person is surrounded by computers in the office and appliances at home. On average, they spend four hours on their smartphone every day. Combine them all and it makes for a lot of unhealthy positive ions. Yet, unplugging and taking time away is not an option for most people.
Plug-and-play negative ion generators save the day by removing the debilitating effects of excessive positive ions. From increasing the sense of well-being to bringing mental clarity, the technology can do wonders for mental health if only we use it.
A device like Instashield produces thousands of negative ions in an enclosed space that help boost overall wellness and fights against viruses like SARS and CoV2.