The air that we breathe has positive and negative ions. Ions are atoms that have acquired an electrical charge by gaining or losing an electron. Positive ions make us feel tired, irritable and cranky. Negative ions make you feel refreshed and can dramatically improve your mood.

In nature there is a balance of positive and negative ions in forests, fresh country air or near water. These ions are produced by storms, wind, humidity, waterfalls, water lapping on the beaches, the radioactivity of the soil and blowing sand or dust. The dry blowing sands or dust generate more positive ions and are sometimes referred to as the ill winds or witches wind because we don't feel as well when they occur. On the other hand, anytime there is falling water such as rain, or impending rain, waterfalls, or your filtered shower, and even the lapping of water on the beach, the negative ion ratio goes dramatically up. These environments may have a ratio of 2000 negative to 1000 positive. We flock to the beaches and we feel a sense of well being standing near a waterfall. The same holds true in pine forests. This live environment doesn't have the same pollution level of major cities.

Cities create an imbalance of ions in favor of positive ions. The amount of concrete, steel, car exhaust, industrial fumes, synthetic materials, metal around air conditioning ducts, all absorb the charges of negative ions. The minimum amount of negative ions needed for humans to function properly is about 1000 per cubic centimeter and for a real sense of well being a ratio of 2000 negative and 1000 positive seems to create the right affect. In a big city environment the negative ion count can be 100 per cubic centimeter or less with the positive ions out the roof.

Have you ever noticed how you feel when you leave the big city and head out to the country or leave on vacation to a beach or cabin in the woods? The stress starts to melt away and a sense of well being can come over you. Getting away to a new environment can be very therapeutic but you are also getting a good dose of negative ions.

A Russian team headed by A. L. Tchijevski discovered that negative ions actually kill germs and that ionizing a closed environment would sterilize the air. Negative ions attach themselves to germs, kill them, and they fall to the ground where they can then be vacuumed up.

Negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain according to Dr. J. Howard PHD and this leaves us more alert and refreshed. You may have experienced this for yourself when you are tired and sluggish but feel refreshed right after opening a window and taking a deep breath or feeling a sense of calm being outside after a warm summer rain. Everything about the air smells different after a rainfall.

The original Indians lived in harmony with the land and living with nature was considered a green song. But it was when the colonies arrived and built their vast cities that the Indians would consider the cities black and alien to nature. They were right when it comes to the fact that it displaces the negative ions.

Newer homes built today are meant to keep air out and air conditioning and heating in. Great for your power bill but a perfect environment for an overdose of positive ions. It can really make you sick. Open the windows and let the fresh air in whenever you can and when that is not possible then get hold of a good quality air ionizer and even an ionic foot bath. You'll feel better for it.