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NEGATIVE IONS - FACT OR FICTION |
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By Diana Johnston If I had been asked a few weeks ago what I thought of the benefits of negative ion generators, I would have said I was - like many people - open-minded but somewhat sceptical. Then, at the beginning of May, I came down with the severe influenza that was sweeping through my home city. I needn't describe the awful symptoms, everyone knows how drained and miserable a flu sufferer feels. One of the worst aspects was lack of sleep due to constant coughing and nose-blowing. Work became impossible and I was exhausted. A friend suggested I borrow her ELANRA ioniser and in desperation, I agreed. I set it up on my bedside table, less than a metre from my face. For the first time in almost a week, I slept like a baby - no coughing, no stuffy nose, no sweats or nightmares. After a few nights, the flu symptoms had abated and I felt well and relaxed. All around me, family and work associates were complaining of relapses from this highly contagious virus. "I just can't shake it off," they kept saying. "How did you recover so quickly?" When I told them, most were disbelieving, but it didn't matter. I was experiencing that happy glow that comes from having made a wonderful discovery. It was then I began to research the subject of the connection between negative ions and living organisms and to turn up some fascinating information. Most of us will have heard of a negative ion generator or 'ioniser'. They have been available since the 1930's and have been used throughout Europe, the Middle East, the Orient and the former Soviet Union in medical and general applications. It was discovered that a high concentration of small negative ions lowered infection rates in patients at risk, decreasing blood clotting and the need for pain killers while accelerating healing. The effect on asthma patients was particularly impressive, and even those without specific ailments claimed remarkable benefits in energy levels and well-being. These 'wonder machines' fell out of favour in the last twenty years, ironically because technological advances rendered them ineffective. Until about 1970, ionisers produced small negative ions by exactly replicating the earth's breakdown of radon, their source being the radioactive isotope Tritium. Since the use of radioactive materials could be dangerous, an electronic circuit was developed using capacitors and diodes, and this system is found in all modern ionisers. Sadly, they don't live up to expectations, since the large ions produced are not biologically active. The new ionisers were shown to quickly lose their effectiveness - and the public lost confidence in the whole concept. This was the state of things in 1985, when an Australian, Joshua Shaw, who had been working with ionisers since 1968, began eight years of intensive research. He was determined to discover why the performance of modern ionisers was so unreliable and to develop a state-of -the-art machine. The result - the ELANRA - exceeded his wildest dreams. Let's look at some of the facts uncovered by his investigations. What ARE Ions? Ions are nothing more than atoms that have gained or lost an electron. Every molecule in nature resembles a tiny solar system, with a nucleus of positively charged protons orbited by negatively charged electrons. The much lighter electrons are easily forced out of orbit, upsetting the stability of the molecule. When a molecule loses an electron, it becomes a positive ion, and when the displaced electron joins the orbit of another molecule, that once-stable molecule is now known as a negative ion. In the air around us, this is a continuous and natural process. Friction caused by winds, rushing water and lightning will produce both positive and negative ions. In addition, radiation from the sun and from the earth's crust also result in the continuous formation of ions. A healthy natural ion level exists in the countryside, which explains why hiking, skiing or just breathing fresh air outdoors makes us feel so good. The pollution found in city air is not merely a collection of dust, smoke and other toxic substances - measurements taken with an ion electrometer will show the urban atmosphere is also severely lacking in ions. But more seriously, the ratio of negative ions to positive is low. And while we continue to cover the earth with roads, concrete and buildings, the earth's natural generation of ions is also inhibited. Studies in Russia found that air completely devoid of ions could not support life. Small laboratory animals perished within days of being placed in ion-free environments. It was concluded that ions are necessary for animals to absorb the oxygen needed to sustain life. But it is the balance of positive to negative ions that is crucial to optimum health and well-being. In study after study throughout the world, scientists have found that higher levels of positive ions produce negative effects on all living things, while increased levels of small negative ions have measurable beneficial effects. The "Witches Winds" Folklore has long linked the action of certain winds to unpleasant effects on human behaviour and health. "Witches Winds" are found on every continent - the Santa Ana winds of California; the Foehn in Switzerland; the Sharav in the Middle East; the French Mistral and the Italian Sirocco. In Australia the southern states experience unpleasant and debilitating Northerlies, while New South Wales and Queensland have their infamous Westerlies. Blamed for asthma, fatigue, insomnia and allergies, - even accidents and suicide - these stress-causing winds dramatically increase the air's ion count, with positive ions far outnumbering the negative. In the late 1950's, Dr Felix Sulman began a study in Jerusalem to discover why the Sharav made people sick. His research revealed that victims of "wind sickness" were producing up to 1,000 percent more serotonin than normal, and that serotonin-blocking drugs or negative ions provided fast relief. Coincidentally, at the same time Professor Albert Paul Krueger, Emeritus Lecturer in Medicine at Berkeley's University of California, was carrying out a year-long study on the effect of negative ions on common bacteria. His amazing results showed that even a small number of negative ions quickly killed the airborne bacteria, which prompted him to continue research into the ion phenomenon. Over the next few years, his experiments with mice kept in an atmosphere of high positive ions showed that their blood levels of serotonin increased, leading to exhaustion and infection, while those exposed to a high negative ion atmosphere showed a reduction in serotonin and appeared healthy and invigorated. The action of serotonin is only partially understood, but it's known that as a neurotransmitter, it carries nerve impulses throughout the body and is involved in the processes of sleep and immune function. It's interesting to note that the ion-depleted air producing illness in Dr Krueger's mice was comparable to ion concentrations in many urban areas. "Sick Building" Syndrome Recent studies have shown that the indoor atmosphere of modern homes can be even more detrimental to health than smoggy city streets. Man-made environments, be they homes or workplaces, are rife with synthetic fibres and electronic equipment, plus heating and air conditioning units - all of which produce an abundance of positive ions. Dr Lesley Hawkins, a lecturer in Human Biology at the University of Surrey, was the first to conduct investigations into what has become known as "sick building syndrome". He found that more than 60 percent of workers in new office buildings complained of nasal congestion, frequent headaches or nausea. His research showed that air conditioning systems in these new buildings removed virtually all negative ions from the air. Following the placement of negative ion generators in selected areas of the interior, the complaints of exposed workers dramatically decreased in number and frequency. Could it be that the recent unprecedented rise in respiratory disease and especially asthma, is related to our constant exposure to 'dead', or ion-depleted air? At the Pavlov Institute in Russia, scientists conducted an incredible 30 years' research into various treatments for asthma. Being aware of the potential benefits of negative ion exposure, they included this in their experiments. The results were astounding, showing that 85% of patients obtained relief: 35% reported a reduction in symptoms, while an amazing 50% claimed to be completely cured! Size Does Count! However, there's a most important factor to consider when investigating the benefits or otherwise of negative ions. Remember Professor Krueger and his experiments with mice? He concluded that only some negative ions can be inhaled and that large ion particles seemed to produce no benefit. This is consistent with the findings of Dr Elphick at the ANU in Canberra, whose research proved that there are small, medium and large negative ions. By the time Joshua Shaw funded Dr Deborah Graham's four years research at La Trobe University in Melbourne, science was hot on the trail of the elusive beneficial negative ion. After years of painstaking experimentation, results showed conclusively that only small negative ions can be inhaled, and that these do in fact enhance the function of the human immune system, increasing levels of Immunoglobulin-A. Now Joshua Shaw understood why earlier electronic ionisers were ineffective - they only generated large negative ions which, while they 'sweep up' dust, pollen and smoke from the air, are unable to be inhaled and so cannot produce a biological effect. These ionisers are thus only useful as 'air cleaners'. Most of these earlier machines had also been manufactured cheaply, using ion-generating needles of inferior quality metal which deteriorated rapidly. Such a machine soon ceases to produce any negative ions at all and the user is disappointed and discouraged. The stage was now set for the development of the ELANRA - the world's only therapeutic negative ion generator. A Revolutionary Breakthrough Joshua Shaw completed the design and development of the first ELANRA ioniser in 1992. This new machine could only be described as a revolutionary breakthrough in the long history of the use of negative ions for improved health. For the first time, users could safely breathe in small, biologically active negative ions exactly as nature intended. The ELANRA's success has been unqualified, and Mr Shaw's office filing cabinets are brimming with enthusiastic testimonials from users around the world. They tell of relief from problems as diverse as asthma, insomnia, chronic fatigue, migraine, mood swings and chemical sensitivity. Most report that colds and flu are a thing of the past, and that relaxing sleep with vivid inspirational dreams is now a nightly experience. Joshua Shaw's research had indicated that too many negative ions could prove as ineffective as too few, so his ELANRA was designed with a very advanced microprocessor to control the exact output of ions. In addition, the needles generating the ions are produced from a specially developed new alloy which gives a longer life and are fitted into housings lined with 22k gold. The machine even tells its owner - via a warning light - when the needles need replacing, and this can be done at home, without the machine needing to be returned for service. It is also the only ioniser capable of being programmed to the specific needs of the user, incorporating 72 possible configurations. In Tune with the Earth Perhaps the greatest benefit of the ELANRA is its ability to modulate frequencies down to as low as 10Hz for relaxation and meditation - and the magical 7.83Hz - the Shumann Resonance, the earth's own 'brainwave'. Dr Robert Beck, the father of Electro medicine, wrote in the The Archaeous Vol. 4 1986: "It has been speculated that frequencies in the 7.83Hz range may be the universally permeating 'clock frequencies' or carriers on which 'mind' or 'consciousness' states can be impressed and in which they may interact with other life-forms in the nebulous realms of ESP, psychotronics, distant healing, radiesthesia and related paranormal phenomena." Dr Beck, a physicist and engineer, and winner of the Felzer Institute Award for electro-medicine, has a special interest in ionisers. He has designed several himself and has a personal museum of 20 or so, dating from the 1950's. He came across the ELANRA at a Chicago health symposium and later wrote to Joshua Shaw: "I was frankly amazed at the efficiency and performance of the ELANRA... since I had fully expected another marginal or useless device typical of the disappointments displayed at the same show... the ELANRA is an exceptionally effective, state-of-the-art ioniser." Dr Beck adds that he was so impressed that he now personally owns and uses two of these units. How Safe is the ELANRA? It has been demonstrated over and over again that artificially induced electrical fields are as effective as the earth's own natural ions, since electricity is a universal form of energy, not dependent upon life. When you breathe small negative ions into your lungs, they enter your bloodstream, and this ingestion has never been shown to produce any adverse effects. In fact, new benefits are constantly being discovered. In 1992 Dr Michael J. Norden, a psychiatrist and clinical associate professor at the University of Washington purchased an ELANRA ioniser as a possible alternative to treating patients with powerful drugs. He later wrote in his book Beyond Prozac: "Ionisation therapy shows tremendous potential without safety concerns." He recommends negative ion therapy in the treatment of depression, mood disorders and manic depression. The appendix of his book names Bionic Products, the American distributors of ELANRA, as the only recommended source for ionisers. The ELANRA has been classified as a Therapeutic Device by the Australian Department of Health and is currently undergoing trials in the USA by the F.D.A. Here are a just a few more user's comments, all of which I personally read from Joshua Shaw's files: "After two weeks of purchasing the ELANRA, I have had no sinus or allergy problems.." "I can highly recommend the ELANRA to anyone who has a child with Downs Syndrome." "The health benefits are enormous. My lung capacity was only 55% and is now 84%." "I got great relief from asthma and hay fever." And from a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy: "My general well-being improved immensely...nausea disappeared, along with mouth ulcers and skin discolouration." Perhaps the last word on the ELANRA rightly belongs to the inventor, Joshua Shaw, who says succinctly, "Breathe negative - feel positive. If you're sick, you need one, and if you're well, you deserve one." |