Negative Ionization?Another Promising Therapy
Another promising new line of research involves the treatment of SAD by exposure to high-density negative ions. Negative ions are negatively charged molecules of air that occur naturally in the environment. Winter air generally contains a far lower concentration of negative ions than summer air. There is also evidence to suggest that the concentration of negative ions in the air may have an effect on serotonin levels in the brain. So it seemed reasonable to a number of researchers that enhancing the amount of negative ions in the air might also have a beneficial effect on winter depression.
Dr. Charmane Eastman, in her study of the effects of light on SAD (mentioned above), used a nonfunctioning negative ion generator as a placebo for her control group. Intrigued by this, Drs. Michael Terman and Jiuan Su Terman, psychiatrists at Columbia University in New York, decided to actually test the effect of negative ions on individuals suffering from SAD using a fully functional generator. Their double-blind, controlled test of low-density (10,000 ions per cubic centimeter) against high-density (2,700,000 ions per cubic centimeter) negative ion treatment made a surprising discovery.
As reported in the January, 1995 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 58% of those in the Terman study receiving the high-density negative ion treatment reported that symptoms of winter depression were actually reduced by 50% or more without any side-effects. The researchers concluded that "treatment with a high-density negative ionizer appears to act as a specific antidepressant for patients with seasonal affective disorder. The method may be useful as an alternative or supplement to light therapy and medications."
In a follow-up study by the Termans, according to an October 14th, 1998 report by ABC News, they "compared light therapy to treatment with high- or low-density negative ion emitters." The Termans "found that light-therapy patients did 30 percent better than those who got the low-density ions. Patients who got high-density ions did just as well as light-therapy patients, indicating that the high-dose ions might also be helpful in treating SAD."
A Columbia University spokesperson summarizes what has been learned so far about negative ions as a treatment for SAD. "Summer air, in contrast to winter air, is highly concentrated with negative ions. The negative ion machines we use are designed to mimic summer-like conditions by supplementing the sparse winter ion supply. We are finding that this evokes beneficial mood effects. Although the ions emitted from the machines are not perceptible to your senses, studies have indicated clear improvement in patients with winter depression."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This information come from internet, the point has nothing to do with this website, If a violation of your rights, please contact us, we will delete the information.
| 
