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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on September 18, 2004, at 17:40:24
I've heard some studes that suggest negative ions lower serotonin, and I have read other studies that suggest negative ions raise serotonin ?
I'm not sure what to make of it. Am I counteracting my SSRI or adding to its effects by using a negative ion generator??
Linakdge
Posted by Larry Hoover on September 19, 2004, at 9:02:43
In reply to Negative ions raise serotonin or lower it ???, posted by linkadge on September 18, 2004, at 17:40:24
> I've heard some studes that suggest negative ions lower serotonin, and I have read other studies that suggest negative ions raise serotonin ?
>
> I'm not sure what to make of it. Am I counteracting my SSRI or adding to its effects by using a negative ion generator??
>
> LinakdgeThere's blessed little about negative ionizers in the literature, and I wouldn't be worried too much about a mechanism. Whether or not serotonin is involved in the effect is a distraction. It seems that negative ionization is effective, at least in seasonal affective disorder. The issue, as raised in the article link, and inferred in the two-arm, high-low ion densities in the clinical trial, is the effective concentration of negative ions. I don't know how you'd be sure you're getting what you pay for if you purchase an ion generator.
Lar
http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/65/72756.htm?printing=true
J Altern Complement Med. 1995 Jan;1(1):87-92.
Treatment of seasonal affective disorder with a high-output negative ionizer.
Terman M, Terman JS.
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
This study was designed to evaluate the antidepressant effect of negative ions in the ambient air as a potential treatment modality for seasonal affective disorder. Twenty-five subjects with winter depression underwent a double-blind controlled trial of negative ions at two exposure densities, 1 x 10(4) ions/cm3 or 2.7 x 10(6) ions/cm3, using an electronic negative ion generator with wire corona emitters. Home treatments were taken in the early morning for 30 min over 20 days, followed by withdrawals. The severity of depressive symptoms (prominently including the reverse neurovegetative symptoms of hypersomnia, hyperphagia, and fatigability) decreased selectively for the group receiving high-density treatment. Standard depression rating scale assessments were corroborated by clinical impressions. When a remission criterion of 50% or greater reduction in symptom frequency/severity was used, 58% of subjects responded to high-density treatment while 15% responded to low-density treatment (chi 2 = 5.00, df = 1, p = 0.025). There were no side effects attributable to the treatment, and all subjects who responded showed subsequent relapse during withdrawal. 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.
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