Friday, August 31, 2018

What Is Bile Duct Cancer?

What Is Bile Duct Cancer?

Cancer starts when cells in the body start to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can spread to other areas of the body. To learn more about how cancers start and spread, see What Is Cancer?

Bile duct cancer starts in a bile duct. To understand this cancer, it helps to know about the bile ducts and what they normally do.

About the bile ducts


color illustration of the digestive system which shows the location of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, rectum, colon, small intestine, gallbladder and liver
The bile ducts are a series of thin tubes that go from the liver to the small intestine. Their major job is to move a fluid called bile from the liver and gallbladder into the small intestine, where it helps digest the fats in food.

illustration showing the location of the common bile duct, liver, pancreas, pancreatic duct, ampula of vater, duodenum, gallbladder, cystic duct, right hepatic duct, left hepatic duct and common hepatic duct

Different parts of the bile duct system have different names. In the liver it begins as many tiny tubes (called ductules) where bile collects from the liver cells. The ductules come together to form tubes called small ducts. These merge into larger ducts and then the left and right hepatic ducts. All of these ducts within the liver are called intrahepatic bile ducts.

The left and right hepatic ducts exit the liver and join to form the common hepatic duct in an area called the hilum. Lower down, the gallbladder (a small organ that stores bile) is joined to the common hepatic duct by a small duct called the cystic duct. This combined duct is called the common bile duct. The common bile duct passes through part of the pancreas before it joins with the pancreatic duct and empties into the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum) at the ampulla of Vater.

Types of bile duct cancers by location

Cancer can start in any part of the bile duct system. Based on where the cancers are (see the picture below), they're grouped into 3 types:
  • Intrahepatic bile duct cancers
  • Perihilar (also called hilar) bile duct cancers
  • Distal bile duct cancers
Another name for bile duct cancer is cholangiosarcoma.
 

illustration showing the location of the common bile duct, intrahepatic bile ducts, perihilar bile ducts and distal bile ducts in relation to the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and duodenum (intestine)
Cholangiosarcomas in these different groups cause different symptoms.

Intrahepatic bile duct cancers

These cancers start in the smaller bile duct branches inside the liver. Sometimes they're confused with cancers that start in the liver cells, which are called hepatocellular carcinomas , which are often treated the same way.

Perihilar (also called hilar) bile duct cancers

These cancers start at the hilum, where the left and right hepatic ducts have joined and are just leaving the liver. These are also called Klatskin tumors. These cancers are grouped with distal bile duct cancers as extrahepatic bile duct cancers.

Distal bile duct cancers

These cancers are found further down the bile duct, closer to the small intestine. Like perihilar cancers, these are extrahepatic bile duct cancers because they start outside of the liver.

Types of bile duct cancer by cell type

Bile duct cancers can also be divided into types based on how the cancer cells look under the microscope.

Nearly all bile duct cancers or cholangiocarcinomas are adenocarcinomas, which are cancers that start in glandular cells. Bile duct adenocarcinomas start in the mucous gland cells that line the inside of the ducts.

Other types of bile duct cancers are much less common. These include sarcomas, lymphomas, and small cell cancers. Our information does not cover these other types of bile duct cancer.

Benign bile duct tumors

Not all bile duct tumors are cancer. Bile duct hamartomas and bile duct adenomas are examples of benign (non-cancer) tumors.

Other cancers in the liver

The most common type of cancer that starts in the liver – much more common than cholangiosarcoma – is hepatocellular carcinoma, which starts in cells that form the liver.

Cancers that start in other organs can spread to the liver. These are called liver metastases or metastatic cancer to the liver. Their outlook and treatment are not the same as cancer that starts in the liver (such as hepatocellular carcinoma) or bile ducts (like cholangiocarcinoma), but instead depend on where the cancer started. For this reason, it’s important to know whether a tumor in the liver started in bile ducts (is a cholangiocarcinoma), or whether it's made up of cancer cells that started in another organ (like the colon) and spread to the liver (is metastatic cancer).

Key Statistics for

Bile Duct Cancer


Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) is rare. About 8,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with it each year. This includes both intrahepatic (inside the liver) and extrahepatic (outside the liver) bile duct cancers. But the actual number of cases is likely to be higher, because these cancers can be hard to diagnose, and some might be misclassified as other types of cancer. 
Bile duct cancer is more common in Southeast Asia, mostly because a parasitic infection that can cause bile duct cancer is much more common there.

Parasites that

can lead

to cancer

Certain parasitic worms that can live inside the human body can also raise the risk of developing some kinds of cancer. These organisms are not found in the United States, but they can be a concern for people who live in or travel to other parts of the world.

Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis are liver flukes (a type of flatworm) that have been linked to increased risk of developing cancer of the bile ducts. The bile ducts are tubes that connect the liver to the intestines. These infections come from eating raw or undercooked freshwater fish. They occur mostly in East Asia and are rare in other parts of the world.

Schistosoma haematobium is a parasite found in the water of some countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Infection with this parasite (an illness called schistosomiasis) has been linked to bladder cancer. Possible links to other types of cancer are now being studied as well.


Bile duct cancer can occur at younger ages, but it's seen mainly in older people. The average age of people in the US diagnosed with cancer of the intrahepatic bile ducts is 70, and for cancer of the extrahepatic bile ducts it's 72.

The chances of survival for patients with bile duct cancer depend to a large extent on its location and how advanced it is when it's found. For more on this, see Survival statistics for bile duct cancers.

Survival Rates

for Bile Duct

Cancer


Survival rates are often used by doctors as a standard way of discussing a person’s prognosis (outlook). Some people may want to know the survival statistics for people in similar situations, while others might not find the numbers helpful, or might even not want to know them.

When discussing cancer survival statistics, doctors often use a number called the 5-year survival rate. The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Of course, some of these people live much longer than 5 years.

Five-year relative survival rates, such as the numbers below, assume that some people will die of other causes and compare the observed survival with that expected for people without the cancer. This is a better way to see the impact of the cancer on survival.

To get 5-year survival rates, doctors have to look at people who were treated at least 5 years ago. Improvements in treatment since then may result in a better outlook for people now being diagnosed with bile duct cancer.

There are some important points to note about the survival rates below:

These statistics come from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER program and are based on people diagnosed with bile duct cancer in the years 2000 to 2006. SEER does not separate these cancers by AJCC stage, but instead puts them into 3 groups: localized, regional, and distant. Localized is like AJCC stage I. Regional includes stages II and III. Distant means the same as stage IV.
SEER also does not separate perihilar bile duct cancers from distal bile duct cancers. Instead, these are grouped together as extrahepatic bile duct cancers.

Intrahepatic bile duct cancer

Stage5-year relative survival
Localized15%
Regional6%
Distant2%

Extrahepatic bile duct cancer

Stage5-year relative survival
Localized30%
Regional24%
Distant2%
 
Survival rates are often based on previous outcomes of large numbers of people who had the disease, but they can’t predict what will happen with any particular person. Many other factors can also affect a person’s outlook, such as their age and overall health, and how well the cancer responds to treatment. Even when taking these other factors into account, survival rates are at best rough estimates. Your doctor can tell you how the numbers above apply to you, as he or she knows your situation best.

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Bile Duct Cancer


Bile duct cancer starts in the bile ducts, which are thin tubes between the liver and the small intestine. The ducts move bile (a greenish-brown alkaline fluid that aids digestion) from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine, where it helps digest the fats in food.


Image result for bile duct

Depending on where it's located in the bile duct system, cancer is classified into three types:
• Intrahepatic bile duct cancers
• Perihilar (also known as hilar) bile duct cancers
• Distal bile duct cancers


Image result for bile duct


Related image

Nearly all bile duct cancers are called cholangiocarcinomas (composed of mutated epithelial cells). Most of these are adenocarcinomas, which are cancers that start in glandular cells. Bile duct adenocarcinomas develop from the mucous gland cells that line the inside of the duct.

Image result for bile duct


Bile duct cancer can affect your body in many ways. As part of the digestive system, bile ducts help digest food properly. If cancer spreads to the liver, the chemical balance of the body will be disturbed.

Bile Duct Cancer Causes & SymptomsCauses & Symptoms

of Bile Duct Cancer

Researchers do not know the exact cause of most bile duct cancers. However, there seems to be a link between these cancers and things that irritate and inflame the bile ducts — bile duct stones, choledochal cysts, parasites, cirrhosis of the liver, or something else.

Bile duct cancer does not usually cause signs or symptoms until later in the course of the disease, but sometimes symptoms can appear sooner and lead to an early diagnosis. Bile duct cancer symptoms include:

• Jaundice
• Itching
• Light-colored / greasy stools
• Dark urine
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite / weight loss
• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting

Who Gets Bile Duct Cancer Who Gets Bile

Duct Cancer

The average age of people diagnosed with cancer of the intrahepatic bile ducts (within or originating in the liver) is 70, and for cancer of the extrahepatic bile ducts (situated or originating outside the liver), it is 72.

Bile duct cancer is more common in men (13 cases per 100,000 people) than women (4.4), and among Asian / Pacific Islander (20.8 for men), Hispanic (19.5) and American Indian / Alaska Native (18.5) populations.

Bile Duct Cancer PrognosisPrognosis if You

Have Bile Duct Cancer

For treatment purposes, doctors often use a simpler system based on whether or not cancer can likely be removed (resected) with surgery:
• Resectable cancers are those that doctors believe can be removed completely by surgery.
• Unresectable cancers have spread too far or are in too difficult a place to be removed entirely by surgery.

Generally speaking, most Stage 0, I, and II cancers and possibly some Stage III cancers are resectable. Most Stage III and IV tumors are unresectable.
However, this also depends on other factors, such as the size and location of cancer and whether a person is healthy enough for surgery.

The 5-year relative survival rate for intrahepatic bile duct cancer:
• Stage I – 15 percent
• Stage II and III – 6 percent
• Stage IV – 2 percent

The 5-year relative survival rate for extrahepatic bile duct cancer:
• Stage I – 30 percent
• Stage II and III – 24 percent
• Stage IV – 2 percent

What is naturopathic medicine?

Naturopathic medicine is an approach to health care that uses natural, non-toxic therapies to treat the whole person and encourage the self-healing process. Naturopathic clinicians treat a variety of conditions, including digestive issues, sleep disturbances and chronic fatigue syndrome.
As part of the supportive therapy services we offer, our naturopathic oncology providers may suggest therapies to help support normal metabolism and digestion during cancer treatment and help manage side effects, such as nausea or fatigue.

As part of the intake process, you may choose to meet with a naturopathic oncology provider, who will review your history and make suggestions from a wide variety of natural therapies. Your naturopathic oncology provider also will review current supplements to identify potential herb-drug-nutrient interactions.
Other natural therapies our naturopathic medicine team may suggest include:
  • Herbal and botanical preparations, such as herbal extracts and teas
  • Dietary supplements, such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids
  • Homeopathic remedies, such as extremely low doses of plant extracts and minerals
  • Physical therapy and exercise therapy, including massage and other gentle techniques used on deep muscles and joints for therapeutic purposes
  • Hydrotherapy, which prescribes water-based approaches like hot and cold wraps, and other therapies
  • Lifestyle counseling, such as exercise, sleep strategies, stress reduction techniques, as well as foods and nutritional supplements
  • Acupuncture, to help with side effects like nausea and vomiting, dry mouth, hot flashes and insomnia
  • Chiropractic care, which may include hands-on adjustment, massage, stretching, electronic muscle stimulation, traction, heat, ice and other techniques


Since I said goodbye to my things :12 Benefits

1. I have more time.

Your time is limited, so do not waste it living someone else's life. ~ Steve Jobs

2. I enjoy life more.

My life itself was become my amusement and never ceased to be novel. It was a drama of many scenes and without an end. ~ Henry David Thoreau

3. I have more freedom.

It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything. ~ Tyler Durden, Fight Club.

4. I no longer compare myself with others.

When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you . ~ Lao Tzu

5. I stopped worrying about how others see me.
 
You're the only one who's worried about your face. ~ Ichiro Kishimi And Fumitake Koga. KIRAWARERU YUKI (COURAGE TO BE DISLIKED)

6. I'm more engaged with the world around me.

Whatever you do will be insignificant , but it is very important that you do it. ~ attributed to MAHATMA GANDHI

7. I can focus better. I can concentrate on being me.

I'm as proud of what we don't do as I am of what we do.  ~ Steve Jobs

8. I save money and I care more about the environment.

To be smart enough to get all that money you must be dull enough to want it. ~ Gilbert Keith Chesterton

9. I'm healthier and safer.

A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need top be happy? ~ Albert Einstein

10. My interpersonal relationships are deeper.

 The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive. ~ Albert Einstein.

11. I can savor the present moment.

The distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion. ~ Albert Einstein

12. I feel true gratitude.

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is. ~ attributed to ALBERT EINSTEIN




 

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Pumping Iron at 80

On a recent summer vacation, I ended up playing golf with Don. I complimented his tee shot, which went about 180 yards right down the middle of the fairway. Click here to continue learning the full true story . (Page 83)

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

The Vitamin Cs of Successful Aging

Growing old vs. aging: The 5 Cs to successful aging .

Most of us are aware that people are living longer today. There is, in fact an intense hunger for knowledge on how to successfully age. One of the cornerstones of this philosophy is realizing that you can separate aging (a largely physical process) from growing old (a largely attitudinal process).

Aging reflects the relationship of time on our being. Aging describes, in large part, the state of our body. Old, on the other hand, describes our state of mind.

Look around you and you will see the role spirit and attitude play in relationship to the concept of being old. Do you know any 75 year-olds that act like they’re 35? Do you know any 40 year-olds that act like they’re 80? If you answered “yes” to either question you are affirming the attitudinal and spiritual source of what separates those who are aging from those who are old. This distinction was described by Paul the apostle in his letter to Corinth where he stated, "though our outward man perishes, our inward man is renewed day by day."

There is no denying the effects of time on our bodies. Though we can slow certain physical impacts we cannot prevent them altogether. Hair turns gray or falls out. Skin wrinkles. Senses can begin to dull as can short term memory. As George Burns once quipped, "you know you're getting older when everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt doesn't work."

Choosing to live an engaged life until the day we die is no accident; it is the purposeful and intentional discipline of those souls who choose to live every day they are living. They are not in denial of the inevitability of death; they simply have chosen to not give it a head start.

Attitude is the rudder that steers our ship in this journey called life. Release the rudder for a single day and you can sense a sort of existential seasickness. Release it for a week and you will drift aimlessly or be tossed upon the rocks. Release it for any longer period and shipwreck is inevitable.

In observing the forever young, forever passionate and forever engaged, I have come across five internal focuses and patterns that constitute what I refer to as the vitamin C's of successful aging because all the words that describe them happen to start with that letter and like vitamin C, provide essential energy to our lives: Refer as the attitude instrument -- that which steers our lives safely through the existential seas of fulfilled and pleasurable living day by day.
  • Vitamin C1: Connectivity — Many people disconnect themselves from important social networks when they retire and don’t realize it until it’s too late. Be sure you stay connected to people and places you love and enjoy. A study conducted at the University of Michigan found that in retirement, psychological well-being increases for some individuals and decreases for others. the researchers analyzed variables of physical health, income level, traumatic life experiences in recent years, age, gender, and other factors that might affect the psychological well-being of an individual. They found that the most powerful predictor of life satisfaction right after retirement was not health or wealth but the breath of a person's social network.
Why do people retire and immediately move away to a place where they have no social connectivity? Not only are they disconnecting from a major lifeline in the science of successful aging, they might also find out they are annoyed with the accents and culture into which they moved. It might be wise to spend some time doing reconnaissance on the geography and culture where you plan on staging the next act of your life. many people disconnect themselves from important social networks when they retire and do not realize it until it is too late.

Stay connected to people you love, people you enjoy, and people who appreciate you and see value in your presence. Longevity does not favor the Lone Ranger. Both long life and happiness are tied to the quality of your connections.
  • Vitamin C2: Challenge — Just because you are retired, doesn’t mean you should stop using your brain. Being intellectually challenged literally has the effect of a finger in the dike holding back the degenerative processes leading to both Alzheimer’s and dementia.
The latest Alzheimer's research demonstrates that being intellectually challenged and having predictable taxation on our mental acuity literally have the effect of a finger in the dike, holding back the degenerative processes leading to both Alzheimer's and dementia. This research also concluded that as we hot our 50s and beyond, there is an exigency on ensuring that we have riddles to ponder, problems to solve, and things to fix. The human brain is a muscle that atrophies without use. If you don't exercise and use it, daily, you loose it, overtime. One gentleman told me that after six(6) months of retirement, he could literally sense the dulling in his cerebral muscle with signs of slowed thinking and sluggish articulation.

"I decided to go back to college part-time when I reached age 62 and study psychology for no other reason than that I was curious about it. I've always wanted to get a better understanding of human behavior and I figured this was one step toward getting it. When I started classes, I was amazed at how many people were there in my age group. I guess I am not the only curious grandma out there. I spent my career in business management. I got my fill of that. Now I feel like I'm in the middle of an electric storm. My mind is on full alert. I am in awe of some of the things I am learning. I have these intriguing conversations with younger people and just doing this makes me feel like I can go anywhere and do anything."  -- Grandma Georgia, student

The pulsating vein of life that Georgia has tapped into, along with a growing contingent of mature citizens, is growth. I hold kittle hope for the aging individuals who live with the delusion that they have "seen and heard it all." Those who have curiosity racing through their brains are guaranteed an exciting existence. Curiosity fuels both optimism and hope. Lifetime learners have the attitude that their  quality of life will rise with their application to learning. this older entrance into new realms of education is, and will continue to be, a growing trend with the end of retirement as we know it. more and more retirees are moving to university towns instead of retirement villages.

It is important to note that a job of some sort may be the most important source for cognitive demands because it is a primary source of mental stimulation. "Remember the old adage, 'We become what we do?' People whose jobs promote self-direction, use of initiative, and independent judgment tend to boost their intellectual flexibility -- that is, their ability to use a variety of approaches in order to solve mental problems." ~ Successful Aging.
In short,
  • Vitamin C3: Curiosity — Don’t ever stop exploring or asking questions. Curiosity is critical to surviving and thriving, especially if you are retired. Think you’re too old to go back to school or learn a new skill? Think again—being inquisitive can be the difference between getting old and aging.
  • Vitamin C4: Creativity — A creative soul looks at the shoreline and sees something new everyday. This might help explain why B.B. King still tours, and why Peter Drucker was able to write a business best-seller in his 90s. You may not be a world-class musician or best-selling author, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore your own creativity.
  • Vitamin C5: Charity — A woman in her 70s had more money than she could ever hope to spend but no charitable interests. Her financial adviser challenged her to look around her city for places she might like to make a difference. As a result, she had more adrenaline than ever. It doesn’t require money to live charitably — just concern, generosity and discovering the joy of self-transcendence.

A Sense of Mastery

 What exactly is personal mastery?
It is self-reliance.

What exactly does it take to become more self-reliant and shift your life into a higher state of confidence and healthy, active living?
Three important factors come into play( interplay):

1. An opportunity to undertake a specific action that challenges one's sense of self-sufficiency without overwhelming it.

2. The presence of supporting and reassuring others.

3. The experience of succeeding at something with confirming feedback from others.

A sense of confidence works on the same dynamics at any age. We imagine ourselves doing something. We muster the courage and abandon our inhibitions to try it. We look for feedback for our efforts from the people around us. A historical pitfall of aging is the narrowed radius of the comfort zones that can control a person at age 65.
"I have never done that," 'I do not know anything about computers," and "I am too old to start that now" are examples of verbal indicators that the fossilizing process is already under way. The fact that you often hear 50-year-old people making such statements is proof that "old" can start at any age.

The MacArthur Foundation  study concluded that the three indicators of successful aging are:

1. Avoiding disease and disability.

2. Maintaining mental and physical function.

3. Continuing engagement with life.

More than 10 years later, the findings of this landmark study still apply. many factors come into play in order to age successfully. The physical intellectual, social, and spiritual aspects of our being must be attended to equally if we hope to hold back the hands of time. We can readily observe the effect of not attending to one or more of these areas in the lives of people we know who practiced such negligence. It does not take long for the aging process to kick into high gear if we let down our guards of discipline and purposefulness.

The first key to aging successfully is to take an interest in yourself. It does not take long in the company of elderly people to figure out which ones are feeling sorry for themselves and which ones are extracting every ounce of life's possibilities. Those who succeed are self-respecting enough to keep their bodies fit, their minds challenged n and their hearts engaged.

Figure out how old you truly are in mind and body, and introduce yourself to people who are defying the so=called limitations of age. These individuals have not bought into the idea that they need to move aside for the next generation -- or anyone else for that matter. They will leave the race when they are good and ready.

Monday, August 27, 2018

Know Body You

CLICK HERE TO REDISCOVER 

Know Your Body

YOU is a real-time simulation of the human body and a ever growing platform that is all about your body and your health. Additional devices, features, and content will be continuously added to expand and build upon your ability to enjoy and learn about YOU. It really is all about YOU. 

Sunday, August 26, 2018

What’s Your Real Age?

You know your calendar age, but how old is your body? Created by top doctors, the RealAge test can change your life. Click here to Look Inside.


First Step

Do you know what lifestyle factors are making you older than you really are?

The RealAge assessment will identify what's truly aging you then offer personalized recommendations on how you can lower your body's health age.

All you have to do is answer a few questions. Simple, right?

Health, Feelings , Diet, Fitness.

Are you ready to live
healthier and grow
younger?

I encourage you to start by assessing your body’s RealAge®, just like I did.
 
A plan to get younger
 
RealAge arms you with information on the lifestyle choices that are affecting your body’s age. Take years off your RealAge with personalized plans to increase your energy, improve sleep, and create a happier, healthier life!
 

How Your Diet Can

Help Ease

Inflammation


Maintain a healthy, balanced diet to reduce pain associated with chronic inflammation.

1 / 5

Healthcare providers agree that inflammation may be the root of most diseases, including chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory gut disorders, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, obesity and certain cancers. So, what causes inflammation and how can you stop it?

Anti-Inflammatory

Diet Tip: Nuts

When you nosh on walnuts, almonds and other nuts, you're dipping into a goldmine of anti-inflammatory goodness. Nuts are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, phytonutrients and flavonoids. But remember to go easy on this jackpot. Nuts are also high in fat and calories. A small handful a day is all you need to help lower inflammation, cholesterol and blood pressure. As a bonus, they're great sources of fiber and protein, which can help you feel full longer and maintain a healthy weight.

What Do Experts Say?
"Almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, walnuts and every other type of nut are nutritional treasure troves, rich in healthy fats and phytonutrients," says dietitian . "Each type has its own particular virtue. For example, Brazil nuts are so rich in the mineral selenium that just one nut more than covers your daily allowance for this cancer-fighting mineral."

"And a shout-out to seeds—sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, chia and flax. They're also rich in healthy fats and phytonutrients!"

How Should You Eat Them?
Nuts can go rancid quickly, so store them in airtight containers in your fridge or freezer. They're great raw as a midday snack, but toasting or cooking with them can draw out their flavor. Toss them into salads or whole-grain dishes, blend them with herbs for a hearty pesto, or chop them and use them to coat fish and meat.

Anti-Inflammatory

Diet Tip: Avocado

If you've given up fatty foods, good for you! But you're probably missing that greasy goodness. Here's some good news: Avocados are a healthy fat that your body loves.That's because they contain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which provide anti-inflammatory benefits.

Creamy, buttery avocados are also packed with other nutrients that help curb inflammation, including phytosterols. While more research is needed, several studies show that eating phytosterols may lead to lower levels of certain inflammation-boosting proteins. Plus, these plant sterols can block cholesterol from getting into your bloodstream, which means it may help lower your cholesterol levels.
 
What Do Experts Say?
"Along with olive oil, nuts and seeds, avocados are on my short list of healthiest fats," says dietitian. "Like olive oil, they're mainly composed of monounsaturated fat, which is linked to heart health. Plus, avocados contain a sprinkling of most vitamins and minerals. They're especially rich in folic acid, which is linked to heart health and healthy pregnancies."

How Should You Eat It?
Adding avocados to your diet is easy. Mashing them into a delicious, crowd-pleasing bowl of guacamole is a no-brainer. But they're also great in salads, sushi, sandwiches or wraps. Spread it on toast for a smart midday snack.

Anti-Inflammatory

 Diet Tip: Garlic

Garlic has been used for centuries to treat a wide range of ailments, from headaches to tumors. And there's some truth to those folk remedies. Research supports garlic's power against bacteria, viruses, cancer and heart disease. Many doctors recommend adding garlic to the diet for people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.
Garlic and onions are top picks for people who have joint problems. Studies show eating lots of these pungent plants may ease swelling. It may also lower your risk of osteoarthritis by protecting the cushiony cartilage in your joints. Limited research also shows that garlic extract may curb inflammatory reactions in your body.
 
What Do Experts Say?
"Garlic may not be the cure-all it was once thought to be. But studies do show that it may help protect your heart in a few different ways and could also help prevent stomach and colon cancer," says dietitian. "It's the sulfur-containing compounds in garlic that are protective. These are released when garlic is crushed or chopped, so get out the crusher and paring knife!"

How Should You Eat It?
"Ideally, you should eat garlic raw (as in hummus or salsa) because cooking destroys some of the beneficial compounds," dietitian says. "When you do cook it, you can preserve some of the sulfur compounds by first chopping or crushing it, letting it sit for 10 minutes or more, and then adding it in the last few minutes of cooking."

Anti-Inflammatory

Diet Tip: Olive Oil

If you're living with an inflammatory condition, especially one that causes pain, olive oil is like liquid gold. It's rich in antioxidant polyphenols, the micronutrients found in colorful fruits and vegetables, which keep inflammation at bay. Plus, some studies show that olive oil may work inside your body in a way that's similar to aspirin or ibuprofen. That's great news for people who don't like popping pain pills.
But the benefits don't stop there. Healthy diets that include olive oil may also lower your bad cholesterol. And polyphenols can prevent heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis. They may even protect against brain diseases and diabetes. As an added bonus, when you swap your tub of butter for a bottle of olive oil, you're cutting saturated fats from your diet. That's a win-win because saturated fats have been shown to trigger pain.
 
What Do Experts Say?
"This should be the principle oil in your diet -- and luckily, it's a delicious one," says dietitian. "It's comprised mainly of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, plus antioxidant compounds called polyphenols."

How Should You Eat It?
First, opt for the least processed type of olive oil, known as extra virgin. It usually comes with a higher price tag, but it has the highest amount of polyphenols. If you're on a tight budget, virgin olive oil is the next best option. Steer clear of olive oils labeled "light" or "lite," which are the most processed and offer the fewest health benefits.
Once you've got your bottle in hand, it's easy to swap this oil for others. Add it to pasta sauces, mix up your own salad dressing or use it to sauté. Just don't go overboard, or you could end up with extra calories on your plate.

Anti-Inflammatory

Diet Tip: Mushrooms

Research continues to show that mushrooms offer a host of protective benefits from heart disease to diabetes. The meaty shiitake mushroom contains a compound called eritadenine, which may lower your cholesterol by blocking it from getting into your bloodstream. It may also protect against many types of cancer, especially stomach cancer. Both shiitake and cremini mushrooms may have antibacterial and antiviral properties to help you fight off germs like the common cold and the flu.

Oyster mushrooms are another all-star. They may lower your cholesterol, and some studies suggest they may protect against breast and colon cancers. They may also help control your blood sugar levels. One study showed that eating these mushrooms significantly lowered blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor to be sure these mushrooms won't drop your blood sugar too low.
 
Reishi mushrooms are one of the most impressive varieties when it comes to inflammation. These have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties stronger than aspirin. They may also help lower your blood pressure.
What Do Experts Say?
"Mushrooms aren't a standard on superfoods lists, like blueberries and kale, but they should be," says dietitian. "They're a good source of copper, which is good for your heart, and selenium, which helps fight cancer. They also contain decent levels of B vitamins and phytonutrients."
How Should You Eat Them?
Mushrooms aren't high enough in protein to swap wholesale for meat, says Jibrin, but their meaty texture can help you cut back. She suggests subbing in mushrooms for half the meat in casseroles, pasta sauces, Sloppy Joes and other dishes.
The best way to take advantage of reishi mushrooms is by drinking them as a tea. They're too bitter and hard to eat, but a hot tea brings out all their goodness.
 

Options for Pain Management



Pain is a symptom of a larger medical issue. The sensation of pain is generated by the brain when it perceives a threat to a person’s well-being. Pain is an individual experience, one we all respond to differently, both physically and emotionally. Because of these varied responses, the pain we experience may not always accurately reflect the extent of injury or state of tissue healing. Hand Therapists at Armworks (click here) work hard to educate patients on the neurophysiology of pain and develop individualized rehabilitation plans which manage the pain and treat the underlying problem, not mask the symptom.

Let Armworks know you learn about them from Healthy Wealth blog to enjoy 10% discount off the cost. show this post to benefit.

Strengthening Exercises for Hikers

It’s time to get outside and enjoy some exercise in the sun! Because of our beautiful landscape, a very popular activity in the Pacific Northwest is hiking. Within Portland and the surrounding areas there are hundreds of trails which offer a fun getaway for hikers of all skill levels. To help ensure you are safe and avoid injury during your summer outings, we have provided you with some strengthening exercises specific for hikers. These exercises focus on providing stability to your lower extremities when encountering the many different challenges you may face during a hike, including, having to walk over uneven terrain, up and down lengthy hills, and potentially hopping from rock to rock or over small creeks. Apply these exercises 2-3 times a week to start building and maintaining proper strength. We also have a stretching video on our YouTube site which complements the strengthening exercises and activity as well. We hope you have an amazing summer full of awesome adventures!
Where in the world are our patients??
We love seeing how our patients stay active after completion of their physical or hand therapy rehab. Please submit pictures of you on your hikes or follow and tag us on social media. We would love to share your adventure and success with everyone!

Top 5 Hikes According to Our Staff:
  1. Eagle Creek Trail (Columbia River Gorge)
  2. South Sister (Central Oregon)
  3. Munra Point (Columbia River Gorge)
  4. Tom, Dick and Harry (Mt. Hood National Forest)
  5. Dog Mountain (Columbia River Gorge)

 

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Ways To Take In Heavenly Chi

It’s always important to absorb vital life force energy (also known as prana, life force, pneuma, chi or qi) for a higher quality of life including health, vitality and healing on all levels. Especially during a slightly more introspective time such as the Fall energetic season, we want to take small pockets of time to take in what’s known as heavenly chi. This action will carry us through this energetic season more resiliently. Here are 14 awesome ways:

1) Walk barefoot.

“Prana contained in the ground is called ground prana or ground vitality globule. This is absorbed through the soles of the feet. This is done automatically and unconsciously.” — Sui, Choa Kok., and Choa Kok. Sui. Miracles through Pranic Healing: Practical Manual on Energy Healing. Metro Manila, Philippines: Institute for Inner Studies Foundation, 2004. Print.

2) Practice prayanayama or pranic deep breathing (also known as Tan Tien** cleansing breath).

According to Master Choa Kok Sui, pranic breathing is accomplished by:

~Touching your tongue to your palate
~Breathing through your abdomen and through the nostrils
~Inhaling slowly and holding for one count
~Exhaling slowly and holding for one count
~Being sure not to over-expand or over-contract the abdomen

Choa Kok Sui also says: “Pranic breathing energizes you to such an extent that your aura temporarily expands by 100% or more. The inner aura expands to about eight inches or more, the health aura to about four feet or more, the other aura to about two meters or more.”

3) Sit in a nature setting and absorb the energies present with your intention.

4) Eat living food–real earth nutrients. Eating uncooked produce is like eating light. The live fruits and vegetables actually contain “trapped light” you can absorb into your body.

5) Drink pure water. Water absorbs prana from sunlight.

6) Absorb the life force energy of the sun, moon and galaxy. The chi will be absorbed through the pores of your skin and through your eyes. Your body will take this nourishing light into your brain, circulating it through the pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus glands.

7) Hug a tree. Literally.

“Certain trees such as pine trees or old and gigantic healthy trees exude a lot of excess prana. Tired or sick people benefit much by lying down or resting underneath these trees.” — Sui, Choa Kok., and Choa Kok. Sui. Miracles through Pranic Healing: Practical Manual on Energy Healing. Metro Manila, Philippines: Institute for Inner Studies Foundation, 2004. Print.
“Trees and all plant life are living fields of intelligence that just happen to exist within the confines of a different molecular structure than the human bio-system. They operate via a group consciousness and are not as individualized as we are and they love receiving our carbon dioxide as much as we benefit from breathing in the oxygen they generate.” —Jasmuheen. The Madonna Frequency & the Food of Gods. Noosa Heads, Australia: Self Empowerment Academy, 2005. Print.

8) Walk in the wind to absorb wind prana. It's cleansing and rejuvenating.

9) Ask in a prayerful tone to feel and receive chi energy. The universe will bow to your prayer.

10) Meditate.

“In a comfortable place, on a warm evening under the stars … sit in meditation. Engage Tan Tien breathing [see above under “pranayama”]. Find the rhythm of your breath and your center of balance and close your eyes. Let your breath open and relax the joints of your body. Now with your breath, circulate the Chi through the Orbits.*” —Ching, Elise Dirlam., and Kaleo Ching. Chi and Creativity: Vital Energy and Your Inner Artist. Berkeley, CA: Blue Snake, 2007. Print.

11) Practice Tai Chi and/or Qi Gong.

“What sets Tai Chi apart from other exercise programs is its internal work. In a series of postures, or forms, the mind and body work in unison to move Chi (vital energy) from one part of the body to the next.”  — So, John Young Man. Tai Chi for Everyone: A Life-long Exercise Program for Longevity and Health. Place of Publication Not Identified: Lulu.com, 2008. Print.

12) Learn to feel your chakra system.

“Chakras are personal energies. They are energy vortices, or wheels, inside the body that receive and moderate universal life force energies, or chi. Each chakra acts as a kind of valve or regulator and controls the flow of energy through our system. The universal life force (chi) enters the body through the chakra at the top of the head and travels down the spinal column to the other chakras. When we are living in harmony with the Universe, these vortices, or valves or chakras, are open and allow an abundant flow of chi energy.” — Johnson, Connie. Spiritual Concepts for a New Age: Psychic Serenity in the Human Experience. Print.

13) Visualize the flow of chi in your body.

“With consistent practice one can visualize Chi flowing inside the cavities and meridians of the body, creating a sense of health and well-being.” — So, John Young Man. Tai Chi for Everyone: A Life-long Exercise Program for Longevity and Health. Place of Publication Not Identified: Lulu.com, 2008. Print.

14) Receive chi energy from an energy medicine practitioner.

“Prana can also be projected to another person for healing. Persons with a lot of excess prank tend to make other people around them feel better and livelier. However, those who are depleted tend to unconsciously absorb prana from other people.” —Merlotte, Raphael. The World Before Lies. First ed. 2012. Print.
*Orbits: “Energy flows from the Tan Tien** down to the base of the spine, then up the back along the spine to the crown, then over the head and down the front of the body.  Practitioners believe this exercise prevents the body's natural Qi (Chi, energy) from becoming depleted.” —http://sarinastone.com/microcosmic-orbit-practice.html

** Tan Tien: Loosely translated as "elixir field,” "sea of qi,” or simply "energy center.” Tan Tien are important focal points for meditative and exercise techniques such as qigong, martial arts such as t'ai chi ch'uan, and in traditional Chinese medicine.


Ways to Be One with Nature


According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Fall energetic season begins August 7 and ends October 20. Here are 15 ways to harmonize with the current season. They will make you healthier and happier if you do!

“Metal element energy [associated with the Fall season according to Chinese Medicine] is consolidating with inward movement, like a flower closing its petals. Be one with nature. It's okay to close your petals for awhile.”
So how do we “close our petals,” take a little breather from the very active Summer season and get one with nature? Here’s a list of possibilities. Pick and choose what feels right for you!
  1. Letting the light of fire feed and nurture your aura (the electromagnetic field that hums around your body) by attending a bonfire, building your own little fire pit, and setting up and enjoying the light from a bank of tea light candles in your home (or pillar candles in your fireplace)
  2. Walking barefoot on the grass or dirt and letting the negative ions recharge and balance your physical body
  3. Preparing for the Fall growing season whether it’s deciding on what to sow and grow or cleaning up and weeding out the Summer garden
  4. Hanging a bug house in your garden to attract bees and butterflies
  5. Practicing letting bugs live and studying the webs that spiders weave
  6. Foraging for wild edible plants in your backyard or neighbourhood 
  7. Strolling through your local park when it’s most quiet
  8. Walking with presence, purpose, consciousness and appreciation for all of life
  9. Meditating with nature while walking your dog
  10. Eating produce more rustically and simply such as eating with your hands and tearing lettuce leaves instead of cutting
  11. Enjoying the sweet and juicy fruits of the season (their days are numbered so don’t miss out!)
  12. Walking in the rain without worrying about getting wet (okay, an umbrella’s allowed!)
  13. Taking moonlit evening walks and appreciating the moon’s role in the life of the planet
  14. Becoming more conscious of everything you consume and making choices that are more viable for the planet
  15. Learning or practicing Tai Chi, the Five Animal Frolics of Qi Gong or White Crane Kung Fu

Plants purifying the air : Divine Prescription

There are more ions in the WOODS than in the FIELD; more on a SUNNY day than on a CLOUDY day; and more where the ground has a high RADIOACTIVE content. PLANTS are nature's most prolific source of negative ions for they conduct the negative energy of the earth into the air by ejecting it from the tips of their leaves. We are told that "there are life-giving properties in the BALSAM of the PINE, in the FRAGRANCE of the CEDAR and the FIR, and other TREES also have properties that are HEALTH-RESTORING....

One potted plant per 100 square feet of floor space can help clean the air in the average home or office.... 15 to 20 potted plants of the right variety, such as PHILODENDRONS, SPIDER PLANTS, ALOE VERA, PEACE LILIES, CORN PLANTS, POTTED IVY, SNAKEPYANTS, and FLOWERING BANANAS would do the work of a good high-efficiency air cleaner in purifying the air in a room. ~ – Paulien, Gunther B. The Divine Prescription and Science of Health and Healing. 

Front Cover

Divine Prescription click here

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Divine Prescription click here

Ways to Expose Yourself to Earth's Healing Negative Ions

dive deeper into one of the ways we can get the most out of the Fall energetic season: Exposing ourselves to earth’s gift of negative ions.

What are negative ions?
Positive ions are atoms or molecules that have lost one or more electrons and consequently have a shortage of electrons. In contrast, negative ions have gained one or more additional electrons which makes these odorless, tasteless, invisible molecules negatively charged as a whole.
There is a delicate positive-negative ion balance in nature. In a thunderstorm, the natural ratio of positive to negative ions can be disturbed very easily.
The normal concentration of positive ions in the air is very high. During and following the storm, the number of positive ions gradually declines while the concentration of negative ions increases.
It is believed that negative ions are actually biologically active and make a positive impact on the natural 24-hour cycle. Created in nature as air molecules break apart due to sunlight, radiation, ultraviolet rays, the vital energy of plants and moving air and water, they are not harmful even if their concentration is high. 
Offices, factories, and shopping malls are places where we will encounter an excess of positive ions.
We should very frequently expose ourselves to places with very high concentrations (tens of thousands) of negative ions such as these:
  • mountains
  • parks
  • waterfalls/water fountains/your bathroom shower
  • springs
  • beaches/pounding surfs
  • forests (especially pine forests)
  • moving air/wind
  • dirt/earth
Along with placing ourselves in nature settings teeming with negative ions, here are some other creative activities you can do to generate negative ions right in your home or office environment:
  1. Burn beeswax candles; they are said to clean the air, produce negative ions and assist with allergy and asthma reduction.
  2. Operate a Himalayan salt lamp wherever you spend a good deal of time in your home; they counteract the electronic vibrations and excessive positive ions caused by electronic devices in the home; the heated salt attracts and absorbs water in the air and then evaporates it; the salt mixes with the water molecules creating a solution: the positively charged ions of sodium and the negatively charged ions of chloride become neutral and are released into your environment; this reduces pollutants, irritants and allergens from the air.
  3. Run an indoor fountain; the force or energy of falling or splashing water causes the neutral particles in air to split which frees electrons to attach to other air molecules resulting in negative ions.
  4. Have amethyst and tourmaline crystals nearby or wear them; tourmaline is believed to convert moisture from the air to negative ions; amethyst is considered to be similar in nature.
  5. Surround yourself with plants; they clean the air by taking in carbon dioxide and breathing out fresh oxygen and many negative ions; some plants release higher levels of negative ions than others (best choices are chrysanthemum, coconut palm, gerbera, spider plant and weeping fig) Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-147606/How-cleanse-air-breathe.html#ixzz4Ik5VOM9b 
  6. Use radiant heating from far infrared devices (they warm the body and not the air) and emit negative ions.
  7. Sit in front of bon- or hearth fires; they creative negative ions, too.
  8. Walk barefoot or use earthing/grounding inserts in your shoes; try earthing sandals (see earthrunners.com); coming into direct contact with Earth, your body is suffused with negative ions and aligns to the same electric energy level as the earth.

Your sleeping habits affect your health

Too Little Sleep May Quadruple Your Risk for Colds

One study has found that people who sleep fewer than six hours per night are four times as likely to catch a cold than those who rack up more than seven hours. So far, science has established an associative relationship, not a causative one, meaning it’s not clear whether healthy people are healthy because they sleep more, or getting more sleep increases health. One thing is for certain, though: When it comes to triumphing over cold season, a little extra rest can’t hurt.

Sleep and Insulin Sensitivity

Nothing keeps you up at night like finding out your insomnia might be causing you to pack on the kilos. Another study found that just one night without sleep impairs insulin sensitivity as much as eating a high-fat diet for six whole months. (Insulin sensitivity is exactly what it sounds like: how sensitive you are to the effects of insulin—the less sensitive you are, the more trouble you have digesting carbs, absorbing nutrients and maintaining a healthy weight.) According to researcher Josiane Broussard, Ph.D. of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, both sleep deprivation and a high-fat diet can lead to Type 2 diabetes and cause high blood sugar.

To reach this conclusion, Broussard measured insulin sensitivity in eight male dogs before and after they were fed a high-fat diet for six months. The researchers found that canines who were sleep-deprived for one night had a decrease of 33 percent in insulin sensitivity. After being fed a high-fat diet, the dogs had a 21 percent decrease. Although this experiment was conducted on animals and not humans, it underscores the importance of getting a good night’s sleep.

Sleep and Exercise

While we’re all for getting any exercise over no exercise, when it comes to restful sleep, research is finding that certain activities are better than others. Some particularly good sleep-inducers? Walking, biking, running, weight lifting, aerobics, gardening, yoga/Pilates and golfing.

“Not only does this study show that those who get exercise simply by walking are more likely to have better sleep habits, but these effects are even stronger for more purposeful activities, such as running and yoga, and even gardening and golf,” said study leader Michael Grandner, a psychiatry instructor at the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in a university release.

Oversleeping May Be Worse Than Under-sleeping

By now, the research is pretty well stacked in favour of the ‘sleep = good health’ correlation. But what may come as a surprise is that getting too much sleep could be more detrimental to your health than getting too little.

A new study of 47,000 young and middle-aged adults found that sleep impacts the calcium buildup in major arteries, which leads to heart disease. Those who got fewer than five hours of sleep had 50 percent more calcium buildup compared to those who got seven hours of sleep. Meanwhile, those who got nine or more hours of sleep had an even more concerning amount: 70 percent more calcium compared to seven-hour sleepers.

There are a handful of things you can do to help if you’re struggling with sleep. Avoiding caffeine after lunch and dimming the lights in your room as bedtime approaches are a good starts. “It is also important to avoid exposure to electronic media at bedtime,” said study lead author Dr. Chan-Won Kim.

Why negative Ions are so good for the body

In modern life, the air quality is deteriorating with decreasing negative ions and increasing positive ions. This is due to air pollution from various sources i.e. fumes from vehicles, electromagnetic waves/radiation from the broad usage of electronic equipment such as mobile phones, computers etc.

When there are too many positive in the air, we experience physical discomfort and chronic diseases, such as anxiety, insomnia, headaches, allergies, respiratory issues, fatigue, sleep issues, skin conditions, seasonal affective disorder and so on, which are called civilisation diseases.

Therefore, we need to leave the city jungle full of concrete and machines for places where there is nature where there is an abundance of negative ions, to rest and relax so that the negative and positive ions in our bodies can restore to a normal state. This allows the body to get into the right balance to heal itself. If we can reduce positive ions and increase negative ions in our bodies as far as possible, we can become healthier.

How do negative ions enhance your bodies natural defence mechanism?

Most diseases are related to the imbalance of the immune system. Therefore, enhancing immunity has a major concern to modern healthcare. The best way to protect ourselves from diseases should be to focus on how we can improve our own health and not how on how advanced the current medical technologies and research are. The immune system is made up of the innate immunity system and acquired immunity system.

The innate immune system consists of our skin, mucosa and their secretions, phagocytes, protective proteins and natural killer cells (NK cells) etc. Phagocytes eliminate pathogens by ingesting them while NK cells can kill infected or mutated (such as cancer cells) cells. The acquired immune system contains T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. They are the cells that recognise attack and destroy invading bacteria and viruses.

Negative ions can improve our immune system by strengthening our immunity cells, making them more energetic, healthy and therefore enhance their ability to destroy the pathogens. Negative ions can also speed up the production of antibodies by the lymphocytes, increasing the number of antibodies in our bodies. With a strong immune system, we will be less prone to falling sick and even if we do, we will be better equipped to destroy pathogens and improve recovery time.

How do negative ions activate the cells?

Every cell consists of 3 parts i.e. the cell membrane, plasma and nucleus. The cell membrane has small openings for cellular nutrients to enter, a specific channel for protein and some antennae for sensory and cell defence. Cell plasma serves as the factory of nutrients for the cell and the nucleus serves as the control station of the cell, responsible for the cell’s replication, inheritance and regeneration. There are many kinds of cells in our bodies and all of them have their own specific function.

The cells in charge of our body’s defence are called immune cells and they consist of lymph cells and white blood cells. Since the immune cells are in charge of protecting the human body, why does diseases still happen? In some conditions, it may be because of a large number of pathogens (bacteria or virus).

Combined with a weak physique (especially in a person with an acidic constitution or hereditary deficit), cells may be easily attacked and injured. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we keep our cells healthy. Negative ions activate and enhance cell activities by;

1. Increasing the permeability of the cell membrane. This facilitates waste removal and nutrient absorption, keeping cells healthy.

2. Facilitating substance exchange across cell membrane through re-activating the Na-K
pump to restore nutrient and waste exchange in an acidic constitution.

3. Promoting oxygen absorption by the cells through the increased oxygen carrying capacity of the red blood cells.

Negative ions of oxygen are really the vitamin of the air!

Negative ions health

Air ions explained

You cannot change the air outside, but you can do something about the air you breathe around you.
Air cleaners are a good consideration for the home, and there are many types that have various filters to clean the air in the house. However, they are limited in their capabilities.

Around 1890 researchers Elster & Geitel from Germany, and Thomson in England, each independently discovered the existence of Air Ions. Immediately afterward biologists and physicians began investigations on whether the existence of ions might influence physiological processes. In the years since, hundreds of papers published globally have detailed various findings, of which the most interesting is that not all Ions are necessarily ‘Good’ Ions.

Air is made up of 78% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, 1% argon, 1-3% carbon dioxide, with the remaining 2-3% being rare gases. These elements combine with other suspended matter found in the air to form molecules. An ion is formed if any of the molecular clusters acquire an electrical charge by gaining or losing an electron. If a cluster loses an electron it is called a ‘Positive Ion.’ If a cluster gains an electron it is called a ‘Negative Ion.’

By the 1960s Albert Krueger from the United States (now a friend of Mr. Joshua Shaw) was the first to categorically prove the effects of both these ions on therapeutic responses through his studies on mice. He conducted extensive animal studies and found that high concentration of Positive Ions (in negative ion-depleted air) increased the cumulative death rate in mice infected with the influenza virus. Whereas higher concentrations of Negative Ions (positive ion-depleted air) reduced the death rate to nil. In high concentrations of Negative Ions, the mice were able to repel the virus and repair the damage it did to their bodies – in other words, make a full recovery.

Countries such as Russia, Israel, U.K., Finland and the U.S. also became very active in researching the adverse effects of positive ions and beneficial effects of negative ions. Today, it is commonly accepted that an air mixture too rich in positive ions, as in polluted air, may cause low mood, fatigue, headaches, irritability, exacerbation of respiratory ailments, and a reduced ability to recover from illness.  WIn contrast, an air mixture rich in small negative ions will cause a lessening or elimination of such symptoms.

Elanra has the unique ability to negatively charge the ambient air by generating ions small enough to be ingestible.  Within the range of an Elanra device, you can be assured that you are breathing the best quality small negative ions of Oxygen.

Negative ion facts and research

Negative ion facts and research


In an effort to reduce air pollution-related health problems within buildings, various air purifying methods have been developed including air filtration and purification by air ionization and other methods.

Domestic ion generators have been developed to eliminate airborne pollutants, allergens and infectious agents from immediate breathing spaces by charging and precipitating airborne particulate matter and creating localized zones of improved air quality.

Negative Ion generating devices have been shown to be the most effective against air pollutants of sizes, 10 microns (PM10) down to the dangerous 2.5 microns (PM2.5) such as dust, cigarette smoke, pet dander, pollen, mold spores, viruses, and bacteria.

It is known that positive ions build up in the atmosphere prior to a storm front, whereas negative ions accumulate following a storm. Some strong moving water produces negative ions and it is common for people to feel invigorated after visiting the sea, waterfalls or rainforests.

Although many ion generators can be effective in clearing the air, few have the capacity for a higher ion ‘output, flow rate and hence speed’ effective over a reasonable distance to the user. These specifications are necessary to provide an additional range of therapeutic effects directly to the user.

“The Elanra produces small biologically active negatively charged ions of Oxygen, pulsed at various selective frequencies that are emitted into the ambient air to be inhaled and ingested via the lungs and into the bloodstream of the patient to produce a positive therapeutic or biological effect.” TGA Registration Certificate for the Elanra range.

Comparison between Elanra Ionisers and other Ionisers
Elanra ionisers have been specifically designed to produce consistently high volumes of small negatively charged ions of oxygen with no harmful ozone production. In addition to the superior output, the user can select from a range of pulsed frequencies targeting different health conditions in combination with the ability to vary the output to suit the health condition sought.

Elanra has global patents on this unique functionality. Up to 144 different health programs are available to suit the individual’s therapeutic requirements. Consequently, with its advanced technology, Elanra has become a leader in the use of air ionisation to provide direct therapeutic benefits beyond mere air cleaning and disinfection.

Literature Review
The scientific study of biological effects of small air ions and negative ion generators has been associated with such fields as meteorology, environment, air quality, pollution, bacterial control, human performance, and health. Consequently, over the last century, a huge body of literature, journal articles, books and conference proceedings have accumulated. It appears Russia, Israel, and Europe are the early and current adopters of this technology, with its application in many hospitals.

Enhanced Vitality and Performance

Air quality and the effect of ionised air on performance was studied extensively in Russia. Clinical and polyclinical institutions provide medical grade doses of negative ions for increased physical work capacity and improving general tone of healthy people. Minkh (1961) reported on the effect of ionised air on work capacity and vitamin metabolism of groups of athletes at an Institute of Physical Culture and Training. The studies showed that daily sessions of negative polarity gave rise to a “considerable increase in general tone, cheerfulness, energy, good sleep, and appetite.” Large improvements were found in endurance to both static and dynamic work as well as ability to keep equilibrium in positions of varying difficulty. Most notable was that negative ionised air had a favourable normalising effect on the metabolism of vitamins B and C regulating their increased consumption in sports exercise.

Much research has focused on ‘sick building syndrome’ where ambient air quality and other factors give rise to adverse effects on occupants. Hawkins in 1981 investigated Air ionisation and office health and incidence of a headache, nausea, and dizziness. He concluded that the use of negative ion generators appears to bring about a significant reduction in the number of complaints of a headache, nausea, and dizziness.1

Richardson in the UK carried out a two-stage intervention study to establish the degree of which indoor air quality could be improved by reducing the number of airborne fine particles. Results showed that an electrostatic air cleaning system could significantly improve an office environment.2

An article on New Scientist.com news service in 2003, reported that repeated airborne infections of the bacteria actinobacteria in an intensive care ward at St James Hospital in Leeds had been eliminated by the installation of a negative air ioniser.3

There is sufficient evidence to conclude that the Elanra Medical Ioniser being significantly more powerful than the ionizers used, will produce improved oxygen uptake, vitality and stronger performance in a work and sporting environment.

In 1962, a group in Philadelphia studied the effects of intermittent exposure to negatively ionised air on surgical patients on the first and second postoperative day.  The sedating and pain relieving quality of this method, observed previously in a large series of burned persons and in repeated electroencephalographic tests was confirmed. No adverse symptoms were recorded.4

Terman and Terman reported the conduct of a controlled trial of high density and low-density negative ions in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) on 25 subjects. They concluded that exposure to a high-density negative ion generator appears to be specifically antidepressant in SAD patients. The 15% response to the low-density ionisation they regarded as a placebo response. The method may be useful as an alternative or supplement to light therapy and medications.5

 

1. Clinical Study of Negative Ion Therapy, Conference Proceedings, 1961, Levine AL, Finkel M, Handler J, Fishbein WI

2. Reduction of fine airborne particulates in a small city center office by altering electrostatic forces. Sci Total Environ, 2001, March 26, 269(1-2) 145-155. Abstract only. 3. NewScientist.com news service;

3 January 2003. Air Ionisers wipe out hospital infections, News item

4. Ionization of the air. The sedating effect of polarized air, David TA et al, Reprinted from Biometeorology, Pergamon, Oxford.

5. Treatment of Seasonal affective disorder with a high output negative ionizer. Terman M, Terman JS, J Alt & Comp Medicine, Vol 1, #1, 1995

You may not be able to change the air quality outside, but you can improve the ambient air you are breathing inside your home. For best results consider the Elanra™ to help maintain your health.
Pollutants and pathogens impact your body, and the vital blood that carries oxygen to all your organs, muscles and cells., These create an imbalance in the body that can result in ailments being ignited or exacerbated. Elanra Oxygen corrects this imbalance, enabling your body to repair itself from the ravages of the day, and all while you sleep.

The type of environment that provides healthy air naturally and for free is found around waterfalls, in forests or where ocean waves break over rocks with great force. If only we could spend every moment of every day in these areas, we would not need Elanra! So why are these environments so fresh and clean, and why are we able to ‘breathe deeper’ when we are there, rather than at home? The reason is that the air in these environments is abundant with trillions of a special type of oxygen molecule known as a ‘Small Negative Ion of Oxygen’.

We call it a ‘Species of Oxygen’ and ‘Special Oxygen’, because through years of research at Elanra Medical, we have developed a unique and special understanding of how this subatomic ion lives, moves and works to influence our bodies. This species of Oxygen is part of our team, our cultural DNA, our family, holding a relationship with every worker in our company, as we all embrace incredible pride to represent a product that is so unique and special.

Recreating this ‘Special Oxygen’ that is readily available in the natural environment is an extremely difficult process, and it is the purpose of Elanra to do just that, all while, maintaining a consistent quality output, and ensuring the Special Oxygen can reach the depths of the lungs and be ingested into the body.

The extremely sensitive and involved process to produce these ions requires the world’s most advanced electronic components and precise manufacturing technology. Naturally, these processes are patent-protected as Elanra Medical’s intellectual property.
From the initial inspiration of the inventor, our own Mr. Joshua Shaw, followed by subsequent years of research and development, we have been able to enhance our advanced technology to deliver this unique bio-solution to humanity.

The Elanra rebalances the body’s systems and restores the physical body by assisting in its recovery from damage inflicted throughout the day, all whilst you are sleeping. It’s the easiest step you can take toward attaining good health and wellbeing.
Elanra safely and reliably produces small negative ions of Oxygen, without generating harmful ozone, and this is one important reason that it is able to be registered as a medical device. This standard is unique to Elanra and to Australia.

The Special Small Negative Ion is the vital ingredient of the Oxygen family that our body requires. Mr. Shaw has given humanity the ability to bring the life-giving force of the waterfall into the home, bedroom, car, and hospital – in fact anywhere we may be in our modern world.

Air Ions and Health


The role of ions in Body Chemistry. Promoting Natural Health with Ionized Water, Chlorella, Spirulina, Probiotics, Angstrom Minerals, Raw Foods. Watershed Wellness Center.

We live in an ocean of air and each of us is inexorably required to breathe in at least ten thousand litres of air every twenty four hours just to maintain life in our bodies. Since we are utterly dependent upon the physical and chemical properties of this air, it isn’t surprising that we are now deeply immersed in exploring all atmospheric parameters. Characteristically, most of our efforts are devoted to the detection and control of those toxic particulates and gases contributed to the ambient air by industry and by the multitude of anthropocentric activities which require the combustion of fuel. Their threat to life is pressing and it is obvious that measures for their abatement must be developed in the immediate future. Other, more subtle atmospheric changes are in progress which, because they are less conspicuous, tend to be put aside for future consideration. Among these one would have to list those phenomena involving small air ions.

Air Ions and Health
Posted on May 25, 2009 by Bob McCauley
by ALBERT P KRUGER AND DAVID S SOBEL


In places where mountains are situated to the south, the south winds that blow are parching and unhealthy; where the mountains are situated in the north, their northern winds occasion disorders and sickness…The winds which must pass over mountains to reach cities do not only dry, but also disturb the air which we breathe and the bodies of men, so as to engender diseases. Hippocrates, Regimen II, Chapters 37-38 click here.

The reactions between water, land and air during the long slow physical evolution of our planet have greatly affected the course of biological evolution. To a very considerable extent, this interplay is responsible for the emergence of man – a singular product of evolution – and man, in an extremely brief span of time, through his genius for blindly manipulating natural resources, has attained the unique capacity to alter his total environment. While we have begun to express serious concern for the grim consequences of our role as spoilers in disturbing ecological balances in general, our interest is most avidly focused upon those facets of man-engendered pollution which pose the most immediate and direct danger to us.

We live in an ocean of air and each of us is inexorably required to breathe in at least ten thousand litres of air every twenty four hours just to maintain life in our bodies. Since we are utterly dependent upon the physical and chemical properties of this air, it isn’t surprising that we are now deeply immersed in exploring all atmospheric parameters. Characteristically, most of our efforts are devoted to the detection and control of those toxic particulates and gases contributed to the ambient air by industry and by the multitude of anthropocentric activities which require the combustion of fuel. Their threat to life is pressing and it is obvious that measures for their abatement must be developed in the immediate future. Other, more subtle atmospheric changes are in progress which, because they are less conspicuous, tend to be put aside for future consideration. Among these one would have to list those phenomena involving small air ions.

Very shortly after the existence of atmospheric electricity was demonstrated by Franklin [1] and by d’Ailbard [2] in the mid 1700’s, several natural philosophers ascribed to it a variety of biological effects. For example, Father Giambattista Beccaria [3] in 1775 reported that “it appears manifest that nature makes extensive use of the atmospheric electricity for promoting vegetation” In this he was supported by Abbe Nollet [4] and Abbe Bertholon [5]. Abbe Bertholon [6] in addition concluded that the course of various diseases of man was influenced by atmospheric electricity. I 1899, Elster and Geitel [7] and J J Thompson [8] independently proved that atmospheric electricity depends upon the existence of gaseous ions in the air. It then became possible to develop generators for producing air ions and equipment for determining their numbers in the air. Using these technical aids, a vast amount of experimentation was undertaken to define the physical and biological properties of air ions. There are ions in the air around us all the time, but changes in their concentration or in the ratio of positively to negatively charged molecules can have marked biological effects on plants and animals. Indeed, ion depletion and charge imbalance may play a significant role in a wide range of human ailments including respiratory infection in office workers and the malaise caused by weather conditions such as the khamsin winds of the near East. Further, artificially generated air ions may prove valuable as a therapeutic modality in the treatment of burns, reparatory disorders, stomach ulcers nd nervous disorders.

Air ion formation begins when enough energy acts on a gaseous molecule to eject an electron. Most of this energy comes from radioactive substances in Earth’s crust and some from the shearing forces of water droplets in waterfalls (Lenard effect) or the friction which develops when great volumes of air move rapidly over a land mass (for example, the foehn, sharav and Santa Anna winds) or from cosmic rays. The displaced electron attaches itself to an adjacent molecule which becomes a negative ion, the original molecule then becoming a positive ions. Molecular collisions transfer the charge, so that positive charges come to reside on molecules with the lowest ionisation potential,while electrons are attracted to the species of greatest stability. Next, small numbers of molecules of water vapour, hydrogen and oxygen cluster about the ions to form small air ions. In normal pollutant free air over land, there are 1500 to 4000 ions/cm3. But negative ions are more mobile and Earth’s surface has a negative charge, so negative ions are repelled from the Earth’s surface. Thus the normal ratio of positive to negative ions is 1.2 to 1.

Certain properties of small air ions are pertinent to this discussion. They readily unite with condensation nuclei and with most classes of air pollutants to form large or Langevin ions. In both cases the biological activity of the small air ions is lost. This is true also of the combination that occurs between small air ions of opposite charge. Further, ions like charge (unipolar ions) repel one another and tend to flow to enclosing surfaces where their ionic nature dissipates. Since they are small and carry a charge, they are deflected by electrical fields. All of these characteristics make it difficult to maintain high concentrations of small air ions and means that air ion densities are significantly altered by the indoor living and air pollution characteristic of urban life.

While the nature of air ions was under investigation by the physicists, vigorous attempts were being made by the life scientists to determine their biological effects. Although the amount of work accomplished by the biologists is a tribute to their industry, it must be admitted that many of the results reported in the literature is not convincing. Several factors in the area of experimental design served to cloak the whole field in an aura of ambiguity. Often experiments were performed with corona discharges as ion sources, neglecting the ozone and oxides of nitrogen sometimes produced along with the ions. Ion densities, temperature and relative humidity were not monitored. Experimental subjects were not grounded; their external surfaces developed high electrostatic charges and in consequence, repelled ions. As a rule, the air was not purified and combination of ions with air pollutants led to widely fluctuating ion densities. Clinicians assessing the value of air ions as a therapeutic modality frequently committed all or some of the errors listed above and in addition, neglected to utilise the double blind cross over technique for ion administration. In view of these omissions, it is not surprising that convincing proof of the role played by air ions as physiological mediators or as therapeutic agents has been slow to emerge.

In addition to these elements of uncertainty in experimental procedures, the evaluation of air ions as biologically active agents has been hampered by the widely cultivated belief that the idea is theoretically absurd. There seems to be something about the term “ion” that provokes incredulity – consider the state of Svante Arrhenius, who first applied it in 1884 to describe atoms and molecules in aqueous solution bearing a positive or negative charge which enabled them to migrate in an electrical field. His doctoral committee thought this idea so bizarre that they accepted his work with the greatest reluctance and granted his degree with the lowest possible grade. The major obstacle to acceptance of this magnificent concept was the requirement that fundamental differences in the properties of charged molecules (ions) and uncharged molecules be acknowledged. In the case of air ions there is no disagreement about the disparate physical nature of air ions and non ionised gaseous molecules, but there is considerable reluctance to grant that this diversity is of biological significance.

At any rate, the essence of the argument against biologically active air ions is this: The maximal ion density one can attain in a closed atmosphere is approximately 1 x 106 ions/cm3, of air. Air contains 2.7 x 1019 non ionised molecules/cm3, so that the ratio of small ions to non ionised molecules is 1:27 trillion. For the reasons already mentioned above, ions have a very brief life span and under the conditions ordinarily prevailing, attainable ion densities usually are considerable less than 1 x 106 ions/cm3, making the final dilution in non ionised air greater by one or two orders of magnitude. From this unquestioned fact, the dubious conclusion has been drawn that the very sparseness of air ions places them beyond the range of biological effectiveness. The merit of this inference is more specious than real, since many biological systems respond to extremely minute chemical and physical stimuli. Two examples suffice to bear out this contention: first, the human eye can detect a flash of light when a single active quantum reaches the retina [9]; and second, the male silkworm reacts to as few as 2600 molecules of the female’s sex attractant pheromone in air containing a concentration of <200 a="" activities="" administration="" advertising="" air="" alike="" and="" any="" application.="" brought="" campaigns="" cm3="" commercial="" conclude="" development="" directly="" diseases.="" div="" drug="" during="" efficacy="" episode="" even="" exploitation="" extolling="" factor="" federal="" field="" for="" fraud.="" further="" generators="" halt="" has="" high-powered="" in="" ion="" ionisation.="" is="" laymen="" led="" medical="" mid-1950="" mis-representation="" molecules="" of="" one="" or="" outright="" permeated="" prohibited="" public="" range="" retarded="" s="" sale="" scientists="" since="" sold="" subject="" that="" the="" their="" then="" these="" this="" through="" to="" treating="" unfortunate="" were="" whole="" wide="" with="">

It is evident then that progress in the field of research devoted to the detection of air ion effects on living forms has been retarded by the very real difficulties attending the performance of meaningful experiments, by an unhappy example of commercial exploitation and by categorical rejection of the whole idea as a matter of principle on the part of many component scientists. The technical obstacles are the major reason that we now are faced with enormous accumulation of data of very uneven quality. The matter of rejection is not so vital, although it is disconcerting at times to find that some of our peers classify the subject with the occult arts.

THE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF AIR IONS

The experimental observations taken as a whole serve to establish the fact that air ions are physiologically active and can produce functional alterations varying from barely discernible to substantial. Further, air ions, are capable of evoking a wide range of response in bacteria, protoza, higher plants, insects, animals and man. Sometimes both positive and negative ions induce essentially the same biological reaction, in other cases they elicit the opposite effects. A few selected examples will be presented to illustrate the range of biological effects of small air ions and the reader is referred to more detailed reviews of the experimental evidence [11, 12, 13].

A brief review of the effects of air ions on micro-organisms reveals that both negative and positive ions (1) inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi on solid media, (2) exert a lethal effect on vegetative forms of bacteria suspended in small droplets of water, and (3), reduce the viable amount of bacterial aerosols [12].

With mammalian cells in tissue culture, Worden found that Girardi’s human heart cells exposed for fourteen days to unipolar ionised atmospheres and then transplanted into non-ionised atmospheres for an additional fourteen days showed adversely affected growth characteristics and rate of proliferation with positively ionised air; growth was normal with negatively ionised air. Using fibro blasts he obtained statistically significant evidence that negative ions increase and positive ions decrease the rate of proliferation. Furthermore, when the fibro blasts were removed to a non-ionised atmosphere, the cells previously exposed to negative ions continued to divide at an increased rate, while the cells treated with positive ions recovered slowly and eventually attained the normal rate of growth [14].

Over the past nineteen years, the Air Ion Laboratory of the University of California has conducted experiments to detect ion-induced physiological changes in plants and small animals. The subjects were maintained in a controlled micro-environment supplied with pollutant-free air, the sole variable being concentration of air ions in the ambient atmosphere. Soft ß (beta) emission from tritium absorbed on zirconium served to ionise the air without evolving toxic by-products; selection of positive or negative ions was accomplished by applying a corresponding charge to the generator electrode.

Plants appear to benefit from increases in both positive and negative ionisation, and we have shown that such ionisation markedly increases the rate of growth of higher plants such as barley, oats and lettuce. With seedlings grown in chemically defined media, we found that unipolar (one charge only) ionised atmospheres containing approximately 10,000 positive or negative charged ions/cm3 increased the rate of growth by as much as 50%(as measured by integral elongation or weight) without altering the protein, sugar, or chlorophyll content of the plant. In marked contrast to growth stimulation elicited by air ions, their removal from the atmosphere resulted in a lower rate of growth, reduced turgor (pressure in plant cells) and the development of soft, fleshy leaves. Chlorophyll production was not affected[15]. Several clues to the biochemical mechanism were uncovered. Positive and negative ions expedite both the uptake of iron and its utilisation of the production of ion-containing enzymes. The ions stimulate the metabolism of the high-energy compound adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the chloroplast’s and augment both nucleic acid metabolism and oxygen uptake. All of these phenomena are consistent with the observed ion-induced increase in growth rate.

Similar results were obtained when silkworm eggs and emergent larvae were exposed to ions of either charge. Hatching began earlier, larval growth accelerated and there was increased synthesis of three enzymes (catalase, peroxidase and cytochrome C Oxidase). Spinning began earlier and cocoons were heavier [16].

Much of the work we have done with animals has been on air ion effects in the respiratory tract and we found that air ions influence survival in respiratory diseases. High concentrations of positive ions substantially increased the death rate of mice infected with measured doses of a fungus (Coccidiodes immitis), a bacterium (Klebsiells pneumoniae) or a strain of influenza virus, all administered intranasally. Ion depleted air (comparable to ion concentrations found in urban environments) also increased the death rate in mouse influenza while a high concentration of negative ions decreased the death rate [17]. In other experiments where the influenza virus was introduced as a fine aerosol, this by-passing the protective mechanisms of the upper respiratory tract, changing ion concentrations had no influence on the death rate. This and other observations suggest that the site of action of air ions is the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract [18].

An Ecological View of Health

MECHANISM OF AIR ION ACTION

With regard to the mechanism underlying the response of animals to air ions, we have worked for several years on the changes in blood levels of serotonin (5-hydroxy tryptamine or 5-Ht), a powerful neurohormone capable of producing profound neurovascular, endocrine and metabolic effects throughout the body. In the hypothalamus 5-Ht participates in various processes such as sleep, the transmission of nerve impulses and in our evaluation, of mood. We found a readily reproducible and significant change in blood 5-Ht levels in mice exposed to air ion densities of 4-5×105 positive or negative ions/cm3. Positive ions raised blood levels of 5-Ht, while negative ions had the opposite effect. Additionally, we found that the brain content of free 5-Ht was responsive to the concentration of ions in the air. Because of the chief metabolic route for removing Serotonin (5-Ht) depends upon the enzyme monamine oxidase, we hypothesised that small negative ions stimulate, while small positive ions block the action of monamine oxidase, thus producing respectively a drop or rise in the concentration of free 5-Ht in certain tissues and eliciting a corresponding physiological response [19].

This general mechanism of air ion action has been confirmed by other investigators. Grant Gilbert at Pacific Lutheran University demonstrated that continuous treatment with negative ions produced statistically significant reductions in emotionality and brain Serotonin levels in rats [20]. Jean-Michel Olivereau of the Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of Paris conducted extensive experiments on the endocrine systems and the nervous mechanisms of rats treated for various periods of time with air ions [21, 22]. Employing elegant biochemical and histochemical techniques, he surveyed air ion action on the hypothalamus, the hypophysis, the adrenals, the thyroid, brain metabolism, behaviour, eating, spontaneous activity, psychomotor performance and adaptation to stress. He concluded that air ion-induced alterations in blood levels of 5-Ht account for very significant physiological changes in the endocrine glands and central nervous systems, these, in turn, substantially alter basic physiological processes. A significant facet to Olivereau’s research is his observation that negative ions exert a measurable anxiety lessening effect on mice and rats exposed to stressful situations, a phenomenon noted by several other workers [23]. This response parallels that which follows administration to animals or man of the drug reserpine. Both reserpine and negative ions reduce the amount of Serotonin in the mid-brain and this apparently accounts for the tranquillising action.

Direct and indirect evidence supporting the theory that 5-Ht is an important mediator of air ion action on animals and humans is found in the reports of several investigators [24-25] and is reviewed elsewhere [26,27]. However, there is no reason to suppose that 5-Ht is the sole agent responsible for air-ion induced alteration of physiological function.

Such tentative biochemical probings are really no more than the first step in elucidating the arcane mechanisms when air ions make contact with the tissues of the test organism. Our ignorance extends from the interface between the atmosphere and the cell wall to include the cellular organelles, their component enzyme systems and almost all the tissues and organs of living forms.

When we turn to the matter of air ion dosage necessary to elicit biological responses, the situation is somewhat better. Dosage constitutes a very practical element, for if extremely high ion densities are demanded, there is little likelihood of air ions playing a significant role in nature and the whole topic becomes academic, or at best, is limited to therapeutic applications. If on the other hand, biological effects are associated with such displacements of ion densities or charge ratios as are known to occur in Earth’s atmosphere, or even with relatively small shifts in ion concentration that can be affected by ion depletion or artificial ionisation in ordinary living and working quarters, the subject acquires great interest and importance.

An outstanding example of dependence of physiological response upon dosage has been reported by Bachman and his co-workers [24]. In studying the influence of air ions on the spontaneous activity of rats they noticed a curious zonal response with activity levels falling, rising and peaking then falling again as negative ion concentrations were increased.

Several studies, however, have demonstrated marked biological effects with lower dosage approximating natural conditions (1.5×103 to 4×103 small ions/cm3). In the experiments of Knoll and his collaborators on the effects of ions on simple visual reaction time in humans, ion concentrations of only 2×103 ion cm3 produced a remarkable decrease in reaction time [28]. Delaneau and his colleagues found that relatively small ion dosages, for example, 5×103 to 15×103 ions/cm3 of air effectively influenced the development of gastric ulcers in starving rats [29]. Silverman and Kornblueh were able to detect changes in alpha frequencies of the EEG in humans exposed to only 1.8×103 positive or negative ions/cm3 for thirty minutes [30]. Also, a sudden increase in negative ions or a precipitate drop in positive ions within the atmospheric range of 1×103 to 2×103 ions cm/3 was reported to increase moulting in aphids [31].

In our studies mentioned above on the effect of air ions on the course of mouse influenza produced by intranasal challenge, we found that ion dosage influenced the cumulative mortality rate. Unipolar low densities of positive or negative ions (comparable to indoor and urban environments) increased the rate of death, mid-range concentrations of ions of either charge had no effect, while a reduction in mortality rates occurred when the animals were exposed to high concentrations of negative or to low concentrations of mixed ions with mixed ions with negative ions predominating [17].

Natural Ion Environment
We have already presented evidence that air ion concentrations comparable to those found in nature can modify physiological processes in a variety of living forms under laboratory conditions. Now it seems appropriate to ask, Do air ion-linked phenomena occur in humans outside the laboratory? This question can be answered affirmatively with some assurance in light of recent investigations of large scale weather-related changes in air ion concentrations and charge ratios coupled with concurrent clinical studies.

To begin with, a great deal of work has been done in France, Italy, Germany and the USSR on the ionic environment of spas, particularly those situated near waterfalls. The consensus seems to be that the air in many such locales for whatever reason, contains a high concentration of small air ions with a ratio of negative to positive ions being considerably greater than normal – The Lenard effect. Bio climatologists are inclined to attribute to this fact some of the vis mediatrix of these resorts. This is an attractive hypothesis, but one that is difficult to prove, since many curative modalities are brought to bear on patients simultaneously.

Turning to the adverse effects associated with certain ion environments, there have been long traditions in the folklore of nearly every country that link certain changes in weather with changes in health and behaviour. One such tradition has to do with the winds of ill repute, for example, the Foehn (Southern Europe), Sirocco (Italy), Santa Ana (United States), Khasmin (Near East), and Mistral (France). Wherever they prevail, their victims attribute to them the ability to induce respiratory distress of various sorts, nervousness, headache and a multitude of other ills. So malign is their influence that when they blow, judges deal leniently with crimes of passion, surgeons postpone elective surgery and teachers expect more than the usual fractiousness from their students.

Since the turn of the century, several scientists and physicians have hypothesised that the immediate cause of such malaise is the upset in electrical balance of the atmosphere that precedes or accompanies the winds. This relationship between air ions and disease, tenuous at first, is finding support in the meteorological observations of investigators such as Robinson and Dirnfield who studied the Sharav, a weather complex afflicting the Near East and characterised by persistent wind, a rapid rise in temperature and a fall in relative humidity. Robinson and Dirnfield measured solar radiation, temperature and relative humidity, wind velocity and direction and the electrical state of the atmosphere before, during and after the Sharav. They found that 12 – 36 hours before the characteristic changes in wind, temperature and humidity, the total number of ions increased (from 1500 ions/cm3 to 2600 ions/cm3) and the ratio of positive to negative ions jumped from the normal 1.2 to 1.33. This early shift in ion density and ratio coincided with the onset of nervous and physical symptoms in weather sensitive people and was considered the only meteorological change that could be responsible for the discomfort associated with the Sharav [32].

This conclusion is supported by the extensive studies of Professor Felix Sulman and his colleagues in Jerusalem. They designate as the “Serotonin Hyper function Syndrome” the cluster of signs and symptoms that afflict a considerable segment of the population a day or two before the onset of a hot dry wind characteristic of the Sharav. Individuals in this category suffer from insomnia, irritability, tension, migraine, amblyopia, oedema, palpitations, precordial pain, respiratory distress, hot flashes, tremor, chills, diarrhoea, polyuria, vertigo etc. These patients display an increased output of Serotonin in the urine and they experienced relief when treated with negative ions or with Serotonin blocking drugs [33,34]. There exists then, a scientific basis for accepting the tradition that the winds of ill repute can produce malaise in humans, that air ion imbalance is the direct meteorological incitant and that the proximate cause of the irritation syndrome is the positive air-ion-induced hyper secretion of Serotonin. Supporting laboratory evidence for the adverse effect in humans of air ion imbalances comes from a well controlled double blind experiment by Winsor and Beckett in which volunteer subjects developed a dry throat, husky voice, headache, itch or obstructed nose and a reduction in maximum breathing capacity when exposed to nasal inhalation of positive ions in concentration of 3.2×104 ions/cm3 [35].

AIR IONS AND THE HUMAN URBAN ENVIRONMENT

In modern urban life, man often faces ion conditions far different from natural ion balances, with a significant depletion of small air ions and a markedly increased ratio of positive to negative ions commonly encountered. A fourteen day study in 1971 by B. Maczynski and others showed that in an office containing four people the small air ion concentration dropped as the day went on, falling on the average to only 34 positive ions and 20 negative ions/cm3 [36]. Central heating and air conditioning, smoking, the usual household activities of dusting and cooking all combine to lower levels of small ions in indoor environments. Further, the static electricity generated by the widespread use of synthetic fibres in clothing and room furnishing as well as stray electric fields add a different dimension to the indoor climate which is not conducive to the preservation of small air ions [37].

The effects of air pollution on air ions in the ambient atmosphere are also marked. As stated earlier, the small physiologically active air ions readily combine with gaseous and particulate pollutants to form large (Langevin) ions that are considered physiologically inert. A test in a light industrial area of San Francisco by J C Beckett in 1959 showed a small ion count of less than 80 ions/cm3 as compared to levels of 1500-4000 small ions/cm3 found in fresh unpolluted air [38]. The fundamental reaction is disarmingly simple: man- atmospheric pollutants; atmospheric pollutants + small air ions – air ion depletion.

That this progression has attained significant magnitude is evidenced by the fact that small air ion levels far at sea – normally very constant – are becoming appreciably lower with time, as air pollutants drift out from land. Thus wile very few of our activities add small air ions to the air, much of what we do cumulates in ion loss. The question then amounts to this: Will the smogs, hazes and invisible pollutants we generate with a lavish hand so reduce the small ion content of the atmosphere that plants, animals and man must suffer the harmful consequences?

Although the early results of ion depletion very likely will be unimpressive compared to the immediate and dramatic action of known toxic components of polluted air, this alone should furnish little solace. We have every reason to be aware from past experience that adverse effects may follow continued exposure to a small amount of a minor irritant (for example, organic solvents) or the long term deprivation of an essential metabolic requirement (for example, trace elements or vitamins). People travelling to work in polluted air, spending eight hours a day in offices or factories and living their leisure hours in urban dwellings inescapably breathe ion depleted air for substantial proportions of their lives. There is increasing evidence that this ion depletion leads to discomfort, enervation and lassitude and loss of physical and mental efficiency. This syndrome appears to develop quite apart from the direct toxic effects of the usual atmospheric pollutants.

Physicians and environmental engineers have long suspected that the inimical effects of “dead air” in crowded rooms are due to ion depletion. In 1939, three Japanese Scientists, S Kimura, M Ashiba and L Matushima showed that if temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels were all kept within ranges considered suitable for human comfort, but the ion level was reduced, individuals suffered from such as perspiration and depression. Further, these symptoms were promptly relieved when normal ion densities were restored by the use of ion generators [39]. Recently, a team of Soviet scientists tested the effects of varying ion conditions on humans employing an impressive battery of tests to measure cardiovascular functioning, reaction time and blood chemistry. They concluded that any enclosed compartments with “conditioned” air such as a space capsule, are likely to be depleted of ions and have a considerable excess of positive ions and that prolonged stays in such an ion environment is detrimental. The Soviet scientists recommended that ionisation in such environments be increased to a more normal 2000 ions/cm3 and that the addition of negative ions be alternated with positive or bipolar ionisation [40]. The effect of various ion concentrations and charge ratios on human performance, reaction time, vigilance and psychomotor tasks is suggestive but inconclusive and has been reviewed elsewhere [41].

ARTIFICIAL ION GENERATION: CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

So much for the potential role of an air ion-depleted environment in man’s future. There remains the more promising consideration of the environmental and medical applications of artificially generated air ions. At present, there exists several means of artificially producing air ions, including corona discharge and tritium generators. These ion generators make it possible to re-establish natural and optimal microclimatic conditions in living and working quarters. Eventually air ion standards for comfort and health may be established, just as we now have set limits for temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide levels, etc. It may also be possible to make available, highly beneficial ion-rich micro environments that could serve various hygienic and therapeutic functions. However, the development and use of this technology must go hand in hand with efforts to reduce air pollution from industry, automobiles and tobacco smoke, which effectively interfere with attempts to create a balanced ionised atmosphere.

If the results of our experiments with respiratory disease in mice can be extrapolated to man, we might expect that the ion depleted air of our offices and factories would lower resistance to influenza and perhaps other infections. Conversely, inhaling a mixture of air with, say, 4000 ions/cm3 and with negative ions predominating, should increase resistance. A recent study in a Swiss bank indicated that this is so. In the test, 309 volunteers worked for thirty weeks in an area where the air was treated to develop a high ratio of negative to positive ions, while 362 controls, worked in untreated air. During the test, the ratio of days lost because of respiratory illness in the two groups was an incredible 1 to 16 [42].

Finally, one can look at some medical applications of high ion concentrations. Kornbleuh and his colleagues have used negative ion therapy successfully for burn patients. Hospitalised patients were treated for 1 to 1.5 hours a day and out patients for twenty five to thirty minutes, to negative ion concentrations as high as 10,000 ions/cm3. Pain, restlessness and incidence of infection were reduced and healing promoted [43]. This application may be related to Serotonin hypothesis of air ion action. Burn patients present increased levels of Serotonin (5-hydroxtryptamine) in damaged tissues and in the blood and Serotonin is known to be associated with pain under some circumstances. We have shown in laboratory animals that inhalation of negative ions increases the conversion of Serotonin to 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (a physiologically inactive metabolite) and this reaction may be involved in the relief of pain reported by burn patients treated with a high concentration of negative ions.

Another instance of laboratory observations coinciding with clinical usage is to be found in our work at the university of California and that of Palti, De Nour, and Abrahamov at Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem. Smith and Krueger noted that the inhalation of positively ionised air by small animals contracted the smooth muscle of the tracheo-bronchial tree and decreased the operational efficiency of the mucus escalator, effects that could be duplicated by the intravenous injection of 5-HT; negative ions had the opposite effect[44]. Palti and his colleagues found that exposure to positive ions increased the respiratory rate and degree of bronchospasm in infants with asthmatic (spastic) bronchitis while treatment with negative ions produced an opposite and therapeutic effect. The negative ion therapy terminated the spastic attack after a much shorter period than that required by the conventional mode of treatment and, in addition, no adverse side effects common to the drug therapy, were observed with the negative ionisation. Further, since the subjects in this experiment were infants under the age of one year, the possibility that the observed effects were due to physiological factors was minimised [45].

P C Boulatov, a Soviet investigator, has summarised his experiment work over the past thirty five years involving the treatment of over 3,000 bronchial asthma patients with high concentrations of negative ions. He has reported that after a short period of temporary exacerbation there followed substantial improvements in the general state of the patients, a normalisation of the blood picture, improved respiratory function and a reduction in the frequency and intensity of attacks of bronchial asthma [46]. Kornbleuh, the pioneer American investigator of air ion phenomena and his co-workers obtained temporary relief of acute hay fever symptoms in patients treated with high concentrations of negative air ions. They speculated that the mode of action might be due to some physical and/or chemical effect on microscopic airborne contaminants such as dust, spores, bacteria and pollen or to a direct physiological action on the respiratory tract [47].

More recently, Dr A P Weaner reported on a closely related therapeutic modality: electro aerosols in which minute water droplets act as a vehicle for electric charges. This therapy used extensively in Germany and the USSR has reportedly been applied with success in the treatment of respiratory disorders and various manifestations of autonomic dysfunction such as migraine, nervous tension and depression [48]. Wehner also reviewed the work of K H Schulz who found that negatively charged aerosols seem to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and therefore can help to restore autonomic balance in cases of an overstimulated activation. From these observations, Schulz postulated that the effect of the ions would depend on the state of activation of the autonomic nervous system and further, that if the proper charge of ions is administered to a given ion “type” individual a normalisation of autonomic functioning would occur [49].

In line with this theory were the findings of Monaco and Acker, who performed a large number of tests on a group of Psychiatric patients and a group of non-patients. In the psychiatric patients, negative ionisation decreased systolic blood pressure, increased skin resistance and increased pulse finger volume, indicating increased parasympathetic nervous system activity. For the non patients, only a significant decrease in pulse finger volume occurred, indicating slight increase in sympathetic nervous system activity. Thus, it appears that the negative ions had a normalising influence, lowering activation of the psychiatric patients and increasing the activation of the non-patients [50].

Noting the relationship between air ions and neurohormones and following the reports that negative ions produce a sedative effect, R Ucha Udabe, R Kertesz and L Franceschetti at the Catholic University in Buenos Aires tried treating a large number of patients suffering from psychoneurosis and anxiety syndromes. Sessions varied from fifteen minutes to two hours and the number of treatments from ten to twenty. These authors were very impressed with the conspicuous disappearance of simatic complaints and claimed favourable results in 80% of their patients [51]. M Deleanu also claims success in the treatment of gastro duodenal ulcers in animals and man using relatively low dosages of air ions (5000 to 10,000 negative ions/cm3 and 1000 to 2000 positive ions/cm3) [52].

This is only a brief review of some of the developing areas of clinical research, but based on the evidence surveyed in this paper, it appears that air ion investigations constitute a legitimate and promising branch of biological research. As more information is acquired about the mechanisms underlying the reactions between air ions and living systems, we should be able to evaluate more clearly than at present the importance of air ions in nature and assess their potential for clinical and non clinical applications.