Subj: Negions DO reduce serotonin: And I quote...
Date: 8/31/00 5:03:49 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Hi Kent
In response to the reader who claimed that negions increase serotonin
levels, here is a quote from the first article at
http://www.elanra.com/scientificpublications.htm,
(see http://www.elanra.com/sciarticles/sci1.htm)

"We found a readily reproducible and significant change in blood 5-Ht
levels in mice exposed to air ion densities of 4-5x105 positive or
negative ions/cm3. Positive ions raised blood levels of 5-Ht, while
negative ions had the opposite effect... This general mechanism of
air ion action has been confirmed by other investigators." 5-Ht is
serotonin.

I know it seems like if serotonin reuptake inhibitors make us feel
less depressed, and negions make us feel less depressed, negions
should increase serotonin -- but that's not what I find in the
research. I got turned on to this, first through Wiley's Lights Out
book (which I sure hope the person who "corrected" me will check out
and respond to, as maybe he/she can explain the contradictions
between "common knowledge" and the actual research). Then I found an
account of the early negion research, written up in the book The Ion
Effect, by Fred Soyka, in which he very specifically states that the
researchers found the negions DECREASED serotonin and made people
feel much better. Soyka says pos-ions, which increase serotonin,
while occasionally resulting in a short-lived intitial euphoric
surge, eventually result in emotional depletion, crippling
depression and anxiety. This effect is reversed by negions, which
reduce serotonin levels. Soyka was a sufferer from the Geneva
version of the "Witch's Wind" (The Foehn), and was prompted to
research the negion effect to cure his own debilitating symptoms
which stemmed from positive ions in the winds, causing him
immobilizing depression, as well as debilitating physical symptoms.
A negative ionizer lowered his elevated serotonin levels and reduced
his symptoms to a manageable level.

Please, PLEASE let's keep this conversation going! I really want to
understand the physiological mechanisms involved, the seeming
paradox between research results and the claimed function of Prozac,
and the potential for population control through ion-driven (or drug
driven) neurotransmitter manipulation.

Thanks for providing the forum!