The term Lunatic is derived from the word Lunar (Moon).
Simply put; Hormonal reactions to increased positive ions in the air (Full Moon Effect) cause hyperactivity, depression, violent behavior, road rage, higher occurrences of migraines and asthma. Even bees are known to sting without provocation on higher positive ion ratios.
The Israeli Army considers the Sharav wind (high in positive ion concentrations) a natural enemy of an efficient fighting force. They even have a term for this reaction called "Bedouinism" which means the soldiers cease to be alert, or effective fighters during the wind. 1
In some middle east countries, Judges are more lenient on criminals if the crime was committed during increased positive ion wind conditions.
These periodic winds blowing in from the desert are called the Sharav. University studies in Israel concluded that increased positive ions can cause an increase in violent tendencies.
The Biochemical Reaction
Just about all the air you breathe has some quantity of Aero-Ions. Ions are charged particles in the air (between a few hundred to a few thousand per cubic centimeter). Some ions are negatively charged (Negative Ions) and some positively charged (Positive Ions). After years of research around the world, Ion Scientists have determined over and over that an imbalance in the ratio between Positive and Negative Ions has a profound effect on both your mental and physical well being.
For every one day lost among the group of people working in negative ion enriched air, there were sixteen lost among the people working in normal air.
Swiss bank study of over 600 employees
If you breathe large amounts of positive ions without an equal amount of negative ions, you will actually become lethargic and in some cases sick (high positive ion concentrations in the air are associated with the full moon). Air containing more negative ions and fewer positive ions has shown to be beneficial and without side effects. That is why negative ion generators are sold around the world.
75% of the general population react favorably to negative ions but are adversely affected by positive ions, while the other 25% react in the opposite way, finding higher positive ion days euphoric and higher negative ion days boring. These people compensate for the stress caused by positive ions with sufficient adrenaline production.
In other words, 75% of the general population goes into different ranges of depression and 25% become hyperactive. We are all affected somewhat by higher positive ion ratios. There are no side effects from negative ions.
Bank employees went from an error rate of 2.5% before negative ion generators were installed, to an error rate of 0.5% while working in negative ion enriched air.
South Africa bank with 90 employees
Ion research from around the world has proven that Serotonin overproduction stimulated by higher positive ion ratios is the primary cause for many of the problems associated with positive ions:
In the 25% of the general population during higher positive ion ratios, short term increase in productivity occurs (attributed to hyperactive adrenaline production). After extended exposure or duration to positive ions, this increase in productivity quickly turns into poor performance (attributed to a weakened or exhausted adrenaline gland).
Serotonin side effects
Once the adrenaline gland has become exhausted, the body then must deal with the excess serotonin. Without adrenaline to balance the serotonin side effects, the serotonin becomes a major antagonist to both man and animal.
Recent popular antidepressants work by triggering more serotonin in the brain and body.
On the other hand, ion science has discovered that this same neuro-hormone, serotonin. Is the cause of many of the problems? As stated prior in this article, serotonin triggers adrenaline which probably accounts for the initial antidepressant effect. Once the adrenaline gland is exhausted, usually in just a few short months, the serotonin side effects begin to show up.
A four year study by a leading Israeli Doctor concluded that "serotonin is not found in the urine of "normal" people except when they are under considerable emotional stress or anxiety" 2
Lists of side effects from recent serotonin triggering antidepressants are as follows:
Less common side effects include changes in sex drive, impotence, abnormal dreams, difficulty concentrating, acne, hair loss, dry skin, chest pains, allergy, runny nose, bronchitis, abnormal heart rhythms, bleeding, blood pressure changes, headaches, fainting when rising suddenly from a sitting position, bone pain, bursitis, twitching, breast pain, fibrocystic disease of the breast, cystitis, urinary pain, double vision, eye or ear pain, conjunctivitis, anemia, swelling, low blood sugar, and low thyroid activity.
In addition, many other side effects affecting virtually every body system have been reported. They are too numerous to mention. 3
Positive ions also have a serotonin triggering effect
Side effects from positive ions winds (such as the Chinook wind in Calgary and the Santa Ana winds in southern California) compiled by a Swiss meteorological report in 1974 are as follows:
Studies in Geneva showed an increase of over 50% in traffic accidents during times of high positive ion ratios.
Physical side effects: Body pains, sick headaches, dizziness, twitching of the eyes, nausea, fatigue, faintness, disorders in saline (salt) budget with fluctuations in electrolytical metabolism (calcium and magnesium; critical for alcoholics), water accumulation, respiratory difficulties, allergies, asthma, heart and circulatory disorders (heart attacks approx. 50% higher) low blood pressure, slowing down in reaction time, more sensitivity to pain, inflammations, bleeding embolisms of the lungs, and thrombosis.
Psychological side effects: Emotional unbalance, irritation, vital disinclination, compulsion to meditate, exhaustion, apathy, disinclination or listlessness toward work (poor school achievement), insecurity, anxiety, depression (especially after age forty to fifty), rate of attempted suicide about 20% higher, larger number of admittances to clinics in drug cases. 4
Positive Ion Winds
Winds with high levels of Positive Ions are present in several areas of the world, but known by different names, depending of the country, is associated with significant physiological and psychological effects upon human populations. Typically this wind is hot and dry, and brings with it, an invasion of positive ions. Listed below are several geographical locations showing the name by which the wind is known in that are 5 :
LOCATION.................NAME OF WIND
Germany........................Foehn & Tramontana
Austria...........................Foehn
Israel.............................Sharav
Egypt.............................Khamsin
Italy...............................Sirocco
Central France..............Autan
California......................Santa Ana
Argentina......................Zonda
Canada.........................Chinook
Malta............................Xlokk
Java..............................Koebang & Gending
Northern Sumatra........Bohorok
Libya.............................Sharkia
New Dehli....................The Desert Wind
Australia......................The Desert Wind (K-3)
True Antidepressants
Negative ions decrease pilot fatigue and increase reaction times of pilots
U.S. Air force study
Negative ion generators have proven to be a much better antidepressant, since the negative ions allow the body and brain to convert excess serotonin into a harmless chemical (known as 5-HIAA) 6. Negative ions also allow the body to build up adrenaline reserves and have no adverse side effects. Depressed people tend to notice an immediate effect with antidepressants because of the hyperactivity of the adrenaline gland. With negative ions, because there is no obvious immediate effect, many people think that they aren't doing anything. Negative ions should be considered an effective long-term antidepressant. They are not an absolute cure to depression. They do counteract many of the problems associated with depression. On the other hand, if we use the short term serotonin triggering antidepressant medication, relief will come, but only for a short while. In the long term this medication contributes to the reason behind much of the depression in the first place.
1) Soyka, Fred "The Ion Effect"( Lester and Orpen Limited, 1977),p.39-40
2) Soyka, Fred "The Ion Effect"( Lester and Orpen Limited, 1977),p.41
3) The Pill Book (New and Revised 5th Edition), Text by Silverman, Horold M., Pharm. D. & Simon Gilbert I., Sc.D., Bantum Books, 1992, p. 358
4) Soyka, Fred "The Ion Effect"( Lester and Orpen Limited, 1977),p.145-146
5) Victor R. Beasley PhD. BEHAVIOURAL EFFECTS OF AIR IONS Vol 1. - "Dimensions of Electro-Vibratory Phenomena" August, 1975
6) Soyka, Fred "The Ion Effect"( Lester and Orpen Limited, 1977),p.50