Air Ions and Human Performance

Hawkins, L. A.; Barker, Tyler

doi:10.1080/00140137808931724

Cited by 49 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Numerous negative ions are found in the air of mountains, forests and hot springs and these ions give us a feeling of refreshment (Hawkins and Baker 1978). Exposure to negative ions enhances parasympathetic nervous activity and decreases blood glucose levels (Tom et al 1981).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing and walking) effectively decreases blood glucose levels in diabetic patients

Ohtsuka

Yabunaka

Takayama

1998

International Journal of Biometeorology

126

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The influence of "shinrin-yoku" (forest-air bathing and walking) on blood glucose levels in diabetic patients was examined. Eighty-seven (29 male and 58 female) non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients [61 (SEM 1) years old] participated in the present study. Shinrin-yoku was performed nine times over a period of 6 years. The patients were divided into two parties. They then walked in the forest for 3 km or 6 km according to their physical ability and/or the existence of diabetic complications. The mean blood glucose level after forest walking changed from 179 (SEM 4) mg.100 ml-1 to 108 (SEM 2) mg.100 ml-1 (P < 0.0001). The level of glycated haemoglobin A1c also decreased from 6.9 (SEM 0.2)% (before the first shinrin-yoku) to 6.5 (SEM 0.1)% (after the last shinrin-yoku; P < 0.05). Blood glucose values declined by 74 (SEM 9) mg.100 ml-1 and 70 (SEM 4) mg.100 ml-1 after short- and long-distance walking respectively. There was no significant difference between these values. Since the forest environment causes changes in hormonal secretion and autonomic nervous functions, it is presumed that, in addition to the increased calorie consumption and improved insulin sensitivity, walking in a forest environment has other beneficial effects in decreasing blood glucose levels.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing and walking) effectively decreases blood glucose levels in diabetic patients

Ohtsuka

Yabunaka

Takayama

1998

International Journal of Biometeorology

126

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“…Beneficial effects of exposure to NAI on psychological and physiological conditions have been suggested (Krueger and Smith 1958;Krueger and Reed 1976;Hawkins and Barker 1978;Buckalew and Rizzuto 1982;Goldstein and Arshavskaya 1997;Ju and Kubo 1997;Watanabe et al 1997). Although the mechanisms involved in mediating such effects have remained obscure, our findings suggest a neural mechanism involved in induction of physiological response by NAI.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Effects of negative air ions on activity of neural substrates involved in autonomic regulation in rats

et al. 2008

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The neural mechanism by which negative air ions (NAI) mediate the regulation of autonomic nervous system activity is still unknown. We examined the effects of NAI on physiological responses, such as blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV) as well as neuronal activity, in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), locus coeruleus (LC), nucleus ambiguus (NA), and nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) with c-Fos immunohistochemistry in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing rats. In addition, we performed cervical vagotomy to reveal the afferent pathway involved in mediating the effects of NAI on autonomic regulation. NAI significantly decreased BP and HR, and increased HF power of the HRV spectrum. Significant decreases in c-Fos positive nuclei in the PVN and LC, and enhancement of c-Fos expression in the NA and NTS were induced by NAI. After vagotomy, these physiological and neuronal responses to NAI were not observed. These findings suggest that NAI can modulate autonomic regulation through inhibition of neuronal activity in PVN and LC as well as activation of NA neurons, and that these effects of NAI might be mediated via the vagus nerves.

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“…Numerous positive ions (100-300 ions/ml) may be detected in cities, while numerous negative ions may be found in mountains, forests, and hot-spring areas. Especially in the neighbourhood of a waterfall and after the passage of a typhoon, the number of negative ions increases (300-500 ions/ml), and this is considered to be the cause of the feeling of refreshment that people experience (Hawkins and Barker 1978).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many research projects have reported that negative ions improved working efficiency (Hawkins and Barker 1978) and the state of mind including emotions (Yates et al 1986). On the other hand, there has also been the problem of damage to the tissues due to large numbers of negative ions (Yates et al 1986) and of the generation of activated oxygen (Goldstein et al 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical effects of negative air ions in a wet sauna

Watanabe

Noro

Ohtsuka

et al. 1997

International Journal of Biometeorology

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The physical effects of negative air ions on humans were determined in an experimental sauna room equipped with an ionizer. Thirteen healthy persons took a wet sauna bath (dry bulb temperature 42 degrees C, relative humidity 100%, 10 min exposure) with or without negative air ions. The subjects were not told when they were being exposed to negative air ions. There were no differences in the moods of these persons or changes in their blood pressures between the two saunas. The surface temperatures of the foreheads, hands, and legs in the sauna with negative ions were significantly higher than those in the sauna without ions. The pulse rates and sweat produced in the sauna with ions were significantly higher than those in the sauna without ions. The results suggest that negative ions may amplify the effects on humans of the sauna.

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Air Ions and Human Performance

Cited by 49 publications

References 9 publications

Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing and walking) effectively decreases blood glucose levels in diabetic patients

Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing and walking) effectively decreases blood glucose levels in diabetic patients

Effects of negative air ions on activity of neural substrates involved in autonomic regulation in rats

Physical effects of negative air ions in a wet sauna

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