Can Negative Ions From Sea Spray Boost Your Mood?

Science tells us there's something in the air.

Photo: ©Mary Ann Rollano

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”

―Ralph Waldo Emerson

The ocean is a gift from nature. More people are drawn to her shores than anywhere else in the world.

Ralph Waldo Emerson saw nature’s beauty as a representation of the divine and a source of our soul’s connection to the “Universal Soul.” Emerson perceived the sacred in the natural world and believed all living beings are connected to one another and the universe as a whole.

Gazing out over the vast ocean, I realize the oceans were here billions of years before me and will continue to be here billions of years after I’m gone. It’s a glimpse of the divine unfolding before me.

Being close to nature through coastal living is a dream life for many, including myself, as evidenced by thousands of people taking beach vacations every year. The Center for Conservation Biology claims:

“180 million Americans make 2 billion visits to beaches – more than twice as many as to all national and state parklands combined.”

Yes, the views are spectacular and incredibly calming, but there’s more to it than that. There’s something in the air.

Ions in the air

Have you ever wondered why you feel so good, invigorated, and fearless even after a nice long walk on the beach or a day out in the fresh sea air? Or maybe it was an exhilarating springtime thunderstorm, a visit to a waterfall, or a hike high in the mountains. Why is that?

The sights and scents of the natural world can give people a feel-good effect. However, negative air ions are the invisible ingredient in our experience.

According to Pierce J. Howard, Ph.D., the director of research and development for the Center for Applied Cognitive Studies in Charlotte, North Carolina:

“Negative ions help decrease unhealthy particles in the air.”

I like to think of negative ions as nature’s way of cleansing the air.

Science tells us these electrically charged molecules tend to concentrate in electrically polarized areas, such as after a lightning storm, in the mountains, forests, waterfalls, and oceans.

What is an ion?

Here is a quick review of high school chemistry.

An ion is a molecule with a positive or negative charge. It can be created by gaining or losing electrons. Electrons have a negative charge, while protons have a positive charge. If an atom gains an electron, it has more electrons than protons, creating a negatively charged atom of an element.

All this happens at the molecular level; you can’t see it, but it’s there.

The Center For Environmental Therapeutics explains it this way:

“Physical measurements reveal the oxygen in the air (O2) takes on a tiny negative electrical charge, making it O2⎺.

These particles are enveloped by microdroplets of moisture, H2O, which help maintain the charge until O2⎺ is attracted to a neutralizing surface.

The arrangement of O2⎺ molecules enveloped by moisture is called "superoxide," or fresh air.”

Sometimes, you can smell it in the air.

Negative ions and mood

The negative air ions can positively affect our mental health. Many times in my life, I found my mood and physical well-being enhanced by my natural environment. Two places in particular had this noticeable effect.

Of course, whenever I go to the beach, which is often because I live at the shore and have most of my life. And unexpectedly, when we visited Greece.

Greece is a land steeped in ancient history and natural beauty. Part of our visit led us to explore the picturesque villages of Delphi and Arachova, nestled in the rugged mountain cliffs of the Peloponnese region.

As impressive as the archaeological sites in Athens were, they were not the only Ancient Greek wonders. Delphi was once thought to be the center of the world or the naval center of the earth. The Oracle of Delphi was a priestess who sat in the center of the Apollo Temple and gave advice and prophecies to ancient Greek leaders.

It’s a highly spiritual place with amazing energy. You can feel it, and you can feel the spirits of the ones who came before you. It’s the most spiritual place I’ve ever been to. For the Greeks, divinity was closely connected to nature.

Although we can’t see the negative or mineral-rich air ions, breathing them in has positive effects. The Peloponnese mountains are made of limestone and are rich in magnesium and calcium. Meanwhile, the sea air is rich in iodine, magnesium, and salt.

Of course, vitamin D from sunlight does wonders for our state of mind, and magnesium is well known for improving mood.

Scientific evidence

Empirical science attempts to quantify a way of knowing that existed long before the discipline of science. I love science, but I also love our intuitive knowing; the two are not exclusive of one another. The universe always speaks to us; we only need to understand its language.

Michael Terman, a psychology professor at Columbia University, studied the relationship between negative ions and depression. Michael Terman and his group conducted a study¹ that found high-density negative air ionization can counter the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.

The International Journal of Molecular Science published a study² reviewing 100 years of studies on negative air ions and their effect on health.

“Superoxide ions are key members of NAIs (negative air ions) and have been involved in the biological effects of NAIs by regulating the serotonin level and other biological actions but some reports showed no significant effect of NAIs on the concentration or turnover of serotonin.”

I’m going to let my experience be the deciding factor here.

Here’s a fun fact. You can generate negative air ions at home by showering. All those fast-flowing water molecules bumping up against one another create enough friction to add electrons, creating your own blissful oasis of negative air ions. These shearing forces of water are called the “Lenard effect.”

Maybe that’s why we get all these great ideas while showering.

Natures hidden power

What we can’t see is often more impactful than what we can see. So much goes on behind the scenes that helps explain how nature and our bodies work.

I’ve been fascinated by these hidden and sometimes life-changing factors my entire life. The smallest elements create the most significant impact. That’s not just a cliche; it’s how the world works—the small things in life matter. I’ve seen this play out in many ways.

In what seems like another lifetime, I taught my fellow critical care nurses the particulars of arterial blood gases. These measure the body’s oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acid-base balance in arterial or oxygenated blood. The acid-base or pH system affects the body metabolically and is controlled by the lungs and kidneys. A healthy body manages this exact balance with ease.

I also taught the specifics of fluid and electrolyte balances. Electrolytes are minerals with an electric charge that dissolve in water or body fluids, including blood. Being critically deficient or having an excess of an electrolyte can have a severe impact on one's health.

Just as acid-base and electrolyte balances occur at the cellular level, negative air ions occur at the molecular level. You can’t see them with the naked eye, but they’re there and critical to wellness and happiness.

Modern life has hidden much of what we intrinsically know about our health and well-being. I suggest we deepen our connection with ourselves and develop each facet of our mind, body, and spirit. If we sit patiently, observe, and witness nature closely, we will always experience something magical.

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1. Terman, M., & Terman, J. S. (2006). Authors info & affiliations. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(12), 2126. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2006.163.12.2126

2. Jiang, S. Y., Ma, A., & Ramachandran, S. (2018). Negative Air Ions and Their Effects on Human Health and Air Quality Improvement. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(10), 2966. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19102966