OZONATOR/IONIZER AIR MACHINES AS A SOURCE OF OXYGEN AND NEGATIVE IONS

by Lawrence Wilson, MD

UPDATED 6/10/2010

A common type of air purifier called an ozonator/ionizer can be used in a special way to add oxygen and negative ions to the body. For almost everyone, this is a wonderful health benefit. Thus it is recommended as part of most nutritional balancing programs.

Caution. A few people with severe lung problems may not benefit from breathing extra ozone. However, so far we have not encountered this problem with anyone who is following a nutritional balancing program. We have experimented with some individuals who have quite severe asthma, for example, and they all benefit from the extra oxygen and negative ions from these machines. I am aware of the dangers of ozone, and that the state of California believes the problem is so bad they do not permit the sale of ozonators in California.

The reason we may not have any problem with these machines may be due to their design, or may be due to the fact that anyone on a nutritional balancing program is so well-nourished that it offsets any possible lung irritation from ozone exposure.

Ozone production in these machines. These machines produce ozone by the method of corona discharge. This produces a little nitric acid as well, which does not seem to be a problem.

The reason the machines are designed to produce ozone is to destroy most types of odors, including those due to chemicals, molds, bacteria, pet urine and feces, cigarette smoke and many others. Ozone is excellent for this purpose. Ozone also destroys most pathogenic bacteria and other harmful micro-organisms. For this reason, some nations purify their water supply with ozone, a much better system than using chlorine or bromine, as is done in the United States.

USE OF THE AIR PURIFIER TO INCREASE OXYGEN IN THE BODY

For our healing purpose, we are not as interested in the sue of ozone to purify the home as we are in enhancing the oxygen level in the body. This requires a slightly different placement of the machine in the house. For the best effect, you must do the following:

· Place the air machine in your bedroom. This way, during the night while asleep, you will breathe a significant amount of extra oxygen. Most people breathe the deepest while they sleep, though not everyone. This is one reason why people snore, as they are breathing heavily.

· Place the air machine high up, such as on a shelf or book case high off the ground. This helps circulate the ozone better.

· Turn the ozone control of the machine up about halfway or so. That is plenty of ozone.

· Turn the fan control to a low setting if you wish. This way it won’t make too much noise that might interfere with sleep. A higher fan speed is fine, however.

NOTE: This is different from the instructions that come with most ozonator/ionizer air machines. They usually do not recommend placing the unit in the bedroom. However, their instructions are to remove cigarette smoke and other odors. This article is about how to use these machines to increase oxygenation of the body, and that is why placing the machine in the bedroom is best.

How the unit adds oxygen to your body. Here is the sequence of chemical events:

1. The machine converts some of the oxygen or O2 in the air to ozone or O3

2. This leaves a slightly lower amount of O2 in the air in the house.

3. If you leave a window or door open a little bit, the air in the house will absorb a little more O2 from the outside air.

4. Now you have the usual amount of O2 plus some extra O3.

5. Ozone is a very unstable compound. When you breathe in the ozone made by the machine, it is quickly converted inside the lungs into extra oxygen for your human body.

6. This is added to the rest of the oxygen in the air, so you end up with a little more oxygen in your body as a result.

Are there other problems with ozone? Ozone has a slightly acrid, fresh smell. Some people do not like the smell. Turn the machine down a little if it really bothers you. However, it is very helpful for most people, as explained above.

Ozone, like oxygen, is quite flammable. However, the amount of ozone produced definitely does not increase the fire hazard in your home. If your lungs are irritated by the ozone, turn the machine down a little bit. Note, however, that many people develop a tolerance for the machine within a few days.

Can breathing the extra ozone cause some oxidant damage? Ozone is a potent oxidizing agent. This leads some people to think that breathing more ozone will cause oxidant damage to the body. We have not observed this. One reason is that we recommend a very mineral-and-vitamin-rich diet. A diet rich in cooked vegetables will be very rich in natural anti-oxidants that protect the body from oxidant damage. In addition, we recommend supplementary nutrients that add more anti-oxidants. We would guess that people who find ozone irritating are those with low anti-oxidant levels in the body.

NEGATIVE IONS ALSO HELPFUL FOR HEALING

Negative ions. These are negatively charged electrons, basically, that the same air purifier produces in large quantities. The machine produces them because when they interact with dirt, dust, bacteria and other impurities in the air in one’s home, the negative charge of the ions causes the dirt and other particles to fall to the floor, rather than float around in the air where it can be breathed. So it is an interesting way to purify the air in home without needing a filter.

Extra negative ions are helpful for all indoor environments. The reason is that while they are produced naturally out of doors, they are destroyed rather quickly indoors due to contact with metallic air ducts, electrical devices and more. For this reason, most indoor air is low in negative ions. It does not matter if one lives in the city or in the rural areas.

The healing properties of negative ions. While pure air is wonderful, I recommend this machine due to the interesting healing properties of negative ions. Many studies show that negative ions have subtle effects upon the body that are not well understood. They appear to help relax the nervous system and have other effects as well.

In the ozonator/ionizer machines we recommend, the negative ions are carried around the house using a carrier frequency to literally broadcast the ions widely. This appears to work very well, since usually negative ions do not travel very far from the machine that makes them. Thus one ozonator/ionizer can spread the negative ions throughout the whole house easily.

OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS

Filter. Some of the newer machines also have a hepa filter that remove some dust and smaller particles from the air.

Ultraviolet lamp. Some newer units also contain an ultraviolet lamp (UV lamp) that the air passes over as it enters the machine. This is designed to kill some microorganisms in the air, and is an added feature in some units. I do not know how effective it is because the air moves quickly over it, but it probably helps to reduce the bacteria count in the air.

Excellent combination. The combination of ozone, negative ions, hepa air filtration and ultraviolet light make these machines very attractive for most people. Older machines were quite costly, but the price has come down. See below for pricing.

OTHER USES FOR OZONATOR/IONIZER MACHINES

An ozonator/ionizer machine has many other fascinating uses that can make owning one very worthwhile. Among the most important are:

Fumigating and disinfecting rooms, cars, air ducts or even a whole house. For example, if one has had a flood or mold problem, leaving the unit closed up in the room or area for a week or more can kill mold without the need for chemicals that are often almost as toxic as the mold itself.

In a sickroom or hospital, running the machine will help disinfect everything in the room, including equipment, to reduce the possibility of spreading germs from one person to another. Many hospitals use ultraviolet lights for this purpose. However, in some ways ozone is better than ultraviolet light because ozone will gently penetrate into all cracks and crevices in the room, even under sheets and blankets, to help kill germs of all kinds. One can literally fumigate the room in a totally harmless way by locking the machine in a room and turning it up to full strength and leaving it there for a few days, if needed. People and animals should stay out of the room during this time, as the ozone level will be too high for comfort.

Reducing chemical odors. I have used this machine to get rid of new car odors, pet odors, formaldehyde odor in new furniture, new carpeting odor and other types of chemical smells. Once again, the ozone is excellent because it gently penetrates deeply into synthetic fabrics and other odor-causing materials.

The way this is done is to close the unit into the space to be deodorized and leave it running for a few days, perhaps. It is much better than covering up odors with chemical scents. The ozone actually breaks down the chemicals and when the job is done, no chemical residue from the ozone remains.

Note that ozone will eventually degrade rubber and some plastics. So do not do this unless it is needed.

Ozonator/Ionizer Maintenance.

1. Filter. The air filter in the back of the unit must be washed out in plain water once a month or so, in most cases, to keep it functioning properly. It is easy to remove by loosening a few screws, usually. I am told not to wash the filter with soap, as it might clog it. Just use plain water.

2. Ozone plates. Ozone is produced in these machines with one or two ceramic plates with a wire mesh attached to them. These plates must be removed and cleaned with simple water and soap every few months, as they will build up some dust and dirt, and can stop functioning properly. To remove them, first remove the air filter. Then gently pull out the plates to clean them. Be sure to return them to the unit in exactly the same way they were removed. In a few years, the ceramic plates may begin to crack and can be replaced inexpensively.

3. General dusting. Because the machines produce a lot of negative ions, they might attract some dust and dirt. Periodically check and dust off the machine or wash the case with a little water and soap, as needed.

PURCHASING AN OZONATOR/IONIZER MACHINE

These machines are made by Better Living Alpine Air, Ecoquest, Oreck, Peak Pure Air and perhaps other companies.

One unit that I have experimented with a lot is the one made by Better Living Alpine Air (www.betterlivingalpineair.com). I prefer their older model that has dials to adjust the fan speed and the ozone strength. They offer another model with electronic controls, which is not quite as easy to use, though it works fine.

The model with the dials will purify the air of an entire home, has a five year warranty, uses very little electricity, and so far has proven to be a very well-made and reliable unit made in China.

Better Living Pricing. This machine is available on the internet for about $359.00 US. I was able to buy a number of them so I am able to sell the same machine for $275.00 for the cherry or walnut-colored units, or $300.00 for the acrylic case. The price includes shipping in the USA. This is the best price for this type of machine that I have seen.

To order one of these machines, please call (928) 445-7690. Be sure to state which color you would like, and be sure to give us a street address, not a post office box, since the unit will be mailed to you by UPS ground, which requires a residential address.

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