Have you ever wondered why you always feel relaxed and at ease when you stand by a streaming body of water such as a waterfall, fountain or when you go to the beach and sit near the ocean? There is a logical and scientific reasoning behind how you felt that time and it has nothing to do with psychology or mentally conditioning yourself to appreciate your surroundings.
The air surrounding us contains many molecules that have their own electric charge. Depending on the kind of molecule and the number of electrons that surround it, each one will gain a positive and a negative charge. Most of the time confined spaces such as office buildings, vehicles and closed off areas will have a positive charge, similar to several airborne pollutants and allergens. Near water, the air molecules develop a negative charge which is one of the best carriers of oxygen and allow you to breathe easier.
Negative ions are quite a wonderful friend to the body. It precipitates the transportation of oxygen to the brain and boosts the immune system while boosting your cognition and mood. Clinical studies have shown that negative ions contribute to eliminating depression and even curing SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder. You can get negative ions simply by standing in your backyard or as easy as running the water in your shower if you don't have the time to appreciate the outdoors. You can also purchase an ionizing machine which is a great way of bringing negative ions to your environment.
When molecules lose an electron because of several factors such as barometric pressure changes or the flow of air in a heating or cooling duct it becomes positively charged. An ionizer works by changing the polarity of air molecules and increasing a negative ion state in its perimeter.