N egative oxygen ions are known as“air vitamins”and “l(fā)ongevity elements”for anti-aging.As the forest coverage rate of Shennongjia is 91.1%,and that of its core protection area is as high as 96%,it is one of the places with high-concentration negative oxygen ions in China,and has won the reputation of“the Green Lung of Central China.”Fresh air, a beautiful natural environment,and a pleasant climate make Shennongjia a unique land for healing.Ecological recuperation in Shennongjia not only regulates the physiological functions of the human body,but also benefits the lungs,as well as treats chronic diseases.Many related cases in the Forestry District can be taken as examples.

“Shennongjia Air”produced by Shennongjia Shenlin Health Industry Co.,Ltd.is scheduled to be on the market soon.The air is collected and infused into large tanks,then it is packed into small bottles that can be delivered to the market as soon as possible after being certified by the relevant departments.

Ren Kanglin,who had a chest surgery 17 years ago due to a heart attack,has been in Shennongjia every year for recuperation since 2008.At first,he would visit for a month or two to escape the heat,but eventually he bought a house in this healing capital.Now he spends most of his time in Shennongjia.

工人們在林間采集空氣(Workers collecting fresh air in deep forest)

Ren Kanglin is from Jingzhou City in Hubei Province.He said that the weather there during the summer was too hot and humid,which caused him to suffer from headaches,diarrhea,and other bad health condition—it was certainly not good for his post-operation recuperation.“Shennongjia has a suitable temperature that makes me feel refreshed,and the air and spring water are both of high quality.After coming here, various functions of my body maintain a healthy post-operative condition,”said Ren Kanglin.He is very satisfied with life here,laughing,saying that he is the“earliest migratory bird”to come here.

Guo Qingming,from Yichang of Hubei Province,suffered a bronchial rupture due to an illness in his early years.Failing in various treatments,he had a pulmonary resection operation and almost two-thirds of his lungs were removed.The doctor told him that he would not live much longer.When he nearly lost his hope,his friend suggested he recuperate in Shennongjia.

According to Guo Qingming,before he came to Shennongjia,he also thought about moving to other mountain areas.However,some of them were wet and foggy with mosquitoes,and some were at too high an altitude and lacked water,or were just inconvenient for emergency medical treatment.With all these factors in consideration,Guo Qingming regarded Shennongjia as the best place to preserve his health and extend his life.

In Shennongjia,Guo Qingming eats mostly sweet potatoes,corn,and other vegetables produced locally.His physicalcondition has been continually improving.In recent years,he has stopped going in for medical examinations.“I know my own body very well now,”he said.He told us that he has seldom been ill since coming here,and that his spleen and stomach were healthier without taking any medicine.

Ren Kanglin and Guo Qingming are both in their 60s,and both look very fine.They are still vigorous and well organized.In addition to paying attention to diet and exercise,they also maintain a positive life attitude.

When we first arrived at Shennongjia,a local man named Wang Guilin asked us whether we had a sleeping problem at night.Only after sharing an identical answer did we realize that everyone felt the same way.Wang Guilin pointed out that it was a symptom commonly known as “oxygen-drunk.”Then he told us about his downhill experiences.“When we mountain guys go down the mountain,especially to the big cities,it’s okay to stay for a short while;but if we stay for a few days,we will feel dizzy,and in severe cases,our limbs will be weak.This is actually the symptom of anoxia.”After going to Shennongjia,I was in high spirits,and became more energetic.

云出陰峪谷（徐 欣攝）Cloud sea in Yinyu Valley(Photo by Xu Xin)

自然養(yǎng)生

負氧離子被譽為“空氣維生素”和生命抗衰“長壽素”，神農架林區(qū)森林覆蓋率達91.1%，而在核心保護區(qū)內更高達96%，是國內負氧離子高濃度地之一，因此獲得了“華中綠肺”的雅譽。清新的空氣，優(yōu)美的自然環(huán)境，再加上宜人的氣候條件，使得神農架成為獨特的療養(yǎng)風水寶地。在神農架進行生態(tài)療養(yǎng)，既能全面調節(jié)修復人體的生理機能，又能清潔肺部，可以預防、幫助治療慢性疾病，相關事例在林區(qū)隨便打聽就有不少。

神農架空氣要面市了。筆者在神農架神林健康產業(yè)有限公司看到，大罐收集回來的空氣，正在分裝成小瓶，等管理部門認證之后就可以推向市場。

任康林17年前因患心臟病做了一次開胸手術，為療養(yǎng)身體，他從2008年開始每年都要來神農架林區(qū)避暑。起初只是在天氣熱的時候過來住一兩個月，后來干脆在林區(qū)買了房，現(xiàn)在每年的大部分時間都待在神農架。

任康林的家鄉(xiāng)在湖北荊州，他說，夏天家里悶熱潮濕，經(jīng)常頭痛、拉肚子，整個人狀態(tài)不好，對手術后療養(yǎng)不利?！吧褶r架這里氣溫合適，干凈清爽，林區(qū)空氣和山泉水的質量都很高，來這里以后身體的各項機能都能維持術后的狀況”，任先生對這里的生活非常滿意，笑稱自己是來這里“最早的候鳥”。

空山新雨后(葉 禎攝)Allbecomes fresh after a rain(Photo by Ye Zhen)

湖北宜昌人郭慶明早年因病致支氣管破裂，在嘗試各種治療方法無果之后接受手術，肺部被切除了差不多三分之二。醫(yī)生告訴他能活一天是一天，絕望之際，朋友建議他到神農架調養(yǎng)。

據(jù)郭慶明介紹，他來神農架之前也考察了一些山區(qū)，有的濕氣重、蚊蟲多，有的海拔太高、缺水，或者是急診就醫(yī)不方便。綜合考慮后，他選擇了神農架作為一輩子的療養(yǎng)之地。

在神農架，郭慶明吃的多是林區(qū)自產的紅薯、玉米和蔬菜等，不知不覺中身體狀況越來越好，近幾年也不再去體檢，“我自己的身體我心里有數(shù)”。他表示，他來這兒以后不常生病了，也不吃藥，脾胃各方面都比較好。

任、郭二人都是60多歲，氣色都很好，神采奕奕，談話有條不紊。他們平時除了注意飲食和運動外，還保持著良好的心態(tài)。

初到神農架，當?shù)厝送踬F林問我們，是不是晚上睡不著，這時我們才知道大家都有共同的感受，紛紛點頭。他說，這是醉氧的表現(xiàn)。接著，他談起自己下山的感受：“我們下山，尤其是去大城市，短暫去一趟還好，如果待幾天，就會有頭昏的感覺，嚴重的時候還會四肢乏力。這實際上是缺氧?！甭犞淖硌趵碚摚P者更直接的感受是，到神農架后，感覺精神更好，干活不知道累。