Why You Need a Himalayan Salt Lamp

5 Awsome Health Benefits Of Himalayan Salt Lamps

Negative Ions

Negative ions have long been considered healthy; the sea air, mountain air and the air around swiftly running water is high in negative ions. Indoor air, recirculated air, and air around electronic equipment is very low in negative ions. Many office workers who suffer health complaints around fluorescent lighting and computer monitors report considerably less fatigue and headaches if the concentration of negative ions in the air is increased. Why negative ions may be beneficial is only partially understood.

It has been shown that negative ions in the air bind with airborne pollutants, making them heavier so that they fall to the ground, and therefore are unavailable to be inhaled. Many modern air purifiers – the so-called ‘ionic air cleaners‘ – use this technique to provide cleaner indoor air for allergy sufferers. Some studies seem to indicate that an increase in negative ions in the air increases bloodflow to the brain, which would have the effect of improved concentration. The salt lamp is an attractive alternative to the utilitarian look of an air purifier.

The amount of negative ions a salt lamp can release depends on its size and how warm the candle or lightbulb can make it. The larger the crystal, obviously, the more expensive the lamp, but the larger area it can provide with negative ions. Salt lamps that produce ‘night-light’ amounts of light can provide ions to an area equal to the average office cubicle.

Enter the Himalayan Salt Lamp

At this point, you may be wondering how the Himalayan salt lamp factors into ion activity. It’s a facilitator. The salt lamp doesn’t actually create negative ions, but forms an environment wherein negative ions thrive. Due to its chemical construction, the block of salt attracts humidity. The heat within the lamp then causes the moisture to begin evaporating, which does create negative ions. Whether using the salt lamp with a candle or a low-wattage bulb, the negative ions are released.

Some term a Himalayan salt lamp “a living energy source.” It’s been purported that even a small number of negative ions could decrease the amount of bacteria in the air that are known to spread diseases. The Himalayan salt lamp is considered by many to be a natural ionizer and air purifier.

Origin of Himalayan Salt

The stately, mysterious, awe-inspiring Himalayan Mountains hold millions of years of secrets, including the salt mines found in the foothills of Pakistan. According to historical lore, the salty treasure was originally discovered by Alexander the Great on his trek through northern Pakistan in 326 B.C. Fast forward over 2,300 years later, and the salt mines of Khewra, Pakistan, produce over 325,000 tons of salt a year and are the second largest salt mines in the world.

Salt veins were formed in the bowels of the mountains by the evaporation of inland seawater, a process that took millions of years. Today, technology akin to that employed in coal mines is used to extract the blocks of salt. Himalayan salt used for cooking is also pulled from the same mines but the processing is slightly different than that for the salt used in lamps. The high mineral content of the Himalayan salt is natural. It contains no additives, unlike table salt.