Hello FBB Family,
Last month we talked about our negative ion bands and how they can help improve your day to day life. This month we are going to cover another item that gives off negative ions, our Himalayan Salt Lamps.
What Is Himalayan Salt?
Himalayan Salt is a type of rock salt that is mined near the foothills of the Himalayas in the Punjab region of Pakistan. “Both table salt and pink Himalayan salt consist mostly of sodium chloride, but pink Himalayan salt has up to 84 other minerals and trace elements. These include common minerals like potassium and calcium, as well as lesser-known minerals like strontium and molybdenum” (Pearson, 2023). It also contains higher levels of iron which give the salt its pinkish tint. Depending on the iron content the colors can be pink, orange, red, white, or even gray. The higher the iron content, the pinker the tint.
What Are The Benefits of Himalayan Salt?
Himalayan salt can benefit us in many different ways. You can ingest it by adding it to your meal or serving food on a salt block. You can experience salt therapy by spending time in a Himalayan salt cave (also known as halotherapy). You can even enjoy the many benefits in the comfort of your own home or office by purchasing a salt lamp.
Cooking with Himalayan Salt
If you're looking to cook with Himalayan salt, a few benefits are that it has less sodium than table salt and also contains more minerals. “It is said that himalayan salt is healthier due to “its greater concentration of trace elements” (Sifferlin, 2017). “Pink Himalayan salt contains deepan (appetizing) and pachan (digestive) properties. These may help in solving digestive problems and prevent gas accumulation. Pink Himalayan salt can also help peristalsis (muscle contraction that moves food through the digestive tract). It helps regulate metabolism and promotes acid-alkaline balance” (Singh, 2024).
Salt Therapy aka Halo therapy
First things first: what is salt therapy? Dry salt therapy, or halotherapy – which is based on the Greek word for salt, “halo” – promotes dry salt inhalation for relaxation and health benefits. In many salt cave spas, you are surrounded by pure crystal rock salt, where you can sit back and relax. It is a warm, low-humidity environment where you can breathe deeply and recharge.
“According to the National Institutes of Health, Ancient Greeks and medieval monks used forms of halotherapy, but a Polish doctor who noticed in the 1940s that salt mine workers rarely got respiratory ailments is credited with ushering the treatment into modern times” (Campbell, 2018) .
While there haven’t been many quality, peer-reviewed scientific studies on salt therapy benefits, many medical professionals believe that it can relieve several respiratory ailments, including asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, the common cold, and more. Some also say that salt therapy promotes a better immune system and soothes skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and rosacea. "Salt therapy has been used and debated for centuries in medical practice, but it's been more recently used as a complementary or alternative medicine practice," says Dr. Lily Pien who is an allergist at Cleveland Clinic (Sifferlin, 2017). The practice of halotherapy is "supposed to boost immunity, elevate mood, improve skin conditions like eczema and be rejuvenating" (Campbell, 2018). There is also continuing “research on how it can help allergies and lung conditions" (Campbell, 2018).
So how does salt therapy work? Negative ion exchange is one of the things credited with salt therapy’s benefits. Himalayan salt naturally emits negative ions, and these ions are absorbed by your body as you inhale the microparticles. These negative ions then play an important role in bodily functions like balance and coordination. By emitting negative ions it can significantly reduce indoor air pollutants, provide relief from sinus issues, migraine headaches, allergies, hay fever, reduces the severity of asthma attacks, boosts the immune system, increases alertness and concentration, increases lung capacity and reduces susceptibility to colds and flu.
Salt therapy is becoming increasingly popular across the country as a way to simulate Himalayan salt caves, which have been used for relaxation and therapeutic purposes for centuries. You can book an appointment in our very own salt cave located in store at Full Body Balance (lower floor) in The Mall at Robinson.
Himalayan Salt Lamps
HImalayan salt lamps allow you to take home some of the power of a salt cave session. In lamp form, it is believed to ease “symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), increase energy and improve sleep by cleansing the air from pollutants like dust and pollen” (Sifferlin, 2017). Salt lamps clean the air “by absorbing water molecules from the air and releasing negative air ions, which are said to get rid of particles like dust that can cause respiratory problems, like allergies and asthma, and affect mood” (Sifferlin, 2017). Salt lamps have the “ability to release negative ions that may enhance physical and emotional health," says Dr. Andy Weil who is the founder and program director of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine (Sifferlin, 2017). Salt lamps are a great way to promote health in your home, office, or wherever you plug it in!
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we’ve covered some of the wonderful health benefits of Himalayan salt, there are usually a few questions on how to take care of your own salt lamp.
Q: How do you clean salt lamps?
A: Periodically turn your salt lamp off and let it cool, when it reaches room temperature wipe your lamp with a slightly damp towel or sponge to remove any dust, then simply dry with a towel.
Q: How long should I leave my lamp on?
A: For the best results leave your lamp on all the time, the more it's heated from the bulb the more negative ions it produces.
Q: What type of bulb do the salt lamps use?
A: Most lamps can use a 15 or 25 watt bulb; this will depend on the warmth you prefer. Larger lamps may need bigger bulbs; it will depend on the size of the lamp. We sell replacement cords as well as 15 and 25 watt bulbs in store and online! Also we are happy to answer any questions in store or by phone about your bulb needs.
Q: Will the salt lamps degrade over time?
A: As long as you don't submerge them in water or expose them to excessive moisture they should last forever.
Salt lamps are a wonderful addition to any home or office between their many health benefits and the soft warm glow they admit. Browse our online store to check out the different salt lamps we offer, or come on in and feel their warmth for yourself!
Much Love,
FBB Family
References
Campbell, S. (2018, June 30). New salt cave in St. Louis Park is meant to boost health, reduce stress. Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN).
Pearson, K. (2023, February 9). Is Pink Himalayan salt better than regular salt?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/pink-himalayan-salt#TOC_TITLE_HDR_5
Sifferlin, A. (2017). Does Pink Himalayan Salt Have Any Health Benefits? Time.Com, 8.
Singh, Dr. R. (2024, January 24). Pink Himalayan salt: Uses, benefits, side effects, precautions & more!. PharmEasy Blog. https://pharmeasy.in/blog/ayurveda-uses-benefits-precautions-of-pink-himalayan-salt/