10 Reasons To Have A Himalayan Salt Lamp
This blog article has been adapted by Ava Adames and is originally written by Janice Taylor.
You don’t know what you’re missing if you’ve never owned a Himalayan salt lamp. It’s like having an open window – a softly glowing natural source of fresh, clean air – on your desk, in your living room, next to the bed, or anywhere you choose to put it.
Before we dive into the health benefits of using Himalayan salt lamps in your home, it may be helpful to first have a brief chemistry lesson:
All matter (the human body, air, water, etc) is made up of molecules which are made up of atoms which are made up of three types of particles: protons (positive charge), electrons (negative charge), and neutrons (no charge).
A salt lamp works by attracting electrons from salt when light passes through it. The salt has a positive charge, and the electrons have a negative charge. Once the salt comes into contact with the electrons, the salt gives up its electrons, which then attach themselves to the electrons that are given off by the salt. This is a very good thing!
With this basic understanding of the behaviors of positive and negative ions fresh in your mind, let’s take a look at the top 10 benefits of the Himalayan Salt Lamp.
1. Salt Lamps Cleanse & Deodorize the Air
Probably the most well-known benefit – and why the majority of people use them – is due to their incredible power to remove dust, pollen, cigarette smoke, and other contaminants from the air. “But how do they do this,” you ask? “It’s just a big chunk of salt with a light bulb inside, right?”
Well yes, but no. There’s much more to it than that.
Himalayan salt lamps purify air through the power of hygroscopy, meaning that they attract water molecules from the surrounding environment then absorb those molecules – as well as any foreign particles they may be carrying – into the salt crystal.
As the lamp warms up from the heat produced by the light bulb inside, that same water then evaporates back into the air and the trapped particles of dust, pollen, smoke, etc remain locked in the salt.
2. Reduce Allergy & Asthma Symptoms
Because Himalayan salt lamps remove microscopic particles of dust, pet dander, mold, mildew and the like from the surrounding air, placing a lamp or two in the rooms where you spend the most time can seriously cut back on allergy symptoms.
3. Eases Coughing
When the Himalayan salt lamp heats up and begins its hygroscopic cycling of airborne particles, it also changes the charge of the molecules which are released.
What all this means: Besides removing contaminants from the air, Himalayan pink salt lamps also help your body to filter air more efficiently so any foreign particles you do happen to breathe has a lessor chance of making it to your lungs.
4. Increase Energy Levels
Exposure to increased concentrations of negative ions such as those generated by Himalayan salt lamps help fight off fatigue sooner. The fact is, positive ions sap our bodies of energy.
If you constantly feel tired and don’t know why, try keeping a Himalayan salt lamp in the room or rooms where you spend the most time. After about a week, you should notice a difference.
5. Neutralize Electromagnetic Radiation
Nowadays, most of us are living in a metaphorical ocean of electromagnetic (EM) radiation which flows from our electronics (ie: television, computer, cell phone, tablet, appliances, sterio, etc). While they may be invisible, the long-term effects of EM exposure can be quite serious. Constant exposure to EM radiation is known to increase stress levels, cause chronic fatigue, and decrease the body’s immune response, among other things.
As they emit negative ions into the air, Himalayan salt lamps work to neutralize electromagnetic radiation. Keep one next to the computer, television, and any other electrical devices which you use frequently to reduce the potential danger to you and your family.
6. Better Sleep
Another side effect which results from over-exposure to positive ions in the air is that it robs you of quality sleep. This happens because those positively-charged particles can actually reduce blood and oxygen supply to the brain resulting in irregular sleep patterns.
Himalayan pink salt lamps are natural negative ion generators, thus they can help to reverse this problem. Keep one around your bedroom to improve the air quality so you can get a better night’s sleep.
7. Improve Mood & Concentration
Himalayan pink salt lamps are a great way to naturally enhance your mood or to help you relax and unwind at the end of the day. At the same time and on the opposite side of the coin, HPS lamps are great for improving concentration.
Again, this is due to the effect of the negative ions on your body, improving blood and oxygen supply to the brain and other organs, as well as providing a boost of serotonin – the neurotransmitter which makes us (literally) feel happy.
8. Treat Seasonal Affective Disorder
In addition to generating negative ions which improve mood and energy levels, the soft, natural light given off by a Himalayan pink salt lamp is close enough to the warm glow of sunshine that they can even be used to relieve the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
This year when the days get shorter, fight back the lethargy by surrounding yourself with a few HPS lamps set on timers.
9. Reduce Static Electricity in the Air
While not a “health benefit” at first glance, static is pesky stuff. Static zaps you when you least expect it, as you’re reaching for a door handle, while intimately touching others, or trying to pet your dog or cat. Static can give you a bad hair day, and even cause you to accidentally go to work with a sock stuck to the back of your shirt…
(Okay, so this may have been a little over-the-top.) The point is, static electricity can be a huge pain and Himalayan pink salt lamps are a natural way to neutralize the airborne ionized particles which cause it.
10. Environmentally-Friendly Light Source
Last, but not least: Himalayan pink salt lamps are environmentally friendly. While only an estimate, the reserves from which HPS is mined measure somewhere between 80 and 600 million tons and is projected to last for at least another 350 years at the current extraction rate. The base of an HPS lamp is generally carved from a sustainable wood such as neem.
Some lamps use a low-wattage bulb which consumes very little energy while others are powered by a lit candle.
Choosing & Placing Your Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp
When it comes to buying Himalayan pink salt lamps, coverage is determined by the size of the crystal. Smaller lamps (like this 5.4 lb) are good for the average bedroom, while larger lamps (like this 12 lb) are better for spaces like the living room or den. On average, calculate that 1 lb of HPS crystal will cleanse the air in approximately a 4′ x 4′ area.
If you can’t find a large enough lamp for any given room, remember that you can use multiple lamps spread out around the space for the same effect.
For added variety, consider adding a Himalayan pink salt tealight holders to your home.
Additional things to know:
Himalayan pink salt crystals will begin to melt with prolonged exposure to high humidity. For this reason, use caution and keep a close watch on any HPS lamps positioned near sources of steam such as dishwashers, laundry machines, or showers.
Results of negative ion generation may take about a week to be noticeable, so don’t give up if you don’t feel the improvement right away.
More Ways To Purify Home Air
Himalayan pink salt lamps aren’t the only way to improve air quality in your environment. Pair them with air purifying houseplants or any of these other simple, yet brilliant techniques to naturally purify the air in your home so you and your family can breath the healthiest, cleanest air possible!
What are yout thoughts?
I loved reading this article so I knew I needed to share it! You can read the unadapted article (courtesy of Janice Taylor) here:
http://www.naturallivingideas.com/himalayan-pink-salt-lamp-benefits/
I have personally used salt lamps off and on for many years and the benefits are most evident in my sate of relaxation and in the depth of my breathing. Tell me have you used salt lamps and what benefits do you recieve from them?
