Himalayan salt lamps seem to be very popular these days. They create a comforting atmosphere to any room, with a nice glow that resembles a campfire. They are also believed to bring health benefits many of us want. So I decided to look myself at the Himalayan salt lamps health benefits, because I want one too.
What Is A Himalayan Salt Lamp
A Himalayan salt lamp is essentially a light inside a large block of colored salt, ranging from pink, to dark orange and even red. Occasionally you might see a white salt lamp (like this one), but it will be more expensive because of its scarcity. This salt is found in Himalayan mountains which is where it got its name. They carve inside the block and add the lamp and the wires to make it glow.
How to Choose a Himalayan Salt Lamp
Like any other trend, you’ll hear a lot of hype around these salt lamps. When you buy one, make sure that it is a high quality lamp made with real Himalayan salt.
- It should be a darker pink to orange color
- There should be good customer support
- the lamp should not give off a clear light
- the light shouldn’t be very bright, but rather give off a soft pink or orange glow
- Pakistan is the only place that can mine Himalayan sea salt, so make sure it is from there
- make sure it shows that it absorbs moisture and sweats
Where To Buy a Himalayan Salt Lamp
I’m sure you can find salt lamps at stores that cater to health and spas. But my favorite place to buy a Himalayan salt lamp is Amazon (here’s a list of the best Himalayan salt lamps by the reviews). They have a huge variety, and there are lots of reviews from people who purchased there. This way I find out how a specific lamp is perforating before buying it.
WBM Himalayan Glow 1002 Hand Carved Natural Salt Lamp with Genuine Neem Wood Base/Bulb and Dimmer Control, Crystal, Amber, 8 – 9-Inch, 8 – 11 lb
WBM Himalayan Glow Hand Carved bowl Natural Crystal Himalayan Salt Lamp With Crystal Chunks, Genuine Neem Wood Base, Bulb And Dimmer ControlHemingweigh Himalayan Glow Hand Carved Natural Crystal Himalayan Pyramid Salt Lamp With Genuine Wood Base, Bulb And On and Off Switch
Himalayan Salt Lamps Health Benefits
Himalayan sea salt is rich in nutrients such as iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and copper. That is one of the reasons it shows up as pink or orange instead of as clear or white as most salt does.
When you combine the salt with a light in a lamp, there are many health benefits to you. Some of these benefits include:
- Improved Air Quality
- Better Sleep and Mood
- Treatment of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
How Himalayan salt lamps improve air
Authentic Himalayan salt lamps have hyrgrospocic qualities (meaning they attract water from the room). Because of this, many of the air impurities are attracted to the lamp and supposedly get trapped in the salt. Since salt is a disinfectant, this makes the air quality better.
Related: Health benefits of Himalayan salt inhaler
How Himalayan salt lamps improve sleep
Many people say that using a the salt lamp helps neutralize the effects of electronics. The blue light they emit can can be harsh on your eyes and over all mood.
There’s a good reason why sitting by a campfire or fireplace in the evening, before going to sleep is relaxing and helps you nod off. The light given off by fire is mostly in warm hues like orange and softer than many of our modern-day lighting. For thousands of years our primary sources of lighting involved flame, so it makes sense that we feel more comfortable around it.
Enjoy your Himalayan salt lamp in the late afternoon and evening (after dark) to help you relax and have a better sleep at night.
How Himalayan salt lamps help people with SAD
Blue light tends to be harsh and encourage alertness and stimulate our stress levels. Blue light is found in most modern lighting, including incandescent and florescent lights, computer screens, cell phone screens and tablet screens.
Switching over to a warm, soothing type of lighting can not only help improve sleep and mood in general, it can also provide some benefit for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This condition is very common in more northern regions where people have less access to direct sunlight, and in people who spend a lot of time indoors no matter where they live. Sun lamps and Himalayan salt lamps can help someone with this condition be less depressed during the winter months.
If you suffer from any of these conditions like SAD, or trouble sleeping, or have respiratory issues, a Himalayan salt lamp could help you have a healthier life.
