Have you ever noticed how mentally and physically refreshed you feel after sitting by a gashing waterfall? Or how you experience a boost in energy after spending some time at an untamed seafront? What makes you feel so good in spots of this kind is the abundance of negative ions, which get produced in some natural places.
Now, there is a way to mimic these perfect circumstances in your own home and indoor places where you spend a lot of time. Himalayan salt lamps have the ability to chemically and physically transform a room, and have unique healing effects. Find out how Himalayan salt lamps work, where to use them and what are their health benefits.
Before I can explain to you why these lamps are so beneficial to your health, I need to briefly tell you about positive and negative ions and how they can affect the way you feel.
The Dangers of Positive Ions
We are surrounded by positive and negative ions – these are atoms or molecules that have lost or gained an electron and are electrically charged.
Positive ions are created by electronic devices and have been dubbed ‘electronic smog’ or ‘electronic air pollution’. As we all know, we are increasingly surrounded by all sorts of computers, large screen TVs, telephones, microwaves and other appliances we now deem necessary for our survival and entertainment (although only a decade ago we did perfectly well without most of these).
I have previously mentioned the dangers of Wi-Fi / cellular radiation and how it affects your health.
Studies have shown that your brain gets bombarded by frequencies 20 times higher than its optimal frequency, which results in all sorts of problems, including insomnia, nervousness and allergies.
The World Health Organization calls the electronic smog “one of the most common and fastest growing environmental influences” and states that concerns about the health effects should be taken seriously.
In short, positive ions are very harmful to us and need to be neutralized.
The Potential of Negative Ions
Nature produces negative ions to combat air pollution. They attract the harmful particles, which are positively charged, and they balance and neutralize them, so that they lose their damaging characteristics.
In order to breathe in fresh and pure air and protect our health, we want to be surrounded by negative ions. WebMD explains that negative ions stimulate the flow of oxygen to the brain and in this way increase our mental alertness and energy.
What is a Himalayan Salt Lamp?
I have previously written about the amazing pink Himalayan salt. Salt lamps are blocks of pure Himalayan salt, so they come from the same region of the world. Also known as the ‘Vitamins of the Air’, they are made from the salt that came from ancient oceans, and serve as a perfect air ionizer.
Himalayan salt lamps can be solid pieces of salt like this one or decorative baskets filled with large crystals of salt like this one.
The lamp has a small bulb inside and is shaped in a sophisticated way to create a beautiful decorative object of an exceptional health value.
How do Salt Crystal Lamps Work?
Salt lamps emit negative ions.
The bulb inside of the lamp heats the crystal and supports the ionizing effect. Salt itself is hygroscopic and attracts the water from the surroundings. You can often see that the lamp is damp or even wet, especially in more humid environments. Due to the gentle heat of the lamp, the water quickly evaporates and during the evaporation process the beneficial negative ions get created. They go on to bind with excessive positive ions (bacteria, molds and allergens all carry a positive charge) and neutralize the electronic smog in your home.
Moreover, the lamp is a very pure source of light and its multi-colored glow has a soothing effect and relaxes you.
Scientifically speaking, the Himalayan salt lamp achieves the following things:
It ionizes the room.
It balances artificial frequencies and unnatural electromagnetic wavelengths that originate from electronic appliances.
It produces the light waves of the rainbow spectrum which protect your body.
Health Benefits of Himalayan Salt Lamps
People using salt lamps report improvement in their physical and mental well-being soon after starting to light them. They are said to help with:
respiratory problems (including colds)
allergies
skin conditions
mental and stress-related disorders (including insomnia)
headaches and migraines
rheumatism
blood system disorders.
Due to their calming colors (different shades of orange and pink), they have also been used in color therapy to help treat neurotic disorders and sleeplessness.
The lamps have been recommended for anyone wishing to:
Improve the quality of air in their immediate environment.
Achieve a feeling of relaxation and meditation.
Improve various health disorders and maintain good health.
Himalayan Salt Lamps in your Home: Where and When
Don’t expect massive improvements if you tuck away a single lamp in the far corner of your house where no-one ever goes. These lamps have a limited range. You will achieve best results if you place them somewhere where you and your family spend a lot of time, or where there are a lot of electronic appliances.
It is suggested to have more than just one lamp. You can start with one of course and then add to your collection as you go along. It’s similar to plants – the more the better. You should aim to have at least one in every room you frequently use, such as bedrooms and living rooms.
Think about the following:
Where do you spend most time?
Where do you have a lot of ‘electronic smog’ from computers, TVs, mobile phones, etc.?
Where would you like to enjoy the lamp’s relaxing effects?
Then, place your lamps in these areas.
Another way to improve the quality of air in your house is by frequently airing the place, so the air can circulate. In the winter months or when there are high levels of air pollution, it might be difficult to leave the windows open and sufficiently air all the rooms. That is when the salt lamps can be particularly useful and can help cleanse the air and remove the stubborn winter bugs.
There are a lot of fake and cheaper versions on the market that don’t use Himalayan salt. You should check the origin of the lamp you are purchasing. The real lamp is made from pure, food grade Himalayan salt. Substitutes from rock salt will not provide you with the same benefits.
For more ideas on how to naturally improve the air quality read my other articles:
10 Best Air Filtering House Plants
How to Naturally Make Your Home Smell Fantastic
To learn about the amazing health benefits of pink Himalayan salt read my post:
11 Amazing Health Benefits of Pink Himalayan Salt
Sources:
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/aircleaners.pdf
http://www.perfecthealthnow.com.au/products/himalayan-salt-products/rock-salt-lamps/
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/electronic-smog-477191.html
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