Written by the Himalayan salt lamps team
So, what benefits do salt lamps really have? This is a hotly debated topic, some people claim that they have reversed allergies, cured asthma, and more while other's are firm in their belief that salt lamps are a hoax! With such large and contradicting claims it can be hard to know what's true or not. So, are salt lamps really more than just a home décor item? Let's find out.
Salt lamps and science...
Although there is no research done directly with salt lamps. Research HAS been done on salt and the orange colour emitted by salt lamps. And the effects of THESE factors is quiet well researched and documented in journal articles. The term "halotherapy" (which basically means salt therapy) is a well known and accepted term that refers to salt based treatments for a variety of health issues like asthma and sinus problems.
So what are salt lamps good for?
(use this quick jump menu to explore the 5 benefits of salt lamps)
- Salt Lamps for Asthma
- Salt Lamps for Allergies
- Salt Lamps EMF Benefits
- Salt lamps for Sleep
- Salt Lamps Skin Benefits
1. Do salt lamps really help with asthma?
Before we continue, if you're still asking yourself whether salt lamps are just a hoax, we suggest you read our unbiased article "do salt lamps really work" and decide for yourself.
Himalayan salt is "hygroscopic" meaning that it draws and "suck's in" moisture from the air. So how is this good for Asthma? Can you use salt lamps for Asthma?
Asthma is often caused by pollutants and irritants in the air, that could be anything from dust, to pet dander, to seasonal pollen.
These airborne pollutants get trapped in the water vapour. As the salt draws in the moisture it also draws in these pollutants.
The water is evaporated back into the air from the heat of the salt lamp but the pollutants and irritants that normally cause asthma get stuck and more importantly, remain stuck on the lamps surface. The end result… a lot of relief for asthmatics and those with sinus problems.
Although we can't really say how powerful this effect is since no grad student has yet had the idea of actually testing salt lamps (here is your chance!), we do however get tons of emails and comments thanking us everyday for how our lamps helped someone out!
Although the salt lamp itself is quiet a new and “bright” idea – pun intended – the benefits of salt, especially himalayan salt, are far from new.
The locals of the area where Himalayan salt comes from (in Norther Pakistan) have long known that the salt caves healed people with breathing difficulties.
So is owning a salt lamp a good idea for asthmatics? Most definitely, the more the better. There is no harm in trying and you might just react like so many others do, and notice a positive difference.
But the benefits don’t stop with Asthma, there’s been studies on salt therapy that have shown improvements for people with
- COPD
- cystic fibrosis
- bronchiectasis
- smokers cough
- and a range of other lung and sinus related diseases.
There is some concern out there whether salt lamps could actually be bad for asthma for some people and to this, we’d have to say that it’s not impossible but extremely unlikely, as the overwhelming response from people is positive.
2. Salt lamps for allergies? Yay or nay?
Short answer, Yay. Now the long version. Do Himalayan salt lamps really work for people’s allergies and if so how exactly does it happen.
Well, we don't know exactly HOW it happens, but the anecdotal evidence and testimonials of rock salt lamp owners says that there is definitely an anti-allergic effect that people experience around their lamps. In short you can use salt lamps for allergies.
If you have an allergy yourself, then you might know how little we know about them in conventional medicine. What we do know is that like Asthma, many allergies can be caused or irritated further by environmental factors, that could be anything like
- mould
- mildew
- pet dander
- seasonal pollen
- air borne chemicals
- cigarette smoke
- or plain old dust.
This includes seasonal allergies, which come about from seasonal pollen, and are VERY common. If salt lamps are cleaning the indoor air of your home environment, they are indirectly reducing the chances for such allergies to flare up.
But there’s still a lot of allergies that are caused by other factors, that a salt lamp could not and should not be relied upon to reduce, this includes allergies like peanut and food allergies, we still recommend you continue your regular treatments and see your doctor.
Having said that… definitely give it a try, the worst that could happen is nothing happens, but on the positive side you could experience a slight or even significant relief in symptoms.
3. Salt lamps fight against bad radiation from electronics
The list of benefits you can gain from salt lamps is impressive to say the least, but the best reason to get one would be this ‘Himalayan salt lamps reduce EMF’ EMF stands for electromagnetic field.
In simple English, an electromagnetic field is an invisible energy field created by all electronic devices. It is positively charged, and if you’re exposed to it too often it can be harmful to you.
There’s been a lot of research on this so it’s worth paying attention to! Over time positive EMF can accelerate aging, cause stress and in rare cases even cancer.
How often is too often? It’s very likely that if you frequently watch your favourite TV shows or chat with friends on your phone you are being exposed to these harmful energy fields.
Does this mean you have to quit everything related to electronics? Far from inconvenient, in this day and age THAT sounds pretty much impossible. The solution is to find devices that counteract these frequencies as much as possible.
Salt lamps have a unique property among electrical devices, because although they also run on electricity, the salt emits negative ions when its heated up and evaporates the water vapour it collects.
These negative ions neutralize the positive EMF from electronics in our home and keep us protected from their harmful effects. The more salt lamps you have the better protection they’ll provide as the neutralising power multiples with each new lamp.
For this to really take hold though you need to know how to really use your salt lamps.
4. Salt lamps for better sleep
There’s one thing you can never have too much of, and that’s a good night’s sleep. Though some of the other health benefits of salt lamps are under debate, no one can deny that when it comes to getting a better shut eye, you can definitely use Himalayan salt lamps for sleep.
But, the benefits don’t come from the lamp’s ‘moisture sucking’ properties, but instead from salt lamps colour properties. Salt lamps emit a warm, soft, orangish light when turned on, this is because of their mineral composition (which includes iron oxide - aka rust).
This ‘pink red’ colour profile is good for sleep; it helps people sleep faster and better. That’s why salt lamps actually make great night lights as well. But beware! Many sellers offer a wall plug-in salt lamp night light, however that product is electrically unsafe and dangerous! We recommend a regular salt lamp, with a dimmer switch so you can dim the brightness right down when you're about to sleep.
Many of the electronic devices we now use like smart phones and computers emit a blue light frequency that research has shown has a negative effect on our sleep. It interferes with our hormones and disrupts our natural sleep cycle.
Having a salt lamp alone can’t fully counteract this, we need to limit our screen staring as much as we can. But, having a salt lamp will brings us back to something we are naturally more adapted to since caveman times, the amber hue of a campfire.
Some of the most common issues of sleep like restlessness, insomnia or waking up too easily are things that salt lamps can help reduce. Some people have even reported reduced snoring after using a pink salt lamp.
5. Himalayan salt lamps and skin benefits
Even though salt lamps dry out the air they don’t dry out your skin, so dry skin victims rejoice, salt lamps are safe for you. In-fact himalayan salt lamps benefit skin, in general.
However the positive effects on skin are only slight for salt lamps. The best way to reap the full health benefits of Himalayan salt for your skin is by using Himalayan salt topical creams, those can do wonders, as the salt needs to be in contact with your skin for maximum effect.
But, salt lamps can act in another way. Skin conditions like eczema can often be caused by the same environmental factors that cause allergies, like dust, or airborne chemicals.
Salt lamps clean the air and so naturally this will help prevent skin allergies from flaring up.
However, you need more than just one lamp if you want to improve your skin. If skin health is a big issue we recommend you get a salt lamp and also a salt soap bar to go hand in hand, that’s a surefire combo.
Some salty claims about salt lamps!
Apart from the above claims there are a bunch of unsubstantiated claims that salt lamps can cure cancer, or it improves blood circulation in the body. These claims are not supported and should be taken with a grain of salt!
That's not to say that other undiscovered health benefits don't exist, you can only know for sure once you experience it yourself.
But when all is said and done, it’s a great item to have in your home. The key however is to have multiple lamps placed throughout your room because that’s when you get the most benefits from them.
If you have questions, comments or experiences to share leave them in the comments below or visit our FAQ where we tackle many of the most common questions we get asked about salt lamps.
Here are some links to studies showing the positive results of salt inhalation on asthma.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16629791
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18019972
We hope you enjoyed this read!
From, The Salt Lamp Shop
