Himalayan salt lamps are decorative lamps that you can buy for your home.
They are carved from pink Himalayan salt and are believed to have many health benefits .
In fact, salt lamp advocates claim they can purify the air in your home, calm allergies , improve your mood and help you sleep .
However, others question the validity of these claims.
This article explores the evidence surrounding Himalayan salt lamps and sorts fact from fiction.
What is the history of the salt lamp ?
Himalayan salt lamps are made by placing a bulb inside large chunks of pink Himalayan salt .
They have a distinctive appearance and emit a warm pink glow when lit.
Genuine Himalayan salt lamps are made from salt harvested from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan.
Salt from this region is said to be millions of years old, and although it is very similar to table salt, the small amounts of minerals it contains give it a pink color .
Many people choose to purchase Himalayan salt lamps simply because they like the way they look and enjoy the ambiance the pink light creates in their home.
Others are lured by its supposed health benefits .
How does a salt lamp work ?
Salt lamps are said to be beneficial to health because they are " natural ionizers ," meaning they change the electrical charge of the circulating air.
Ions are compounds that carry a charge because they have an unbalanced number of protons or electrons.
They are produced naturally in the air when alterations occur in the atmosphere. For example, waterfalls, waves, storms, natural radioactivity, and heat all produce ions in the air.
They can also be created artificially by commercially produced air ionizers .
It is suggested that Himalayan salt lamps may produce ions by attracting water particles which evaporate as a salt solution when heated by the lamp, forming primarily negative ions.
However, this theory has not yet been tested .
It is currently unclear whether salt lamps produce ions in significant amounts, if at all .
What are the benefits of the salt lamp?
Himalayan salt lamps have three main health claims .
1. They improve air quality
Salt lamps are often claimed to improve the air quality in your home.
Specifically, they are touted as beneficial for people with allergies, asthma, or diseases that affect respiratory function , such as cystic fibrosis.
However, there is currently no evidence that using a Himalayan salt lamp can eliminate potential pathogens and improve the air quality in your home.
The claim that they are good for people with respiratory conditions may be partly based on the ancient practice of halotherapy .
In this therapy, people suffering from chronic respiratory conditions would benefit from a stay in salt caves due to the presence of salt in the air.
However, there is little support for this practice and it is unclear whether it is safe or effective for people with respiratory conditions.
Additionally, tests on air ionizers , which emit high levels of negative ions, have not yet shown that they benefit people with asthma or improve respiratory function.
2. They can improve your mood
Another common claim is that Himalayan salt lamps can improve your mood .
Some animal studies have shown that exposure to high levels of negative ions in the air can improve levels of serotonin , a chemical involved in mood regulation .
However, human studies investigating the psychological effects of air ionization have found no consistent effects on mood or feelings of well-being.
However, researchers found that people with depressive symptoms who were exposed to very high levels of negative ions reported improved mood .
However, the link found was not dose-related , meaning that the improvement in people's mood could not be explained by the dose they received. So the researchers wondered whether the link was causal.
Additionally, it is very unlikely that salt lamps could expose you to the high number of negative ions used in these studies.
3. They can help you sleep
No studies have yet examined the effects of Himalayan salt lamps on sleep .
However, a review of the effects of air ionization on relaxation and sleep did not find evidence of a beneficial effect .
So, even if salt lamps affect ambient air, it is not certain that this has an effect on sleep patterns .
The dim light from a Himalayan salt lamp may help induce sleepiness later in the day if you use it as a replacement for bright electric lights.
In fact, bright light before bed can delay the production of melatonin , the sleep hormone .
However, this theory is not specific to salt lamps and has not been tested.
What are the virtues of the salt lamp? ?
Although some of their health claims are not supported by science , Himalayan salt lamps may have other benefits.
Here are some of them:
- They are attractive : If you like their appearance, they could be an attractive addition to your home.
- They create a pleasant atmosphere : They could help create a relaxing atmosphere that helps you unwind.
- They can help limit light in the evening : If you have trouble sleeping, using dim lights in the evening could help you fall asleep faster.
Overall, these points can make it a great addition to your home .
The Truth About Salt Lamps
There is no evidence behind the health claims associated with Himalayan salt lamps .
While they can be an attractive addition to a room and help create a relaxing environment , there is little evidence to suggest they do much more.
Further research into the theories surrounding their potential health benefits is needed.
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