Himalayan salt lamps are super popular at the moment. Essentially, it’s a light bulb inside a pink block of salt. It sounds pretty strange, but the theory is that Himalayan salt can purify the air of your home by removing dust particles and other air pollutants. There are a range of ideas about how they do this, with the most common being that they emit negative ions. However, as you delve deeper into the salt stone lamp benefits, you’ll come across a common hurdle: do Himalayan salt lamps really work?
Do Himalayan Salt Lamps Really Work?
For us to understand whether they work or not, we need to understand what they are supposed to do.
Electrical equipment releases positive ions into the atmosphere. They can be the cause of stress, mood swings, chronic pain, and countless other negative health effects. They also create electromagnetic fields, which in turn can cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress put simply is an imbalance of oxygen in the cells. It has been linked with the cause of several high-profile illnesses, including but certainly not limited to, cancer, Parkinson's, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, sickle-cell, heart failure, autism, chronic fatigue, and depression.
It’s worth noting that oxidative stress isn’t always bad and it can be beneficial in low levels. It helps the immune system in killing pathogens, and it’s possible that it can reduce signs of aging.
Back onto the salt lamps, they are said to release negative ions into the atmosphere which counteract electromagnetic radiation by bonding to the positive ions. Most homes are flooded with positive ions and so, in theory, a salt lamp would be like a vacuum cleaner for positive ions, cleansing the atmosphere and removing the excess positive ions.
Positive ions deplete energy, so negative ions make up for it and help you avoid that horrible lethargic feeling. They encourage relaxation and help release stress. They can improve focus and concentration, providing a boost to performance and sending more blood and oxygen to the brain. The negative ions create a more alert, energized, and happy soul.
An overload of positive ions from electrical equipment can also cause insomnia or an irregular sleeping pattern. Interruptions in sleep have many other side effects that ripple into other areas such as stress and irritability. Negative ions turn this around, letting you get a peaceful night’s sleep. The calm light can help those struggling to sleep too.
However, during the Himalayan salt lamp benefits research, we found that there is no evidence to support that salt lamps produce negative ions. There hasn’t been enough testing to say that they definitely don’t work either, though. And back to the original question: do Himalayan salt lamp really work?
Well, yes and no.
So, what are the benefits of Himalayan salt lamps?
Himalayan Salt Lamp Benefits
It hasn’t been proven that these lamps counteract positive ions, but what has been proven is that their low light is good for both reading, and falling asleep. It’s advised that we avoid blue lights after sunset—lights like those emitted from phones, laptops, and television screens. The Himalayan salt lamps do exactly that. Their warm orange light is perfect for the eyes. It’s not too bright to sleep, and not too dark to read or see. It won’t negatively affect sleeping patterns like other artificial lights might.
In addition to this, the salt lamps are said to improve the quality of the air. Even if not purified via the canceling out of positive ions, there’s a theory that is based around the fact that salt is hygroscopic. It attracts water vapor in the air; molecules that contain bacteria and other pollutants are pulled towards the lamp. The lamp dries out the water vapor, leaving the bacteria being carried attached to the salt. This is one of the reasons why it’s essential to give your salt lamp a good wipe down every few days.
It hasn’t been proven that these lamps counteract positive ions, but what has been proven is that their low light is good for both reading, and falling asleep. It’s advised that we avoid blue lights after sunset—lights like those emitted from phones, laptops, and television screens. The Himalayan salt lamps do exactly that. Their warm orange light is perfect for the eyes. It’s not too bright to sleep, and not too dark to read or see. It won’t negatively affect sleeping patterns like other artificial lights might.
In addition to this, the salt lamps are said to improve the quality of the air. Even if not purified via the canceling out of positive ions, there’s a theory that is based around the fact that salt is hygroscopic. It attracts water vapor in the air; molecules that contain bacteria and other pollutants are pulled towards the lamp. The lamp dries out the water vapor, leaving the bacteria being carried attached to the salt. This is one of the reasons why it’s essential to give your salt lamp a good wipe down every few days.
Removing these particles from the air can be a great help for clearing out dust, improving the respiratory system and protecting the lungs. Other salt lamp benefits include soothing sore throats or chesty coughs, preventing sneezing, and avoiding colds or the flu.
While it’s not a replacement for a top-quality air filter, it’s certainly better than not having one at all.
Color therapy is considered a huge benefit of Himalayan salt lamps too. The serene effects of colors can have multiple beneficial effects on the human body and Himalayan salt lamps provide the perfect type of light for this to be successful.
The bigger the salt lamp, the stronger the effects. A rough, natural surface works best to capture as many of the negative molecules as possible. It’s also advised to avoid LED lights and choose an eco-friendly heat-producing bulb instead.
What If I Want The Negative Ions?
If the only reason you wanted a Himalayan salt lamp was that they may create negative ions, then there is a cheaper, easier, and more fun solution. Take a walk in nature.
Plants, water, and fresh air provide negative ions. Put your phone away and take a swim or a run or even just a brisk stroll through the countryside. You’ll feel rejuvenated and it will reduce some of the stress that’s bubbling away under the surface.
If however, you’re looking for a nice low-light lamp that potentially emits negative ions, then Himalayan salt lamps are the ideal choice. At Conscious Items, we have the Rose Salt Night Light that perfectly exemplifies the salt lamp benefits discussed here.
