Does A Himalayan Salt Lamp Really Work?

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A Himalayan salt lamp might be the healthiest thing you can put in your home. Not only are they beautiful, but they are full of health benefits and also reasonably affordable.

There is a lot of speculation on Himalayan Salt Lamps. Is there any real benefit? Are they worth the price? Or, are they just a pretty bohemian fad?

Supposed Benefits of A Himalayan Salt Lamp

As advertised, the lamps claim to:

improve air quality
reduce stress
reduce allergies and asthma
improve sleep quality
reduce static electricity
improve mood and concentration levels

And that’s just to name a few…

What is a Himalayan Salt Lamp?

Himalayan salt lamps are made from himalayan salt comprised of 84 minerals which include major, trace, and micro minerals. The salt is mined in the Khewra Salt Mines in the foot hills of the Himalayas.

If you’re on the hunt for some cool places to travel, you can even visit the salt mines. They include a beautiful mosque made out of the salt lamps

How do they work?

Air is naturally filled with water vapor, which, in the home if filled with dust particles, pet dancer, air pollutants, etc. The salt attracts the water vapor, taking it out of the air you breathe. The lamps, when lit by a 15 watt bulb, are warmed enough to dry the water vapor and the particles then stick to the lamp until you turn it off. It is good to turn the lamp off every couple of weeks and give it a wipe down with a damp cloth.

They also produce a small amount of negative ions which helps to counteract the positive ions emitted from electronics. Positive ions have been show to contribute to irritability, migraines, ADHD, poor sleep quality, and slow recovery from illness.

How To Use a Himalayan Salt Lamp:

It used to be that they came in just one classic shape but now, there are so many beautiful varieties of these lamps. For the crafty, there are even ways to design your own with a simple bowl, low wattage light bulb and chunks of himalayan salt.

To use it properly place the lamp in an area close to where you sit or close to your work space. Make sure that the size of the lamp is appropriate for the size of the area you spend your time. In other words, if you are in a large room but only stay in one part of that large room…for example, a cubicle in a large office building, then a relatively small lamp will be sufficient. If you are in a large room and use the whole of the room then you would need a significantly larger lamp.

Sizes and Where to Purchase:

Crystal Decor Himalayan Salt Lamp (Amazon)

HemingWeigh Salt Bowl Lamp (Amazon)

Small Natural Lamp: 3-4lb (Amazon)

Medium Natural Lamp: 8-11lb (Amazon)

Large Natural Lamp: 19-25lb (Amazon)

Night light/Travel Light 2 Pack (Amazon)

What’s the catch?

While Himalayan Salt Lamps are beautiful and DO generate negative ions, the amount of negative ions produced is quite small, which is why you need to be close to it in order to receive any benefit. They are not as effective as an ionic air purifier (Like this one, available for purchase through Amazon)

The Bottom Line

If you are a healthy individual and simply trying to naturally improve the health of yourself and your family then a himalayan salt lamp is a wonderful addition to your home. However, if you are ill or have more severe allergy or health issues, then a negative ionizer might be more appropriate for your health needs.

My Experience

Himalayan salt lamps do last many years (mine is 15 years old!), so if you chose to put a small one in each room or invest in a large one, they will stick around with your for quite a while. I have found the light and effect to be very calming and a nice touch to the room.

If a himalayan salt lamp is something you’ve been considering, they definitely do have some benefits! The are a wonderful and affordable investment for your health