Benefits of Salt Rock Crystal Lamps ~ Great Gift Idea for any Occasion

A long time ago, over millions of years I’m told, much more of the earth was covered with water. It is said that when the ocean waters receded they left massive amounts of crystalized salt in many locations around the world including the Himalayans, Iran, Russia and Poland. This salt is now being mined into various sizes to create rock salt lamps.

A chunk of crystalized salt is flattened on the bottom, with the center hollowed out to accommodate a small light bulb, and is then placed on a base (usually wooden) over the light bulb. This lamp gives out about as much light as a nightlight but with a much more pleasant glow – not the typical harsh white light. Salt lamps are created out of a variety of salt rock crystals whose colors include red, pink, violet, orange and white with various stripes, colors and textures.

This video shows lots of different shapes, colors, and textures. Enjoy!

The salt lamp’s proponents claim that when a small light of 15 watts or less is used, the salt emits negative ions that purify the air of allergens, dust, smoke, bacteria and more. I googled, “Do negative ions promote health” to see if I could find evidence for or against this premise. ehow.com came back with an answer, part of which stated, “Several studies have demonstrated that negative ions can cause positive effects for humans.” It went on to detail some of the effects indicating “physical and behavioral changes . . . used to effectively treat depression and other mood-related disorders . . .used in exercise recovery . . . can reduce the number of microorganisms in the air . . .”

Its proponents further claim that because of this ability to purify the air, the salt crystal lamp can help people with various health conditions including asthma, allergies and other respiratory ailments.

When I googled “salt lamp and asthma”, associatedcontent.com indicated that salt lamps were an “effective and attractive way to help remove harmful substances from the air in your home. . .” The article went on further to discuss how the salt was mined deep in the Himalayan Mountains. The mining process left hollowed out caverns, or chambers, that were used to treat individuals with severe respiratory conditions. They would go live in the salt cavern for days or weeks, and the article stated that most individuals would emerge feeling much better.

Its proponents further claim that they could be used in the workplace to improve concentration, and to diminish stress and fatigue. They also indicated that the lamp could reduce the radiation from office equipment, especially computer monitors, and fluorescent lighting.

wisegeek.com stated, “ . . .air around electronic equipment is very low in negative ions . . . office workers who suffer health complaints . . . report less fatigue and headaches . . .” The article further went on to say that some studies seem to “indicate that an increase in negative ions . . . increases bloodflow to the brain . . .” improving concentration.

How does this work? Apparently, negative ions bind with the airborne pollutants, causing them to be heavier, therefore, causing them to fall from the air. Various air purifiers – ionic air cleaners- use this same technique. But a salt lamp is a much more attractive addition to your home's interior. A salt lamp that produces as much light as a nightlight can impact the air in approximately 120 square feet.

The following video is a WAGA FOX 5 news clip from Atlanta:

Places where negative ions can be found occurring naturally and in highly concentrated amounts are around beaches, waterfalls, and other areas with swift flowing water. Negative ions are also concentrated in mountain locations. The presence of these negative ions is what is said to make these locations feel so revitalizing.

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Copyright © 2011 Cindy Murdoch (homesteadbound)

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