You may have already heard of the various benefits that the Himalayan salt lamp offers. Many statements are true: the crystals of this pure salt help eliminate contaminants, germs and harmful positive ions from the air around you; they also release negative ions which can improve blood flow, raise awareness and boost energy. Learn the different uses of this lamp, place it in particularly suitable places and keep it in good condition.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: to Improve Health
Step 1. Remove contaminants from the air
You may be wondering how it is possible that a piece of salt with a light bulb inside can clean and deodorize the air. The answer lies in the process called hygroscopy: Himalayan salt attracts the water molecules present in the air and absorbs them; these molecules carry with them tiny particles of dust, pollen and smoke that settle on the surface of the lamp.
- As the indoor bulb heats the salt, the absorbed water evaporates and returns to the air, but the contaminants remain attached to the salt.
- This lamp also helps fight allergies and asthma; in addition to absorbing dust and other contaminants in the air, it also removes pet dandruff and mold spores.
Step 2. Replace harmful positive ions with valuable negative ones
Many molecules that float in the air of the house are positively charged; positive ions are associated with adverse health effects, including a reduced ability to filter the air you breathe. However, hygroscopy - the process by which Himalayan salt treats and puts water molecules back into circulation - not only cleans the molecules, but also changes their charge.
- When it absorbs water molecules in the air, this salt also removes excess positive ions and converts them to negative.
- These negative ions are then released independently of the hygroscopic process, helping the body to filter the air that is breathed; however, keep in mind that the negative ions released by the lamp are different from those used in medical practices that help oxygenate the blood.
- The most common source of positive ions in modern homes is represented by electronic appliances; consequently, you should keep the lamp in the room where they are present and where you use the major electronic devices, especially if you tend to leave them on.
Step 3. Improve mental health
This lamp helps you relax and maintain a positive mood. In fact, the beneficial properties on respiratory functions and blood flow associated with negative ions also help to increase oxygen in the brain; As a result, you may notice an improvement in mental abilities, such as increased concentration and positive emotions.
- Negative ions in the air can also increase the amount of serotonin in the brain, stimulating a feeling of happiness.
- Use the lamp to combat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), as the ambient light offered by the lamp can simulate sunlight.
Step 4. Do not think that the salt lamp can cure medical conditions
Claims about its health benefits should be viewed with great caution. For example, halotherapy - which consists of breathing in powdered salt crystals and creating a situation similar to that experienced in salt mines - is believed to reduce respiratory problems associated with lung disease; however, these are claims that have not been proven by any clinical research.
Basically, you don't have to rely on the lamp to treat diseases; if you suffer from persistent medical conditions, you should always seek and seriously evaluate the advice of health professionals
Part 2 of 3: Position the Lamp
Step 1. Put a salt lamp in any room you spend a lot of time in
In addition to providing clean and easily breathable air, Himalayan salt also helps you feel more energetic throughout the day; however, to get these benefits, you need several lamps.
- Do you feel more refreshed when you go to the beach, when you stand next to a waterfall or when you simply take a shower? Each of these situations exposes you to negative ions, which are just as effective as those generated by the Himalayan salt lamp.
- The effect is not immediate, but you will probably feel more energetic a week after installing the lamps in the rooms where you spend most of the day.
Step 2. Put one in the living room
Especially if you keep electronic appliances in this room, the salt lamp is also worth placing in it. Since larger electronic devices emit a lot of positive ions, keeping the lamp close to your TV or computer can be beneficial.
If you are allowed in the workplace, you can also keep a salt lamp near the computer
Step 3. Put one in the bedroom
This is one of the best places to keep it, in part because the concentration of positive ions can reduce the quality of sleep; moreover, the negative ions released by the lamp can remove the positive ones and favor the oxygen supply to the brain.
If the light emitted by the bulb keeps you awake, you can place the lamp somewhere hidden from direct view; you can possibly leave it on during the day to filter the air and turn it off during the night
Step 4. Note the special benefits during the winter
During the winter months the air in your home is likely to be drier and more positively charged, mainly due to the fact that the windows are closed and there is much less air circulation than in the summer months.
The salt lamp proves useful not only to clean the slightly stagnant winter air, but also to avoid the risk of catching a cold or the flu, which are very common ailments in the colder months
Part 3 of 3: Choose the Lamp and Take Care of It
Step 1. Purchase a high quality Himalayan salt lamp
You can get the best benefits from a lamp made of pure food grade Himalayan salt. Make sure that the structure of the lamp is also solid and made with quality components, in order to prevent potential electrical hazards that could arise with salt and liquid deposits inside the device.
- There are many fake and cheap "salt" lamps on the market; you must first check the country of origin. The salt is supposed to originate in Pakistan, although the structures may have been assembled in any other country.
- Keep in mind that the real Himalayan salt lamp provides a dim, uneven light, is quite fragile and can sometimes be damp to the touch.
Step 2. Get one large enough
For a medium-sized room, a lamp of about 2-2.5 kg is sufficient; if you decide to put it in a room like a living room, get a bigger one, for example a model weighing about 5 kg, which is perfect for this environment.
- As a general rule, you should choose one 0.5kg for every 1.5m2 of walkable surface; if the room has a high ceiling, get a heavier one.
- Know that multiple small lamps can be as effective as a large one; for example, two weighing 2.5kg each offer the same benefits as a 5kg one.
Step 3. Pay attention to profuse "oozing"
This is an issue you may find yourself having to deal with. Although the heat emitted by the lamp causes most of the water absorbed by the salt to evaporate, the outer surface may be covered with condensation, especially if you live in a humid climate. To prevent excess water from damaging the surfaces you set it on, place a wooden coaster or ceramic plate under the lamp.
- This phenomenon is likely to occur even when the lamp is off, since there is no heat that favors evaporation; if you don't want to leave it running 24 hours a day, put a coaster or other similar protection under its base to catch the water that forms. Remember to empty and replace the container of your choice before turning on the lamp again.
- Consider using a light bulb with a high electrical output to encourage more evaporation. Check the specifications of the electrical device to know the maximum number of watts it can withstand; this information is likely to be found inside the bulb housing.
Step 4. Clean the lamp and check for dirt deposits
It is necessary to clean it from time to time, especially if it has filtered a lot of dust and particles from the air; turn off the light bulb and wait for it to cool before scrubbing the frame with a damp, lint-free sponge or cloth. More importantly, make sure that liquids and salt are not accumulated inside the electrical components, otherwise dangerous shocks could be generated.
- You may notice that the residue peels off as you scrub the outer surface of the salt crystal; when it looks clean, you can turn on the lamp again to evaporate the residual moisture.
- You can use a dry, lint-free cloth to wipe it whenever it oozes; by doing so, clean the salt and prevent liquid from accumulating under the lamp.
Step 5. Use a Himalayan salt candle holder
As an alternative to the electric lamp, you can get yourself a salt block that has been fashioned as a candle holder. It is a cheaper, aesthetically pleasing and effective solution as the electronic device, although it is generally smaller.
