Pink Himalayan Salt Lamp: Does It Provide Health Benefits?
Due to its alleged health benefits, products containing Himalayan pink salt have become very popular in recent years. They also appeal to those who wish to take a more natural approach to their lifestyle. However, there is little or no evidence to support these health claims.
This article will focus on the pink Himalayan salt lamp and whether there is any truth to the health claims surrounding it.
Are the Himalayan salt lamps pink?
These lamps are made from chunks of pink Himalayan salt. Salt has a hole in the center where you can place a light bulb or heat source.
Pink Himalayan Salt is a rock salt crystal native to the Himalayas in Asia. True Himalayan salt mostly comes from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan.
The pink color of Himalayan salt is reported to be due to the high concentration of the mineral.
Himalayan salt lamps have gained popularity over the past few years and appear frequently in spa and home decor magazines. They are widely available to purchase for home use.
How do they work?
One of the ways the pink Himalayan salt lamp is supposed to work is by releasing negative ions into the air in a process called air ionization.
The disturbance of water molecules naturally produces negative ions. Waterfalls, rain, and crashing waves all produce negative ions. Ionization of commercial air can also produce negative ions.
Several studies have shown that air ionization has several benefits, such as improved cognitive performance.
However, there is no conclusive evidence that the pink Himalayan salt lamp can produce a measurable number of negative ions, if any.
Other studies claim that water vapor in the air carries pollutants and toxins attracted to the rock’s surface. The poison falls on the stone, and clean moisture remains in the air. However, this claim also has little evidence to support it.
What should the health benefits be and is there evidence to support it?
Here are the most common health claims associated with pink Himalayan salt lamps and the evidence behind them:
Air purification
Many people claim that salt lamps clean the air of a person’s home or office. It is especially useful for those allergic to dust, insect feces, animal dander, or other environmental allergies.
Salt lamps can also benefit people with breathing problems, such as asthma.
However, there is little evidence to suggest that salt lamps remove allergens or germs from the air. In addition, there is no concrete evidence that salt lamps improve air quality.
Relieve respiratory symptoms
Another major claim from the salt lamp maker is that it helps reduce respiratory symptoms in those with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is partly due to the salt lamp’s ability to remove irritants.
A person can not only use a salt lamp, but they can also buy a Himalayan salt inhaler online or at drugstores.
The idea of inhaling Himalayan salt originates from the ancient practice of halotherapy, where people with asthma would spend time in salt caves. Apparently, inhaling the tiny salt particles can help clear the airways and break down mucus.
There are several studies looking at the effectiveness of salt therapy for asthma and COPD, but they are not of high quality. More research is needed to say whether halotherapy is effective or not, but the practice does not appear to be dangerous.
Improve mood and sleep
There are also many claims that salt lamps can improve a person’s mood or help them sleep better.
The results of one 2010 study claim that, in animals, exposure to salt lamps for 14 weeks increased metabolism of tryptophan and serotonin, leading to an antidepressant effect. The chemicals tryptophan and serotonin help regulate mood in the body.
However, an analysis of studies in humans found that there was no consistent relationship between negative or positive ionization and mood or sleep.
There is not much research on the relationship between salt lamps and sleep with regard to air ionization or air purification.
A more likely reason that salt lamps improve sleep is that they provide a dim light and enhance mood, which can promote relaxation.
The reason why someone might want to use it
Salt lamps are unlikely to make a significant positive impact on a person’s health, but there are other reasons why someone might want to use them.
Benefits can include:
- Home decoration . These lights have a unique look and can complement one’s home decor.
- Improve mood . Dim light and pink can help create a calming atmosphere that promotes relaxation.
- Use as a night light . This dim lighting can help replace the brighter lights in the house at night, making it easier to fall asleep.
All of these benefits can reduce stress by helping a person spend time relaxing gazing at the soft light of a salt lamp.
Are they safe?
There appears to be no research into the safety of salt lamps. They appear to be safe to use overall.
However, it’s a good idea to keep salt lamps out of reach of children and pets.
Summary
While pink Himalayan salt lamps are great to look at, they may not offer substantial health benefits other than helping people relax.
There is little or no evidence to support claims of air purification, respiratory health, or the mood and sleep benefits of salt lamps. Therefore, this claim needs further research.
After all, a pink Himalayan salt lamp can provide a pleasant atmosphere to one’s home or office.
Source:
- AAFA explains: Is salt therapy safe and effective for asthma? (2016, March 10)
https://community.aafa.org/blog/aafa-explains-is-therapy-safe-and-effective-for-asthma - Naz, H., & Haleem, DJ (2010, April 27). Exposure to illuminated salt lamp increases 5-HT metabolism: A serotonergic perspective to its beneficial effects. Pakistan Journal of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 43 (2), 105–108
http://www.pjbmb.org.pk/images/PJBMBArchive/2010/PJBMB_43_2_Jun_2010/13.pdf - Perez, V., Alexander, DD, & Bailey, WH (2013, January 15). Air ions and mood outcomes: A review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry, 13 (1), 29
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3598548/ - Wallner, P., Kundi, M., Panny, M., Tappler, P., & Hutter, H.-P. (2015, November 10). Exposure to air ions in indoor environments: Experimental study with healthy adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12 (11), 14301–14311
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4661648/
