15 Greatest Himalayan Salt Lamps That Are Mainly a Day on the Seaside
Contrary to preconceived notions, Himalayan salt lamps are good looking. They cast a soft, gentle light while also evoking a calming ambiance within any space. You can take the science with a grain of salt (pun intended), but many people believe that these lamps provide much more than just a warm glow. Salt has long been thought to have healing properties that can treat everything from insomnia and anxiety to skin conditions, simple congestion, and cold symptoms. Salt is, in fact, the basis for an entire form of alternative medicine called halotherapy that’s been around for millennia.
And, sure, you could visit a salt cave somewhere in the outside world to reap all the benefits of this wonder rock, but you could also just buy a Himalayan salt lamp for everyday use. Best case scenario, you start to sleep better! (We’ll try basically anything for this outcome.) Worst case, you have a totally unique and delightfully kitschy decorative accent that also happens to provide a soft pink glow.
So, what exactly is a Himalayan salt lamp? They’re made from rock salt found in the Himalayan Mountains which stretch 1,500 miles across India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan. The rock salt is mined from the Khewra Salt Mine in Khewra, Pakistan, which produces more than 400,000 tons of pure crystal rock salt per year. In its raw form, the amber and pink salt looks like a large, jagged crystal. It is then hollowed out and fitted with a light bulb inside. Then, you’ve got a functioning lamp made of the same stuff you might sprinkle on dinner or cook a slab of salmon on.
Supposedly, the heat from the bulb causes the salt to be released into the air, and, in doing so, it’s said to draw toxins, allergens, and pollutants from the air while simultaneously releasing negative ions (i.e. molecules) into the air—basically what you’d experience in a salt cave on a much less expensive scale. Negative ions are also believed to be beneficial to physical and mental health—they abound in mountain areas, waterfalls, and beaches, and they can boost serotonin (and thereby boost your mood and relieve stress).
If you can, try to unlock those distant memories of how you feel after a beach day. Science aside, something magical definitely happens to your body after soaking up all that salty ocean air for an afternoon: Your skin is moisturized and clear, and most of us sleep like rocks after a beach day, right? The salt lamp is a not-so-farfetched way to try and simulate this type of air quality in your bedroom.
What to look for in a Himalayan salt lamp
To reap the prospective health benefits of a salt lamp, make sure to buy one made with true Himalayan salt. There are plastic salt lamps out there, but these are nothing more than a pretty light source. Rock salt naturally draws in moisture from the air, leading to condensation on the surface. For this reason, you’ll want to look for a rock salt lamp that has some kind of a base. And apparently they also make the room dustier due to something about the negative ions being released and attaching themselves to particles in the air and causing them to drop down. On the upside, this is what cleans the air. On the downside, well, you won’t escape dusting.
