Advice From The Aisles: Salt Lamps 101

By Madeline Desautels, Wellness Department

Are you looking for the perfect gift for your friends and loved ones this holiday season? Well look no further, because we have Himalayan Salt lamps! Not only are salt lamps beautiful, but they also have a plethora of health benefits. They come in many different shapes and sizes so you can pick out the perfect for your loved one.

First of all, salt lamps cleanse, purify and deodorize the air around us. You may ask yourself, it’s just a block of salt with a lightbulb inside - how is that possible? The reason this is possible is because salt is a hygroscopic, meaning it attracts water molecules from the surrounding air. Water vapor is constantly circulating around your house, and it carries pollutants such as dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke particles - even bacteria and viruses!  When you have a large block of salt, such as a salt lamp, it is especially attractive to water molecules and the pollutants they have trapped inside them. When you turn the light on in the salt lamps, the water molecules absorb into the salt. After the water molecules get absorbed, they leave behind any airborne contaminants or allergens.  These contaminants are now trapped, and the water then gets released back into the air.

These lamps are also said to release negative ions. Negative ions can help improve mood, and reduce the effects of positive ions given off by electronics (such as your phone, laptop or TV). Salt lamps carry these negative ions but not in large amounts. The best use of this property is to put a salt lamp in a place where you spend the most time on electronics, so that you can help neutralize the effects of positive ions.

Lastly, if you don’t believe in the healing properties of salt lamps you can simply gift them for their beauty aspect. These lamps give off an orange glow, which can be used as a night light or simply as a decoration. Please keep in mind that they are not going to fix any health problems, or radically improve indoor air quality like an air purifier will. However, they are an eco-friendly, beautiful light source that have healing properties, produce a healthy color spectrum and are perfect for children and adults alike. We hope this helps you with your holiday shopping!

Happy Holidays!