Pros And Cons Of The Himalayan Salt Lamps
Are you thinking of a makeover of your place? The latest rage about the Himalayan salt lamps has taken the world by storm. If you have been hit with the idea of placing salt lamps as unique decorative pieces around the place, this is perhaps one of the best decisions you have taken. Himalayan salt lamps can turn a place from drab to fab in a snap.
Yellow lights have always been preferred over white lights because yellow lights vivify the overall appearance of a place. The Himalayan salt lamps work in the same way. They emit soft light that is soothing to the eyes and pleasing to the souls.
What are the Himalayan salt lamps?
Himalayan salt lamps are blocks of salt excavated from the Himalayan salt mines. These salt mines are located at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain ranges in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The salt mines are known to be millions of years old. They are deposits of the sea which was evaporated millions of years ago. The salt deposits left behind were protected by layers of mountains until first discovered by Alexander the Great.
The block of salt is sometimes sliced and cut to give different shapes or left in a crude shape. Each block is hollowed from the center where an electric bulb with a cord is fixed. This is the simplest form of a Himalayan salt lamp.
Before you get yourself a crystal salt lamp, it is imperative to know a few things about it. These beautiful salt lamps are extremely beneficial for human health and are sure to be a positive addition to your lifestyle. But, like any other thing, these lamps have few shortcomings too.
Keep reading the article to know about the pros and cons of these beautiful pieces of nature. It will make you decide if Himalayan salt lamps are fit to be placed around your house or not.
Pros of the Himalayan salt lamps:
Before we talk about the pros of the natural salt lamps, let us discuss one major property of these lamps. Himalayan salt is hygroscopic in nature. This means it attracts moisture. The salt lamps attract moisture from the environment it is placed in.
Along with the moisture, it also attracts and traps all the airborne pollutants and allergens. When the salt lamp is lit, it heats up which enables the trapped moisture to evaporate. The pollutants and allergens are left behind ensuring a clean environment.
Let us carry on with the advantages of Himalayan salt lamps.
1. Neutralize the Electromagnetic radiations:
Our houses are full of electronic gadgets. These gadgets emit electromagnetic radiation. These electromagnetic radiations cause the accumulation of too many positive ions. Prolonged exposure to these positive ions causes serious health issues which include an increase in stress levels, weakened immune system, and fatigue.
When the Himalayan salt lamp is placed in such an environment, it releases negative ions. These ions neutralize the abundant positive ions and make the environment healthy for living.
2. Brings down stress levels:
As mentioned above, the salt lamps balance the positive ions in the environment by releasing negative ions. It is because of the presence of the positive ions that you feel stressed-out most of the time.
Have you ever wondered why do you feel energized and stress-free when you travel to mountainous regions or seashores? Apart from the psychological pressures of daily life, positive ions play a major role in increasing the stress levels. Places near mountains and seashores are free from the positive ions which is why you feel so good.
The salt lamp can produce the same effect for you at your home. Be prepared to experience improved mood and unblocked energy flow.
3. Improves sleep patterns and concentration:
For good sleep, a stress-free environment, pollutant-free air and low, warm light is imperative. Himalayan salt lamps provide all these for you so you can have a good night’s sleep.
Lowered stress levels and good night’s sleep helps a lot in increasing concentration and improved performance during the day.
4. Salt therapy at home:
These lamps also provides salt therapy at home. Now you don’t need to go to spas or salt rooms for salt therapy when you have these salt lamps at your place.
When you put any essential oil of your choice in the space available at the top of the aromatherapy salt lamp, it acts as the air diffuser. This salt lamp air diffuser creates the aromatic atmosphere around you that calms down your senses.
5. Clears the air and aids in fighting a number of respiratory ailments:
As mentioned before, the salt lamps attract and trap moisture-laden with pollutants like dust, mildew, pollen, pet dander, and mold. Because of this quality, Himalayan salt lamps have become favorite among people suffering from respiratory ailments like asthma, bronchitis, etc.
One interesting fact about these salt lamps is that they are being used as a cure for asthma in Ayurvedic medicine.
6. Beautiful décor pieces:
Himalayan salt lamps come in all sizes and shapes. This is one thing that makes them an excellent choice for home décor. You can place a salt lamp in your bedroom, patio and everywhere else that comes in between.
The alluring pink glow and their ability to liven up any environment make these lamps a perfect decorative piece. Their rustic look blends well with almost all interior styles.
Cons of the Himalayan salt:
After knowing the salt lamp pros, it is very important to talk about the cons of Himalayan salt lamps. You need to be prepared to deal with the issues and avoid any mishaps around your house because of the lamps.
1. Heavy in weight:
The salt lamps are built from solid blocks of salt. This is why they are heavy in weight. If you plan on buying a huge sized lamp, be prepared to handle its weight. Also, with kids and pets around you will need to be extra careful just in case something causes the lamp to fall.
2. Not very durable:
The salt lamp can last almost forever if you take proper care of it. But, since the complete lamp is made up of salt, it is not very durable. If hit with force, or caused to fall, the lamp is sure to get damaged easily. The damage is always irreversible rendering the lamp unfit for use.
3. Salt Lamp Sweating or Leaking:
This is one issue that has been faced by almost all the salt lamp users. The hygroscopic nature of the salt lamps makes them absorb moisture. The excess moisture is then leaked through the lamp; mostly from the base. This leaking of the salt lamp is looked down by the users as it ruins the surface of the furniture or floor it is placed at.
You need to be very careful in choosing the right spot for the placement of the lamp to avoid salt lamp melting. To aid evaporation of moisture, you need to keep the lamps switched on at all times which may hike up your electricity bill.
4. Too many counterfeits in the market:
The world is raving about the plethora of benefits of the salt lamps. This has activated the black sheep in the market and they have flooded the markets with fake Himalayan salt lamps.
If you come across a salt lamp that is too inexpensive to be true or isn’t coming from a reliable seller, do not buy it. You need to thoroughly research and know how to tell a real salt lamp from a fake one.
5. Salt Lamp bulb:
The bulb of the salt lamps is fixed at the center and is almost exposed. It can get fused easily when the salt lamp weeps excessively.
After going through the detailed article on the pros and cons of the salt lamp, you must be having a clear idea if salt lamps are the right choice for you or not.