What Are Himalayan Salt Lamps?
Himalayan salt lamps are crystals carved from amber-colored rock salt, hollowed out to fit a lightbulb inside. When you light them, they give out a warm, reddish-pink glow.
Sellers of these decorative pieces claim they do more than light up a room. They claim that these lamps can boost mood, improve sleep, ease allergies, help people with asthma breathe better, and clean the air, among other benefits.
The claims sound impressive, yet the scientific evidence to back them up is scarce.
Where do Himalayan salt lamps come from?
The salt in these lamps comes from the Himalayas, a mountain range that stretches about 1,500 miles across Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, India, Bhutan, and Nepal.
True Himalayan salt lamps come from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan. The salt this mine produces has a pink, reddish-pink, or off-white color.
There are plenty of fake ones sold online. The real versions are fragile and give off a dim light. The phony products are tough to break and glow brightly.
How Do Himalayan Salt Lamps Work?
Advocates say the lamps work in two ways:
Trap particles. These lamps are said to attract water molecules that carry allergens, toxins, and pollutants. Once the water molecule settles on the surface of the lamp, it evaporates, supposedly leaving behind the contaminants. But in reality, any pollutants that settle on the lamp are likely due to chance. And even if the lamp did trap pollutants, its surface would quickly become coated, making it useless.
Release negative ions. Some people believe negative ions in the air offer health benefits, and that Himalayan salt lamps can help produce them. But there’s not a lot of evidence to back this up either.
Ions are molecules that have gone through a change in electric charge. You can’t see them, but you might have felt their effects, such as when static electricity causes your hair to spread out or your clothes to cling together, or when you feel lightly zapped by your wool blankets in winter. Ions make electricity and even life itself possible.
Ions are all around us. Some come from outer space. Others form closer to home, from radiation, sunlight, lightning, or the collision of water droplets in a waterfall. They form when extremely tiny particles called electrons, the source of electricity, dance between different molecules, like people changing partners at a square dance.
There are two types of ions: negative ions (molecules that have gained at least one electron partner) and positive ions (molecules that have lost at least one electron partner).
Some people say they feel more refreshed and clear-headed after a storm, a feeling they believe is due to the amount of negative ions in the air. Commercial ionizers and purification systems also produce negatively charged ions to create cleaner and more comfortable indoor spaces.
Himalayan salt lamps supposedly produce negatively charged ions while water molecules from the air are attracted to and then evaporate from the lamp's warm surface. Those who believe in the health benefits of these lamps give negative ions much of the credit.
However, scientists say that the Himalayan salt lamp in your living room probably doesn't make many negative ions. That’s because salt is very stable, so its sodium and chloride molecules (and the electrons they carry) tend to stay where they are. To cause ions to separate, you would need a huge amount of heat — something your commercial light bulb won’t be capable of.
At room temperature, water vapor could theoretically cause the salt to form a very, very tiny amount of sodium and chloride ions. But these ions wouldn’t last long: they would turn back into regular rock salt as soon as the water vapor dries.
Some people argue that Himalayan rock salt contains trace elements that might be released at lower temperatures. But Himalayan salt is almost pure sodium and chloride. It’s never been proven that Himalayan salt has meaningful amounts of extra minerals, and salt lamp sellers don’t provide detailed information about the make-up of their rock salt.
Himalayan Salt Lamp Health Benefit Claims
Although a few studies show some benefits from negative ions, there is no evidence that salt lamps improve health. Here are a few claims about Himalayan salt lamps:
Himalayan salt lamps improve mood
Some people believe that positive ions in the air increase anxiety, crankiness, and other unpleasant feelings. They say that negative ones ease stress, anxiety, and depression, and improve overall well-being.
Studies on mice and rats indeed suggest that high amounts of negative air ions alter levels of serotonin, a chemical that adds to feelings of well-being. But the research on humans is less clear.
In some human studies, negative ions at high concentrations did lessen depression slightly, but they didn't have much of an effect on anxiety, mood, relaxation, sleep, or comfort. It’s possible the decrease in depression was due to a placebo effect, particularly because people reported improvements whether there were small or large amounts of negative ions in the air.
A very small study shows that people did better on thinking skills tests when they were in a room where the paint on the walls had a high concentration of total air ions (both positive and negative ions). But the paint had no effect on their general well-being.
Himalayan salt lamps help with sleep disorders
There aren’t any studies yet on whether salt lamps can help you sleep. But a few small studies have examined whether having negative ions in the air can make you more sleepy or relaxed. Some studies showed a mild improvement in relaxation, but others didn’t find any effects.
Himalayan salt lamps ease asthma symptoms
There’s no research on salt lamps and asthma, but there are some studies about the effects of negative ions on breathing. Most have been very small and were done in labs, not real-life homes. In most of them, negative ions didn't ease breathing or asthma symptoms. They also didn't lower inhaler use in children and adults with chronic asthma.
Himalayan salt lamps purify the air
Negative ions do have some ability to clean harmful particles from the air. When ions build up on bacteria, they neutralize the pollutants. Studies suggest that negative and positive ions may kill germs, though exactly how isn't clear, and some experts say the germ-killing may be due to other reasons. In any case, there's no evidence salt lamps have this effect.
Real vs. Fake Himalayan Salt Lamps
Real Himalayan salt lamps come from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan, the oldest salt mine in Pakistan, and the second-largest salt mine in the world. About 400,000 tons of rock salt are mined here each year. The mine is famous for its red, pink, and off-white salt. Some chunks of this pink salt are hollowed out and made into lamps.
Here’s what to look for in a genuine Himalayan salt lamp:
- Pakistani origin. Check the label to see if the rock salt comes from the Khewra Salt Mine. If the label doesn’t say, the lamp probably isn’t genuine.
- Red, pink, or orange color. Some rare white salt lamps exist, but they’re very expensive.
- Soft glow. It’s hard for light to pass through dense rock salt. Real salt lamps should create mood lighting, not brighten the entire room.
- Moisture. Rock salt attracts moisture, so it might “sweat.” This is more likely to happen when the lamp is off, because the sweat dries up when the lamp is on.
Are Himalayan Salt Lamps Any Good for You?
Though the claims sound promising, so far no one has proved that Himalayan salt lamps — even the authentic ones — release negative ions, let alone enough to have any impact on health. Most of the research so far has used negative ions from other sources, not lamps.
In a couple of small studies on rats and mice, contact with a salt lamp had antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects. That doesn't mean the lamps would have the same effect on humans. Researchers would have to test the theory.
Though a small amount of pollutants in the air might stick to salt rock, these rocks don't have the filtering ability of, say, charcoal, a common component of air filters.
A Himalayan salt lamp might bring a nice decorative touch and a warming glow to your space, but there's no research right now that says it will improve your health in a big way.
Himalayan Salt Lamp Warnings
Although there are no proven benefits to Himalayan salt lamps, they do have drawbacks.
They can catch fire. In 2017, thousands of salt lamps were recalled because of fire and shock danger. The recalled lamps had a faulty dimmer switch, outlet plug, or both.
They can poison pets. That salt lamp may look good enough to lick — but for pets, that’s not a good idea. Too much salt can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, death. Keep your salt lamp out of reach of dogs, cats, and birds.
How Long Do Himalayan Salt Lamps Last?
With proper care, Himalayan salt lamps can last years or even decades. You can keep your salt lamp turned on all day — at least 16 hours a day is ideal. But you’ll have to change the bulb every so often.
Takeaways
Himalayan salt lamps are made of carved rock salt from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan. They are red, pink, or off-white and emit a soft glow when lit. Some people believe that they can purify the air, improve mental health, and help with asthma. But there’s little research to back up these claims.
Himalayan Salt Lamp FAQs
What to do if my Himalayan salt lamp is melting?
Salt lamps shouldn’t melt, but they might “leak” or “sweat,” especially when they’re turned off for a long time. This is because the salt attracts moisture. If you notice your lamp is damp, turn it off (to protect yourself from electrocution) and blot it with a lint-free cloth. Don’t rub, or you could get lint on the lamp’s jagged edges. If it’s very wet, let it dry in the sun.
Do Himalayan salt lamps actually work?
They may look pretty, but there’s no proof that salt lamps support your health.
Is Himalayan salt good for you?
Himalayan salt is just like other salt, except it has a few more minerals. But the amounts of these minerals are so tiny that they shouldn’t make a noticeable impact on your health. You need some salt to survive, but in today’s salt-abundant world, experts recommend eating as little salt as possible.
