Proponents claim that pink salt has more minerals than typical salt-but you aren’t likely to get any extra health perks from eating it, Weil says. “All salts vary somewhat with respect to trace mineral content and texture,” says Weil. In January, 80,000 pink Himalayan salt lamps were recalled after it was discovered that they could shock people and catch fire.Īs for the edible salt, some argue that it tastes better than the regular white variety when used in cooking, and that may well be true for some people. The salt lamps may also come with a major unrelated downside. “There is no scientific support for such claims related to Himalayan salt lamps,” says Weil.Įven air purifiers that do generate negative air ions-so-called “ionizers”-are typically too small to be effective, and experts don’t recommend them. Salt crystal is known as one of the most efficient emitters of negative ions which have many benefits studies by Columbia. But this is not a definitive claim-and pink salt lamps have not been shown in studies to generate negative ions, anyway. The research: Some data suggests that blasts of positive ions-like those from electronics or hot air- may impair mood and physical health by increasing feelings of stress and anxiety, and some studies show that negative ions in the air may do the opposite and improve people’s mood. Whether a man-made product can produce the same effect, however, is more dubious. This is based on the idea that air near moving water contains high levels of negative ions, which some researchers have suggested is one reason why spending time in nature has been linked to health benefits. Andy Weil, the founder and program director of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. “Marketers tout their supposed ability to release negative ions that may enhance physical and emotional health,” says Dr. Spas have also jumped on these claims to offer Himalayan salt-based therapies, where people sit in rooms and breathe deeply while tiny particles of salt are dispersed into the surrounding areas, ostensibly easing respiratory conditions.
It supposedly does this by absorbing water molecules from the air and releasing negative air ions, which are said to get rid of particles like dust that can cause respiratory problems, like allergies and asthma, and affect mood. In lamp form, companies claim that it eases symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), increases energy and improves sleep by cleansing the air from pollutants like dust and pollen. It’s rumored to be healthier for its greater concentration of trace elements. The hype: People claim the salt does all kinds of things.