Published: July 01. 2010 2:00AM

By Susan Schwartzkopf

Behold the Beauty and Power of Salt Lamps

By Susan Schwartzkopf

Call them New Age, old age or anything in between, salt lamps may be great additions to your healing arsenal. Although they’ve not yet been studied or approved by the FDA, there's evidence floating about the holistic health community that claims a lamp or two installed in one's home can offer amazing health benefits, particularly if you suffer from a variety of bronchial and sinus conditions.

A salt lamp is simply a chunk of mined salt that has been hollowed out to allow room for a light bulb or tiny candle. The light glows through the medium of the salt crystal, which can range in color from a dark salmon pink to a pale orange. Salt crystals for salt lamps are mined in Russia and central Europe as well as in the Himalayas.

While salt lamps make attractive accent lights, their main attraction is that heating salt causes the crystal to release negative ions. Negative ions have long been considered healthy; sea air, mountain air and the air around swiftly running water is high in negative ions. Indoor air, recirculated air and air around electronic equipment is very low in negative ions. Many office workers who suffer health complaints around fluorescent lighting and computer monitors report considerably less fatigue and headaches if the concentration of negative ions in the air is increased.

Why negative ions may be beneficial is only partially understood. It has been shown that negative ions in the air bind with airborne pollutants, making them heavier so they fall to the ground and therefore are unavailable to be inhaled. Many modern air purifiers — the so-called “ionic air cleaners” — use this technique to provide cleaner indoor air for allergy sufferers.

The amount of negative ions a salt lamp can release depends on its size and how warm the candle or light bulb can make it. The larger the crystal, obviously, the more expensive the lamp, but the larger area it can provide with negative ions. It is believed salt lamps that produce “night light” amounts of light can provide ions to an area equal to the average office cubicle.

Salt lamps are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. You’ll find them at local shops including the Greenville Gem Mine, Earth Fare and Whole Foods Market. Whether used as an alternative health solution or as a natural décor element, salt lamps are beautiful and unique and make a special addition to anyone's home or office.