The Benefits of Himalayan Salt
What are Himalayan Salts?
Himalayan salt dates back 250 million years where it was deposited in a prehistoric lagoon.
It is mined in the Punjab region of Pakistan, near the Himalayan foothills and gets its characteristic rosy hue from a wide range of trace minerals. Due to its recent surge in popularity, the Himalayan salt market has grown, with around 400,000 tons of salt being exported each year.
What are the benefits?
Soaking in a Himalayan salt bath allows your body to absorb its trace minerals from the salt, leaving you recharged and energised. It boosts metabolism, promotes healing, extracts toxins from your tissues, and leaves your skin feeling refreshed and nourished.
Here are some of the benefits to soaking in Himalayan salt:
1. Treats Skin Conditions
Adding Himalayan salt to your bath is an effective way of treating skin conditions. The salt becomes stored in the upper layer of the skin, promoting hydration by creating a natural protective film against dryness. It is also effective against insect bites and blisters, and can bring relief to painful skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
2. Soothes aches and pains
The presence of calcium, lactic acid, and other trace minerals within the salt helps to strengthen bones, and connective tissues that may contribute to body soreness. It also helps to relax cramped muscles and aches. With regular soaks, you can help ease inflammation, arthritis, and stiff joints - perfect to add to your post-workout self care routine.
3. Replenish minerals
Himalayan salts contain 84 of the naturally occurring minerals including magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, calcium, iron, and sodium. Just 15 minute of soaking in a warm tub of salt infused bath water allows your skin to absorb these vital minerals; replenishing your body and reawakening your senses.
4. Improves Sleep Quality
One of the most well known benefits of Himalayan salt is its ability to calm and soothe. It is said to ease pain, reduce fatigue, and improve emotional health. A warm soak before bedtime will help melt away the stress of your day and ease you into a deep restful sleep.
5. Soothes painful feet
Pink Himalayan salt helps to retain moisture, making it an ideal ingredient for a spa like soak. It helps to relieve painful feet after a long day and can promote the healing of blisters and insect bites.
6. Improves Digestion
The rich mineral content in Himalayan salt helps to balance your body’s pH levels. Balanced pH levels improve immunity and can aid in the processing and digestion of food. If Himalayan salt is consumed, it can help activate your salivary glands which release an enzyme called amylase which helps digest carbohydrates. Once in the stomach, it stimulates hydrochloric acid further helping the breakdown of food.
7. Improves your respiratory system
Himalayan salt has been used to treat respiratory diseases, by having a person sit in a room and breathe in the salt rich air. When the salt air is inhaled, the particles travel through the respiratory system and the antibacterial and antimicrobial particles of the salt help clean out your lungs and sinuses. Salt therapy is also used to treat seasonal allergies and chest congestion.