I’m not talking about table salt. I’m talking about the pink stuff. The Himalayan salt that everyone seems to be raving about lately. I was curious so I recently went to experience it for myself.
I went to visit a dear friend (and true member of my tribe) and we decided it might be fun to try out one of the salt caves nearby. We chose Salt of the Earth, located in Woodburry, Connecticut, mainly because of a Groupon, but it was close and looked pretty cool. I
We walked inside and immediately felt a sense of peace. There was tranquil music playing, Himalayan salt everywhere and a fish tank at the front desk. Even the bathrooms were gorgeous! They have an ocean theme, which I love, because salt water seems to heal everything. The waiting room had dim lighting, comfortable oversized armchairs and for your feet, an infrared pad.
Let me tell you about this infrared heating pad. It was so amazing! You take your shoes off, place your feet inside and feel warmth. The pad emits invisible waves of energy that help the inner tissues, muscles and bones of the body. Infrared heath therapy helps improve circulation and eases pain in joints. Anyone with sore feet will enjoy this type of therapy because it helps relax the muscles in the feet and legs. I almost wanted to use it the entire time I was waiting for my treatment.
We received the salt bed treatment. The bed is like a tube that you lay down in. There is a sheet that is in between you and the salt and the treatment lasts about 20 minutes. While you’re in the bed, there is a fan that blows salt all around you. You are completely surrounded by the salt! When it touches your skin it tingles a little, but is cooling at the same time. While you’re lying down, you can put headphones on and listen to music that helps you get into a zone and meditate. While I was in the tube, I shut my eyes and completely took in everything that was happening around me. The salt was blowing, I listened to the music and let my mind wander. It was the best meditation session I’ve ever had. When the session ended, I felt an inner sense of calm…and my lips tasted like I had been at the beach all day!
When we got home, I started to research the benefits of Himalayan salt. I always knew that a salt lamp will put negative ions out into the air and add a sense of balance to the area you have the lamp. But what else does it do?
It purifies the air. This I knew. I have a salt lamp in my bedroom and it helps me sleep so well. The lamp attracts air pollutants and takes them out of the air. The salt absorbs those pollutants so they don’t affect my health as much as they normally would.
Himalayan salt improves respiration. I can hear all my fellow asthmatics shouting “Woo-Hoo!” now! The salt will help clear out sinus infections and can loosen mucus in the nasal cavities. I can attest to the fact that the salt really does improve your breathing. When I was done with my salt bed treatment, the congestion in my nose was almost completely gone.
The salt can also stimulate circulation. Improving circulation can help the blood flow a bit more and will relax your muscles. Dr. Oz even recommends mixing a bit with coconut oil and an essential oil and using it as a scrub in the shower. It’s so soothing!
Himalayan salt affects you internally too. It has more vitamins and minerals than other salts, like table salt or sea salt. We use it in our cooking when a recipe calls for salt because we want a better option.
Who knew lying in a salt bed would be so good? Unfortunately I may not have a chance to go back to Salt of the Earth due to the distance, but if you’re in the area, definitely check it out!
If you’ve had a salt bed experience, share it below! I’d love to hear it.