Yesterday, I went to a local fair and purchased a few Himalayan Salt items. After being dazzled by the booth vendor’s flamboyant attitude I decided that it was worth while to try this holistic remedy out. One thing I noticed, and swayed my decision to purchase, was that I had been suffering from really, horrible sinus pressure that day and while I was standing at the booth in front of a table display of several glowing salt rock lamps, I felt very relaxed, my pressure headache was gone and I felt almost a little bit high – of course this could have been the sugar high from the delectable fair food I had enjoyed only a few moments before visiting the booth 
I also noticed that my nose began to drip a little bit – which is really rare for me, I struggle with drainage problems with my sinuses, to say the least the experience was encouraging for my poor sinuses and inspired me to try it out.
So I ended up buying two salt rock lamps, which essentially is a large piece of salt (from the Himalayan salt mines) with a hole in the bottom of it to insert a 15 watt mini bulb attached to a cord. One lamp for my brother, who suffers from heavy metal poisoning and seizures (which is a whole other story) and one lamp for my very small one bedroom apartment. I also bought a deoderant bar, which again is a small chunk of Himalyan salt in the shape of what looks like a gem that one of Rainbow Brite’s sprites would collect in Rainbowland’s mines The idea behind the deoderant bar or “sprite gem” as I like to call it is that you can rub it underneath your arms instead of deoderant, claiming that regular deoderant blocks your pores so that the oxygen will not go into your pores adding to the bacteria growth that occurs. The sprite gem simply eliminates the bacteria, like a cleaner, but doesn’t clog your pores so your armpits are free to breathe. I also purchased a couple of little chunks of salt to use as I please and a candle holder for my mom.
The exciting part of the Himalyan salt is that it is supposed to help with breathing and be used as a detoxifier by releasing negative ions into the air that will attach themselves to the bacteria in the air and drop to the ground. The same effect happens at the beach with the salt water air - it cleans the air. I believe the same thinking is behind the those ionic breeze machines, but those always made me sick, while sleeping at beach hotels or on the beach has always given me the best sleep and breathing.
The claim that is within the lovely brochure that came with my purchases says:
“In fresh country air it is common to find up to 4000 negative ions per cubic centimeter. By contrast, it is common to find that the number of negative ions in major capital cities at rush hour is less than 100.”
It also says that negative ion depletion is caused by flourescent lighting, equipment static, air conditioners, electric heaters, many plastics, older tvs and monitors, and HVAC systems.
A little about me – I have suffered from allergy and sinus problems and occasional asthma from a very young age. I had sinus surgery last year because I had an infection so badly in my head that would not drain, and medicine no longer worked, it was not optional. My Dr. advised that if I didn’t move away from the area in which I lived in (Inland Empire, Ca) then I most likely would need to have the surgery again in another 10 years. Well its only been a year and I am struggling again with my sinuses, allergies, and ear aches. I am being treated for a neck problem with my Chiropractor currently. The x-ray of my neck revealed a injury that had occurred in a past car accident that was pushing on my jaw, teeth and sinuses – this didn’t help my life-long battle with sinus issues. Although the chiropractic treatment is going well, it takes a significant amount of time and meanwhile, I am still struggling with sinus issues 
Another issue I have been having within the last year, which is completely odd and out of place is that under my arms get uncontrollably itchy and irritated with every type of deoderant that I use, I have gone through several different brands and I seem to have a problem continuously. I found that its worse when I shave.
So I decided to try out this Himalyan Salt and record my findings via this blog – if it works then that would be great, if it doesn’t then on to another holistic adventure.
My first night with the salt lamp proved to be extremely relaxing, in fact my whole body was so relaxed as I slept, I found it difficult to wake up for work this morning.
I also tried out the sprite gem the first night, I took a shower and then rubbed the salt under my arms. Unfortunately, under my arms broke out in little welts, however, they did go away. I think the fact that the gem isn’t very smooth it was scratching under my arms and then of course its salt so it burned and gave me welts. They didn’t last long and then I went to bed.
That was it for the first night and introduction. The rest of the days I will document as they go by
