This is my first “salt bar” made with Himalayan rock salt.  Since I am a big fan of Himalayan rock lamps, the next step was to make a salt bar.

There has been handmade soap made with Dead Sea salt, Hawaiian sea salt, and Himalayan rock salt in the market.  They all say it’s great for people with problem skin such as eczema and psoriasis.  I figure it must be good overall, even if you have normal skin.  You would think the salt would sting any cuts, but I think it helps it heal faster.

It’s not the most beautiful bar of soap, but does look like a piece of granite and feels just as heavy. So maybe it’s not that bad if you’re into collecting rocks. 

Himalayan salt is mined by hand from the deep salt range located at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. Unlike regular table salt, Himalayan salt is not chemically processed.  And unlike sea salt, it is free from pollution and contains 84 trace minerals.

If you have chunks of Himalayan rock salt, you can make sole (pronounced So-lay) out of it.  Sole is a mixture of the Himalayan salt in water.  You only need to take 1 tbs of sole daily, first thing in the morning, to feel it’s benefits. There are instructions on how to prepare it here.

The other thing I did different with this bar was use lard. I have bought handmade tallow soap and thought it was nice soap.Some people don’t like using animal by products for soap. Even though tallow (and lard) have always been a common ingredient in soap making. I also think it’s great to learn the art of soap making with different types of oils and ingredients.

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Today I wanted to expand more about my Himalayan rock salt lamp.

Ever since I put one in my mother’s bedroom, I’ve noticed she has slept better, snored less, and even minimized her consistent coughing. And she has been coughing for a while now. I don’t believe it’s all placebo, as I have used the same lamp and woke up feeling very refreshed as well as having more vivid dreams.

The brochure that came with the lamp also mention other benefits, such as help with insomnia, depression, and S.A.D. But the main reason behind the benefits of salt rock lamps is to help purify the air naturally.

Negative ions can be found here.  Beautiful waterfall picture from FreeDownloadscenter.com

When the rock salt lamp heats up, it produces negative ions. At first you would think it’s a bad thing because of the “negative” part of the description. But negative ions are actually good for you. According to WebMD website, negative ions are “odorless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that we inhale in abundance in certain environments.” The article can be read here.

Pierce J. Howard, PhD, author of The Owners Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind Brain Research and director of research at the Center for Applied Cognitive Sciences in Charlotte, N.C. says, “Generally speaking, negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy.”

There are immense amounts of negative ions in the mountains, the countryside, pine forests, around the beach and near waterfalls. These negative ions brings oxygen to your brain, lift your mood, and boost your immune system. Columbia University studies of people with winter and chronic depression show that negative ion generators relieve depression as much as antidepressants. They also help lessen depression and cure Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). So this is possibly the reason we feel so refreshed and happy after a day at the beach.

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