Himalayan Salt products have become more and more popular over the last few decades, and it’s not a surprise with the aesthetic they have, and the many claimed health benefits they possess. Himalayan Salt has become so beneficial in modern times, that speleotherapy – breathing therapy focused on the beneficial effects of breathing air laden with negative ions, mostly of that within a salt mine or cave - has become recently admired. Over the centuries, Himalayan Salt has been used as medicine, as well as to preserve food that can easily spoil, such as meat and fish.
But how did Himalayan Salt come to our homes?
The history of Himalayan Salt is an interesting one, and this is purely due to the fact that not much of its history has physical evidence of its occurrence, making the history of the salt a mystery left to popular belief.
Taking our history tour back to the evolution of the salt mines, geologists have created a theory behind the creation of these mines. They believe that the salt was first created when two tectonic plate movements caused the development of the mountain range. Originally, this range would have been surrounded by shallow water, and as it started to dry up into the atmosphere, the salt was formed. Over the centuries, the Himalayan Mountain range has survived volcanic activity which covered it in lava, then snow and ice, which protected the salt from pollution and dirt, making it the mineral rich salt we use today.
Next, we have the history behind how the salt was originally found – which is the most intriguing part. It is believed that Alexander the Great stopped beside the mountains with his horses and troops, in which his horse started to lick the wall of the mountain (as it was enriched with salt). The troops were confused as to why the horse began licking the wall, and it led to the discovery of Himalayan Salt. But there is no factual evidence to confirm the validity of this claim. However, the first recorded event of mining was the Janjua people in the 1200’s.
The construction of the modern mining system is all down to one man: Dr Warth. He constructed and designed the first tunnel into the mountain, which is still used today to extract and transport the Himalayan Salt through the mine.
Lastly, we have the invention of the Himalayan Salt Lamp. The beauties we get to own today is all because of the Philippian siblings, Raphael and Aisa Mijeno who invented and designed the Salt Lamp. These have been around since the 1980’s – although there is no evidence of the first salt lamp and its creation.
The history of the Himalayan Salt Lamp has a minimum evidential creation. Most of it is based on popular belief and theoretical knowledge. Regardless of this, it remains an interesting history that has allowed us to experience the benefits of Himalayan Salt, and to know the aesthetic and relaxing appearance of the lamps.