Himalayan pink salt can trace its origins back to over twelve thousand years ago. A Neolithic table lamp made of lamp-colored Himalayan salt was discovered in Tibet in those years. The salt lamp is still popular today and can be found on numerous products including cookware and crystal salt. Salt lamps and salt tables are not solely a Tibetan phenomenon.
Himalayan pink salt is crystal salt mined from the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains in Pakistan. The salt, which sometimes has a slightly pinkish tint due to rich trace minerals, is used mostly for cooking and other food presentation but is also now being used for spa treatments and decorative lamps. It has been said that salt lamps created with this form of Himalayan salt emit negative ions that stimulate positive ionic currents in the atmosphere causing positive charge flow throughout the room bringing in a freshness all around the environment. This positive charge flow improves the fluid balance and blood circulation throughout the home.
As mentioned Himalayan salt has many positive effects on our health. It increases vitality and rejuvenates and cleanses the blood and lymphatic systems. The salt works as an antioxidant by removing free radicals and improving the immune system. It is much healthier than table salt because it contains much more trace minerals. These minerals are very beneficial to our health.
But there is much more to Himalayan salt than just table salt. In the valleys of the foothills, the natural beauty is at its finest. Many local craftsmen earn a living by carving carved images from the mountains, which are then sold to the public. Many tourists visit Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, each year to take in the beauty that can be found only in this Himalayan salt-blue desert. Many tourists also come to pay their respects to the deceased tribal leaders who are buried in the desert's many tombs.
Himalayan salt crystals have long been used by the Hindus as an important part of the dietary requirements for purifying the body. This ancient faith holds that salt is the representative of the Hindu god Vishnu. This is why Hindus eat table salt or salty food. This practice is not limited to food though, salt is used as an important ingredient in medicine. For centuries now, Indian healers have used it to detoxify their patients and to treat diseases.
Mining of the Himalayan salt rocks was first done by Europeans in the 19th century. At that time, many mining companies were established in the country. However, the current mine industry in Pakistan has been limited by the fact that it is located in a country that borders China and India. Moreover, the Pakistani government has been much stricter in approving any foreign companies that would set up operations here without proper permits.
One of the biggest challenges facing the mining industry in Pakistan is the lack of pure water in the mountainous areas where most of the salt mines are located. Many mineral specimens require underground water to survive, and if these waters dry out, the mining process grinds to a halt. The best way to save on resources is to mine from areas that have sufficient amounts of fresh water. To solve these problems, some salt range counties in Pakistan have been allowed to create water reservoirs deep within their borders so that their mineral resources will not be depleted.
Another problem faced by the mining industry in Pakistan is the lack of awareness regarding the negative health effects of consuming excess salt. Many Pakistani citizens simply do not believe that a substance as harmless as table salt can have any ill effects on them. It takes just one fatal case for people to start caring about Himalayan salt and other mineral-rich substances. Once this discovery is made, it will be very difficult for any mining company to continue operating in the country. As awareness begins to grow among the masses about the health consequences of consuming too much salt, the focus of mining operations in the country will turn to other precious resources, such as gold and silver.