We all know by now that ingesting too much salt by eating processed and prepared foods is bad for us. But lots of salt around you may potentially have beneficial effects. Think Himalayan salt lamps, or salt spa treatments. One of my friends swears by the beautiful pink salt lamp in her bedroom. Salt lamps are supposed to promote negative ionization of the air and, for one, counteract the electro smog caused by our household electronics. Read here what we know about the science behind salt lamps.

Salt spas or salt caves have been around Europe and Japan for a while, and are starting to become more popular over here. Inhaling salt air supposedly improves asthma and other afflictions of the respiratory system; it's called halotherapy - read more about the potential benefits of this therapy. I guess that was always the idea behind seaside vacations. Of course, if you live on the coast you don't need a salt spa.

Although I haven't tried either I'm intrigued. I never discount alternative therapies simply because mainstream derides something out of lack of understanding, knowledge, scientific context, or belief system rigidity. Do you have a salt lamp at home?