Himalayan Salt
In earlier time, salt was as valuable as gold. Wars were fought over it and huge taxes were levied on it. Rulers all over the world tried to control it and salt taxes helped to finance empires from Asia to Europe.
In our times, salt has become a cheap and readily available good which we all take for granted. Our table salt consists of sodium and chlorine, two potentially dangerous components if taken by themselves. Sodium will ignite instantly if it comes into contact with moisture and can produce a very hot, burning flame, and chlorine is poisenous if it is taken in. In combination, the two elements become sodium chloride which we all know as salt.
Salt and Health
Salt is essential, in fact it is as important for humans as water or air. It helps to keep the correct balance of water in our body, in and around the cells and tissues and also in the blood vessels. Salt is important in the digestion of food and it is essential for our heartbeat. It is further necessary for our nerve fibers to send their impulses to and from the brain and make them function properly. A lack of sodium chloride will bring on muscle cramps, dizziness and exhaustion, in extreme cases even convulsions and death.
In spite of this, for many years, salt has been accused of being responsible for high blood pressure and has even been said to threaten public health as high blood pressure can be responsible for heart attack, strokes, and kidney failure. Recently, though, this view seems to be changing and researchers are beginning to proof that there is no reason for healthy people to cut down on salt. People suffering from high blood pressure or renal problems, however, should reduce their salt intake.
„Himalayan Salt“
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Over the last few years, publications on so called „Himalayan Salt“ emerged, rapidly spreading across the Western world. In these publications, this special salt was claimed to come from the high mountain regions of the Himalayas and was said to contain „84 elements essential to human health“, that it had „marvelous healing energies“ and was „untouched by human contamination“.Very quickly „Himalayan Salt“ became a fast seller on the market and outrageously high prices are being asked – and paid - for it.
„Himalayan Salt“ is sold as fine salt to be used in the kitchen, or as white and pink salt crystals or blocks which are meant to be used for anything from sole drinks and baths, to oral rinses, eye baths, and inhalation therapy. The salt is also marketed in the form of salt lamps which are said to be „natural ionizers“, as cosmetic products including soaps, facial lotions and hand creams, bath aids, sauna aids, and bath salts, among many others.
The group „Tourism Watch“ did a research on this so called „Himalayan Salt“ and published its findings in their No. 28 and No. 30. issues. They point out that there is no salt mine to be found anywhere in the Himalayan region and that most of the salt was coming from a big salt mine in Pakistan. They further point out that the salt which is being sold as „Himalyan Salt“ and was claimed to contain „84 elements essential to human health“, was in fact no ’healthier’ than our normal table salt and like this, consisted of sodium and chlorine.
Conclusion
Salt is essential for us as it helps to balance the highly complex water and salt metabolism within our body. However, there is no need to pay a high price for so called „Himalayan Salt“ as this doesn’t hold what is being propagated.
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