The Benefits of Himalayan Salt!

New Product Feature: The Benefits of Himalayan Salt 

An age old pain relief and skincare remedy, Himalayan Bath Salts have been part of spiritual, beauty, food and health practices for thousands of years. It is said to have healing powers on the human body and mind and is the perfect addition to a spa day, whether at home or in the spa.

The history of Himalayan Salt 

Himalayan Salts, like the ones used in our PURE Himalayan Bath Salts, were originally discovered in the Punjab region of Pakistan and are the remains of ancient oceans dating back 250 million years, storing their story and healing powers. The salt that layered on the floor of those oceans was protected from outside pollutants by dried lava and then ice, snow and rock covering it for many millennia! It’s pink colours stems from minerals that have gathered with the salt. The mine might have been discovered by troops of Alexander the Great when they moved through the region – it is whispered that it was their horses who discovered it by licking the rocks in the landscape! This was of course, when salt was still a precious scarcity.

A mineral rich salt 

So why is Himalayan salt so special? While both table salt and Himalayan salt consist mostly of sodium chloride, pink Himalayan Salt has up to 84 other minerals and trace elements such as potassium, calcium, fluorite and magnesium! The health benefits of Himalayan salt in cooking are not scientifically proven, however we think its spiritual and mineral qualities are perfect for skincare and relaxation and the benefits salt can have on the skin.  

The uses of Himalayan Salt 

In our modern age, this salt is used for cooking delicious meals, for baths and skincare, body scrubs and even for salt lamps! Salt lamps like at PURE Spa & Beauty create an incredible atmosphere and help our Massage Treatments like the Indian Head Massage and Facials to be as relaxing as possible. 

PURE’s Foot Ritual, which is the first part of many of our treatments such as our Swedish Massage benefits from the healing powers of Himalayan Salt, in which a small amount of the salt is mixed with oil to cleanse and hydrate the feet. It is also used for a foot soak when mixed with water.

Our therapists also use the Himalayan salt mixed with a body oil or our own Coconut Oil – and when used with Grapeseed or Coconut oil it is wonderful for pregnancy scrubs.

The Benefits of Himalayan Salt 

Relaxation 

Himalayan Bath Salts will help you relax and calm down. They can activate your parasympathetic nervous system– the part of your body responsible for relaxation and a calm state of mind. This lowers levels of stress and when done regularly create resilience and a lowered stress response. It is the perfect wind-down after a stressful week. (No wonder the Roman’s considered the usage or large bathing centres as a fundamental right!) To increase the relaxing properties of Pink Himalayan Salt, PURE’s Himalayan Salt has added benefits of lavender and eucalyptus essential oils, helping to improve the quality of sleep and tested in the soothing of anxiety and stress.

Dry and irritated skin relief 

Himalayan Bath Salts can also treat skin conditions like irritation and redness or acne, eczema and psoriasis – it can even help with insect bites so it might be the perfect remedy for mosquitoes and midges this summer. The Himalayan salts get absorbed by the skin and stored in the upper layer of the skin, which plumps it up and creates a natural protective film preventing the skin from dryness. It also extracts toxins from your skin, leaving your skin refreshed and nourished. 

Pain relief 

The presence of calcium, lactic acid and other trace minerals can provide relief to cramped muscles and muscle aches. It can also strengthen bones and connective tissues that may contribute to body soreness.

Detox Benefits 

When bathing in Himalayan Bath Salts, the skin absorbs minerals like:

• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Copper
• Calcium
• Manganese
• Iron

Sodium from the salt, which aid our body’s natural detoxification process and promote the removal of bacteria.

Your Himalayan Salt skincare routine 

We recommend mixing our PURE Spa Skincare’s Himalayan Bath Salts with our Revive, Soothe and Unwind Body Oils to use as an at home body scrub and exfoliant! Exfoliating your skin with this two to three times per week will unclog your pores, make your skin soft, even your skin tone and even boost your circulation. 

You can also use Himalayan Bath Salts in the bath as a bath soak to get the full benefits of the Salts – our secret tip: add a few drops of the PURE Spa Skincare oils mentioned above for both hydrating skin benefits and a beautiful scented bath! 15 minutes soaking in a warm tub of salt infused bathwater will allow your skin to absorb minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, copper, calcium, manganese, iron and sodium, replenishing your body and reawakening your senses. All of these minerals aid our body’s natural detoxification process and promote the removal of bacteria.

You can also recreate your own foot soak by mixing an oil or water with the salts in a foot-sized bowl and soaking your feet for 10 minutes until washing the soak off.

Top Tip: listen to a relaxing playlist or meditation narration to fully unwind after a long day of working or walking.