It purifies air.

Salt is hygroscopic, which means it attracts water molecules. A Salt Lamp purifies air by attracting water molecules that carry indoor air pollutants (like bacteria, allergens, and mold). Since the lamp is heated from the lightbulb, the pollutants are believed to stay trapped in the salt, rather than circulating in the air. Therefore, a salt lamp leaves you with purified and cleaner air (now if only it could’ve purified my overflowing laundry pile from freshman year, too).

It helps allergy symptoms and asthma.

Fun fact: Himalayan Salt is now used in some inhalers, and Salt Therapy is used to treat a variety of issues that result in lack of airflow to lungs, like COPD, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, and asthma. The dry salt particles help cleanse airways by a similar process of attracting water particles.

Beauty bonus: some people do Salt Therapy to purify skin as well. While a lamp made out of salt is not nearly the same as sitting in a cave made of salt (known as Salt Therapy in many spas and alternative medicine practices around the world), it’s a way to bring the possible benefits of the ancient salt into your home, on a smaller (and cheaper!) scale.

It can calm your mood and help you sleep.

The pink, warm glow that the lamp gives off provides a calming and happy atmosphere, according to color therapy. Furthermore, Himalayan salt is also said to release negative ions, which are molecules that produce a biochemical reaction when they hit the bloodstream. This reaction increases levels of serotonin, aka the happy hormone. Therefore, a salt lamp is believed to help regulate sleep cycles and calm anxiety.

It can increase energy levels.

Yes, a salt lamp is one of those few magical things in life that can simultaneously calm you down and help you sleep at night, and give you energy during the day. Positive ions (what is emitted from technology, pollution, and even carpets or wall paint) completely zaps energy, and can increase depression, making you even more lethargic. The negative ions that the salt lamp emits balances out the positive ions in the atmosphere, meaning you’ll reap more benefits of negative ions, and decrease harmful effects of positive ions (like lethargy).