Hey cats!

Well the idea behind them is that the salt helps to create negative ions which balance out the positive ions (which aren't all that positive) created mainly by electrical devices such as phones, computers, TVs, washers and microwaves; but also by substances like tobacco smoke. A build up of positive ions is meant to degrade the quality of the air around us, which in turn leads to poor physical and emotional wellbeing. The crystals themselves help to purify the air and produce negative ions regardless, however their effectiveness is greatly increased when heated, hence why so many salt rocks have been made into lamps and tea light holders! There are also numerous medical benefits that come from owning a salt lamp including but not limited to:

Now that these have become popular they're quite easily accessible from most alternative/health shops. I chose to buy mine from an independent business purely because the owners knowledge was brilliant, the lamps were very decently priced (mine cost £36) and I like to support local businesses over larger shops any time I can.

The lamp is in my study on the windowsill right next to my desk. I figured this was the best place for it since it's where I spend a lot of my time and where I'm most exposed to electrical smog from my phone and laptop. Salt lamps are also a great addition for introducing Feng Shui into your home.

I do believe in the science behind it having researched around this as well as seeing documentaries about salt mining, how healthy the miners actually were and how they were found to rarely suffer from respiratory system diseases. However, the other part of me wonders if these lamps simply create a placebo effect in a mind over matter way. I'm mainly curious to see what happens either way and feel there is benefit behind each outcome.

For the past 3-4 weeks I've had the dregs of a chest infection hanging on to me and causing me to cough like a 60-a-day chain smoker, but I figured this situation is a great way to see if the salt lamp can do any good. But then, the twist! Within a few hours of being home I can feel my body turning: one nostril is completely blocked, my face has puffed up into chipmunk mode, my body aches, my constant tiredness and snarky attitude from that day starts to make sense...I'm getting another cold. The universe must be testing me. But this is an even more perfect way to see how the salt lamp affects me, if at all! The conditions couldn't be more perfect.

Day 0

8pm-12am: I feel psychologically better knowing it's there, its warm glow radiating over me. I feel calmer, less worried, and hopeful that it will ease this illness. Plus it looks bloody good on my windowsill.

Day 1
5pm: Resisted the urge to turn the lamp on until now when I started to feel really exhausted and low. I feel better for having put it on but I'm worried that I'm creating the placebo effect I mentioned earlier. Having said that, is it really that bad of a thing to happen? As far as I'm concerned all I want is to feel better, whether it be because of my own mind or because of negative ions!

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Hey cats!

In the last couple of months I've felt like my body is really letting me down but I can't really put my finger on the cause (although I suspect it's to do with the contraceptive implant) so I've recently been trying to get my body and mind back on form by jumping on the healthy living wagon. For me this is going to be tough because Chronic Fatigue Syndrome coupled with anxiety and depression don't make for a good motivational mix for keeping at things. I'm determined one way or another though to feel better, to have more energy, to be less bloated, to cut down my caffeine intake and to feel much more positive. At first I plan to eat better and in doing so I've decided to go gluten free as I believe a lot of my bloating is down to eating wheat, the two seem to correspond. Once I feel better in myself I want to then strive towards getting fit but not in the sense of losing weight, I want to tone up and improve my flexibility, strength and stamina. And of course in turn I hope that this will improve my state-of-mind and allow me to get out of this rut before Winter kicks in and aggravates my S.A.D/depression even more. I also want to work towards accepting not being perfect and loving my body with all it's wobbly bits, stretch marks, spots, scars and broken veins because at the end of the day all of those things and what caused them has made me the person I am today.

Getting to the point now, I wanted to just note this down so maybe in a while or so I can review my progress/any other changes I made and how I feel. Writing things down for me is cathartic and helpful so if I choose to look back, I might be able to reassure myself when I inevitably want to give up and remain a potato.

Have you tried going gluten free or improving your diet? How did you find it? Let me know!

Here's to a healthy body and happy mind!

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