Innovative Uses for Organic Himalayan Rock Salt

The obvious use case of Himalayan pink salt is as a culinary ingredient to season our foods. It’s similar to regular table salt. It is favoured by some because of its purported health benefits and unique flavour.

But did you know that Himalayan rock salt has more use cases–more than just a flavour enhancer? Let’s discuss them one by one and see if you can use this salt for your daily activities.

What is Organic Himalayan Rock Salt?

Pink Himalayan salt, sometimes called Himalayan rock salt, is a kind of salt known for its pink colour, hence the name, and it’s mined from the Khewra Salt Mine in the foothills of the Salt Range mountains.

Like all salts, it is primarily composed of sodium chloride (96-99%). It contains small, non-nutritionally significant amounts of other minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium.

Its origins date back hundreds of millions of years. The market of Himalayan salt was fairly small until recently when it has grown to 400,000 tons per year.

Himalayan Salt Benefits for the Body

Aside from its sodium chloride content, Himalayan salt has up to 84 other minerals and trace elements.

Let’s compare some well-known minerals found in 1 gram of table salt vs. Pink Himalayan salt.

This only means that pink Himalayan salt only contains small amounts of additional minerals. The claims by people that it can provide numerous health benefits have limited research to back them. These claims are centred around:

• Electrolyte balance

• Hydration

• Respiratory health

• Skin conditions

• Other claims like improving sleep and balancing pH levels

Let’s talk more about what Himalayan salt can really do.

Himalayan Rock Salt For Natural Skin Care at Home

Mineral baths, including Himalayan salt baths, may be beneficial for you. Firstly, since any kind of warm bath can be relaxing, taking a Himalayan salt bath can help reduce fatigue, stress and pain.

Advocates of this salt say that it can generate negative ions in the air, mimicking the calming effect when you’re on a beach or by the sea.

Himalayan salt baths might be a good option to treat acne on hard-to-access areas of the body such as the back and shoulders. Mineral baths in general have been shown to be beneficial for people with eczema/psoriasis. They help reduce the redness, irritation and scaling.

Advocates also say that it has natural soothing properties, thus making it an effective remedy for soothing itchy insect bites.

As an Exfoliating Body Scrub

Himalayan rock salt makes a great base for a body scrub. This way, you can cleanse, moisturise and exfoliate your skin all at once.

To use, start by wetting your skin, take a generous amount of the Himalayan salt scrub and then gently massage the salt scrub onto your body in circular motions. But make sure to avoid the face and any sensitive areas.

Focus on areas that need extra exfoliation like the elbows, knees and heels. Massage for a few minutes. Finally, rinse off the scrub with warm water and pat your skin dry. Apply a moisturiser or body oil to hydrate and soften your skin.

As a Salt Bath Soak

Fill your tub with warm water. Add your Himalayan salt to the running water as the tub fills. A good starting point is a handful or 1-2 cups if you have a standard-sized tub.

Make sure that the salt is fully dissolved before getting into the bath.

Immerse yourself in the bath and soak for 15-20 minutes. Stay hydrated by having a glass of water nearby.

After your bath, rinse off with fresh water to remove any remaining salt residue. Pat your skin dry and apply a moisturiser to hydrate your skin.

As a Foot Soak

You will need a foot basin or pan, warm water, and Himalayan pink salt. Fill the basin with warm water and add about half a handful of Himalayan salt. Stir until the salt dissolves.

Immerse your feet in the water and soak for 15-20 minutes. You can gently rub the salt granules on your feet to exfoliate.

Rinse your feet with clean water and pat them dry. Apply a moisturiser.

As a Salt Facial Toner

Prepare the solution first by heating distilled or filtered water until warm, and then add the Himalayan salt to the warm water until it’s dissolved.

A good ratio is two teaspoons of salt per half cup of water. Let it cool to a comfortable temperature before applying it to your face.

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and warm water to remove any dirt or makeup, and then a final splash of cold water to help close pores.

Use a cotton pad to apply the salt solution to your face, neck, and décolletage. If you want a more even application, transfer the solution to a mister bottle and lightly spray it onto your face after cleansing.

As for the frequency, it’s best to start with a few times a week to see how your skin reacts. If your skin feels dry or irritated, reduce the frequency of use or discontinue using.

Important note:

1. Don’t rub the salt solution into your skin.

2. Avoid getting the solution in your eyes.

3. Patch test before applying the solution to your whole face.

Culinary Uses

Aside from being used as a natural skin care at home, you can cook it just like you would with regular table salt. You can put in sauces and marinades or enhance the flavour of your food at the dinner table.

Some even use Himalayan rock salt as a cooking tool. Some people would buy large solid blocks of this salt and use them as a hot cooking surface. It’s a culinary technique that combines cooking and seasoning in just one step.

What should you consider?

When you measure salt by volume, the grind size is important.

Finely ground salt has smaller particles that pack into a spoon so, the thing is, you get more actual salt per teaspoon. Coarse salt like large crystals leaves more room in the spoon. Thus, less sodium per teaspoon.

As a finishing salt…

The key here is to add the salt at the very end, right before serving. You can sprinkle it over steaks, chicken, and fish after they’ve been cooked on the grill, or on roasted veggies.

In cooking and baking…

Use pink Himalayan salt to season food during cooking to achieve that subtle salty flavour, or for brining meats and fish. When using it for baking, you can use it like a regular salt to enhance the flavour of bread and other baked goods.

You can also use a salt block as a baking stone for crispy crusts.

Conclusion

Organic Himalayan rock salt is less processed than table salt. So if you’re looking to add a touch of unique flavour and texture to your dishes or exploring options for natural skin care at home, you can try our pink Himalayan salt here.

You will surely enjoy the diversity of this product’s uses.