From the WTF Dept.: "Dr. Oz Recommends OUR Salt Lamps"

When did Dr. Oz recommend salt lamps? This claim is made, including the word "our"..but where's the quote? A video clip? Anything? I think it would be great if Dr. OZ DID recommend these lamps, and he certainly should, but when a competitor claimed this, I couldn't help but scratch my head in wonderment...unscrupulous or simply unsourced? I can't find it and I know my way around the interwebs.

If anyone can provide verification of this claim, please get in touch. I'll be happy to post it here with credit where credit is due.

Now, Dr. Oz does recommend salt pipes:


These aren't salt lamps....are they?

The Proliferation of the Salt Lamp

Over the last 10 to 12 years, salt lamps have gone from a small niche market to an increasingly mainstream product. We jumped into the business in mid-2004 after enjoying the salt lamps we bought so much (we knew others would love them too). With 10 lamps and a small closet, our newborn company took it's first steps; and it grew. These days, we have multiple warehouses and TONS of Himalayan salt lamps, bath salt, and pink gourmet salt. We import 40ft containers of salt products for ourselves as well as many of our customers throughout the year. Our retail return rate is less than 1% over 5 years even offering a 30 day unconditional guarantee. We have constantly researched salt lamps, and offer a uniquely different explanation that doesn't defy the laws of chemistry and physics as the explanations given by magpie salt lamp sites always do (hint: salt lamps DO NOT emit or generate negative ions). Not trying to toot our own horn but I think it is safe to say that Ionicsalts is an authority on salt lamps, given what little else others have offered over the years in good and new information. We even have other salt lamp sites referring people with questions to us! Not kidding. We answer them ALL and answer them well.

And so, we grow. We have big plans too, but that's for another time.

It's almost 2010 now. The salt lamp market is maturing and growing rapidly as word spreads, this makes it competitive. Many of our competitors are being...well, competitive, in the online domain. So be it...

There are "salt lamps" out there for around $10. It's called "whoring" the market and it makes me a very sad panda because what you get inside the box is a crap rock and usually a crap switch and cord. Himalayan salt crystal is priced by quality level: Premium, Good, Fair. This is why a salt lamp can be sold so cheaply at little or no actual profit. This is why people are always surprised when they see our salt lamps, they aren't just fair or good...we insist on and only accept PREMIUM quality salt, it shows when compared to another lamp bought somewhere else (unless you bought it from someone who buys from us!). We pay more but what we get is astonishingly good thanks to our overseas suppliers and manufacturers. If a lamp happens to be not to our liking, we don't ship it - we find a better one. What you can buy elsewhere generally isn't even looked at, much less plugged in and tested; trust me, we've checked up on others over the years. Our online retail return rate over six years is less than 0.01% (1/100th of a percent)...we've always had a 30 day unconditional, hassle-free satisfaction guarantee.

Salt lamps are everywhere these days, at many different quality levels and prices. They are products that actually work wonders for many people, some just a little and others much more. For years there has been a misunderstanding about how a salt lamp does whatever it does to indoor air quality, and myths have become general consensus. The truth about salt lamps can be found in this article.

Still shopping time left....how about the perfect gift?

Neti Pot Once a Day Can Cause Infections, Study Finds

Neti pots have been around for a long time. The first time I saw one used was on a web video....it was startling, and seemed painful. Still to this day I've never tried it, luckily sinus problems do not give me trouble. Here's the video:

In a meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology in Miami, Dr. Talal M. Nsouli, of Watergate Allergy & Asthma Center in Washington said,

I don't have anything against short-term nasal saline irrigation -- even aggressive nasal saline irrigation for three, four days or one week is totally fine, but when we are doing it on a daily basis, we are modifying the immunological biochemistry of the nose.

That can result in a "depletion of immune elements" -- therefore, recurrent sinus infections.

This will lead us to a vicious cycle, more infections, more nasal saline; more nasal saline, more infections. We need to cut this cycle.

Seems almost like nasal spray...pretty soon you GOT to have it. Be careful out there. Mucus is the first line of defense more often than not, without it we are open to much more infections.

Using a salt lamp would be a less harsh method of treatment, treating the air rather than the person; but it seems likely that some of us have bad sinuses and need more for relief.

Salt Lamps Naturally Improve Indoor Air Quality

A salt lamp can be a natural, homeopathic way to improve the quality of indoor air we breathe and beautify a home or office environment. There is also logical scientific basis for salt lamps' healthy effects on surrounding air and human well-being.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Nov 11, 2009 – Indoor air quality is among the top five environmental health risks, according to the EPA1. Today, Americans spend up to 90% of their day-to-day life indoors surrounded by asthma and respiratory allergy triggers such as mold, dust mites, pets, smoke, and more. The increasing prevalence of both asthma and allergies over the last few decades has created a large industry in prescription medications amounting to over 6 billion dollars annually for asthma drugs alone2; this despite the handful of known side effects these may have. Air cleaners can be helpful, but are often noisy, require regular maintenance and a good bit of electricity. There is, however, an increasingly popular and eco-friendly tool to help improve indoor air, and even well-being. Salt lamps are a natural alternative to consider for cleaner, healthier air. A solid chunk of crystal salt warmed and glowing with a low-wattage incandescent bulb really can make a difference inside a room; and due to its hygroscopic3 properties, the differences are not just aesthetic.

The Himalayan salt lamp is the most common variety found in the United States, and originates from government-owned mines in the Himalayan foothills of eastern and northern Pakistan. This crystalline salt is over 250 million years old, formed from this planet's pristine primal sea. The purity and translucent, mineral-rich coloring create a warm, ambient glow when these salt lamps are lighted. Colors of Himalayan salt can range from pure white through dark red, along with a variety of slate blue or grey. Quality levels can vary widely, with the biggest differences being in visual quality of the salt chunk and craftsmanship of the lamp itself. Cheaper is certainly not better when it comes to Himalayan salt lamps. A salt crystal lamp will last a lifetime and beyond when used properly, so stick with premium quality4.

The most rare and valued variety of salt lamps these days are Persian salt lamps. While prized for their rich spectrum of purple and blue coloring, the actual salt contained in these Iranian mines is predominantly white to cream colored. The veins of purple color within the mine are thin, especially compared to the vast mines found in Pakistan, and this limits the amount of purple salt lamps that can be produced. The colors produced by a premium-level purple Persian salt lamp can range almost anywhere in the purple spectrum including lavender, plum, indigo, and violet. Blue specks permeate through kind of salt most notably on the outer lamp surface. Standard-level Persian salt lamps are slightly more common, being purple mixed with white in color5. Interestingly, these salt lamps could also have a cosmic origin as purple and blue salt was discovered inside fallen meteorites in 1998. Read http://persiansaltlamps.com/cosmic-salt-lamps.htm for more information.

Regardless of color, crystalline salt rocks share a common trait of attracting water molecules to their salt surface known as being hygroscopic. The natural attraction of moisture from the air is the real secret of how a salt lamp works. Widespread anecdotal claims about crystal salt "generating" negative ions have yet to be scientifically studied, documented, published, and peer reviewed. This could likely be either a lack of available data, or simply an urban legend that has earned its share of skeptics over the years. There is another theory about salt lamps realized by Ionicsalts, however, that logically suggests benefits come from two conditions created by the attraction of water and salt rather than simply negative ion generation.

As an aside, negative ions are well-known for benefitting immunity, the respiratory system, mood; increasing the flow of oxygen to the brain creating decreased drowsiness, higher alertness levels, and raising mental capacity in at least the one in three people that are sensitive to the effects6. Contrarily, positive ions have been linked to problems such as fatigue, anxiety, headaches, and more.

In the average home or office, indoor air has an electrical balance of both positive and negative ions; yet naturally holds a slight positive electrical charge due in large part to technology and machines, along with airborne moisture and particulates that attach to these floating water molecules such as mold, fungi, bacteria, viruses, allergens, etc. These particulates cannot remain airborne and viable without the positive-charged water molecule. In the first condition created by a salt lamp, moisture is drawn to the surface of the lamp through the air. Reduced airborne humidity reduces the amount of floating respiratory irritants and asthma triggers by forming an inhospitable environment. These irritants and triggers eventually fall harmlessly to the floor. The surrounding indoor air becomes naturally cleaner.

The second condition a salt lamp can create in an indoor space is altering the electrical balance of an area. As the natural balance of positive and negative ions exists in ambient air, removing positively charged particles increases the ratio in favor of negative ions. This is measurable. It's possible that a negatively-charged ionic field exists to some extent around a warm salt lamp, but this field is likely small because negative ions have a rather short life span. Lastly, the warmth of a lighted salt lamp creates an upward convection current of air creating slight circulation and accelerating the process of moisture evaporation on the salt surface. This action further enhances the overall effect salt lamps can have in a room.

Salt lamps can be a beautiful and natural way to breathing healthier indoor air. They are not medical devices, nor have they been officially recognized as diagnosing, curing, or treating any disease; alternative medicine receives little to no funding for such things. As with anything homeopathic or holistic, results vary between individuals and environments based on personal sensitivities. One thing is certain, indoor air quality can noticeably improve with a lighted salt lamp around.

1 www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/aircleaners.pdf
2 www.aaaai.org/media/statistics/asthma-statistics.asp
3 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygroscopy
4 www.ionicsalts.com/shop
5 persiansaltlamps.com
6 www.webmd.com/balance/features/negative-ions-create-positive-vibes

# # #

Ionicsalts.com is a leading Himalayan salt company and importer based in Charlotte, NC, USA. Family-owned and operated, the company was founded in 2004 and has since gained a market reputation of offering the highest quality products and information with friendly, hassle-free service. Specialized in premium-quality salt lamps, bath salt, and gourmet edible pink salt. Retail, wholesale, and direct import. Please visit for more information about Himalayan salt and salt lamps: http://www.ionicsalts.com

Recall on salt lamp cords...a clarification.

I happened upon this story the on the day it came out, ironically, and questioned the hazard conclusions made and the vernacular used when I read it; misleading and likely incorrect in my personal opinion. In light of this, we feel there needs to be some common sense and clarity added to the discussion.

The report:

Lamps Recalled by LTD Commodities LLC, ABC Distributing and the Lakeside Collection Due to Fire Hazard

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Ionic Salt Lamps

Units: About 25,800

Distributor: LTD Commodities LLC; ABC Distributing of Bannockburn, Ill., and Lakeside Collection, all of Bannockburn, Ill.

Manufacturer: Fashion Stitches & More, Inc., of Dayton, N.J.

Hazard: The lamps overheat causing the vinyl coating on the cord to burst and melt, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received eight reports of overheating, including two reports of hand burns.

Description: The recalled ionic salt lamp varies in color from light to dark red and is attached to a wood base. The lamp fixture comes with a 10 watt bulb and a black cord with an inline on/off switch. The UL file number E216832 will be printed on the cord and the UL file number E214389 on the plug.

Sold by: LTD Commodities, ABC Distributing, and Lakeside Collection catalogs, and on their Web sites from March 2009 through May 2009 for about $12.

Manufactured in: Pakistan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact either LTD Commodities, ABC Distributing or Lakeside Collection to receive a replacement cord set. All consumers who purchased the Ionic Salt Lamps were notified directly about the recall.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact either LTD Commodities or ABC Distributing toll free at (866) 736-3654, or Lakeside Collection toll-free at (866) 847-4327 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT, or logon to www.ltdcommodities.com, www.abcdistributing.com or www.lakeside.com

First and foremost, E-klectix / Ionicsalts.com is in no way affiliated or associated with the named companies listed in the report. We have NEVER had a safety issue with our electrical cords, and this is because we fully test every single cord we ship as part of day-to-day order processing and fulfillment. Yes, it adds a little time to each shipment in getting it ready - but it's ready and there is no uncertainty about what's in the box we just packed and shipped; a return rate of less than 1% testifies to these practices.

The usage of "Ionic Salt Lamps" is troubling because of natural search engine keywords as well as word association. Why say "ionic"? Is this what was printed on the box? Why the extra adjective to describe a salt lamp? What about "Himalayan", "beautiful", "natural", "rock", "electric", or "decorative"? We received an email recently, from someone who had shipped their recalled cord and wanted to know when to expect the receive the replacement. How are we supposed to know? It's not us! But, thanks to inadvertent usage of the word "ionic" in this US government report, the association was made...unsurprisingly and unfortunately.

Then, there is this little item:

Hazard: The lamps overheat causing the vinyl coating on the cord to burst and melt, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

From our own experience and knowledge with salt lamps for many years now, this statement is misworded at best. Someone explain to me how a 10-watt incandescent salt lamp bulb will heat a salt lamp to a temperature that cause vinyl coating on a cord to "burst and melt". Ten watt bulbs are not suitable for warming anything even lukewarm but the smallest of salt lamps, like 1-2 lbs, which relatively speaking is nothing more that one of our salt bath bars with a light inside. Our smallest salt lamps are 5-6 lbs. generally.

The better worded hazard conclusion: Cheap, poorly-made, UL-listed electrical cords burst and melt, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

The lamps are not likely to be overheating and melting plastic with a 10-watt bulb; nor are people likely getting burned by a salt lamp with a 10-watt bulb but with a poorly-wired and/or poorly-manufactured electrical cord.

This is what happens when bargain shopping rather than insisting on quality. That's just not us.

Salt Lamps and You

The most common remark we receive from our customers is how much better they sleep and how they snore less. Those with asthma need less of their medications or not need them at all with a working salt lamp around. We know much of this from our own experiences, which is why we bring them around the world for others here that can use natural air improvement and a "green" method of gaining better health through breathing.

This is ultimately why we do this. Because it's good and natural. No mineral is more potent to human health and well-being. Good for the body, good for the air. It's simple. There was once a day this salt was like gold; used in trade and as payment to workers and soldiers. As long as they were "worth their salt" and earned their "salary". It's a true commodity because of it's age and purity, not to be confused with industrially processed salt, or even sea salt found today from today's oceans and seas.

Even further, Himalayan salt crystal comes in different qualities as it is mined and sorted. Most of what you can find elsewhere over the Internet is the quality which would never make it into our containers, period. Price is not a point we argue as long as what we receive is peerless quality and enough to make even our own trained and hardened eyes say, "WoW, that's gorgeous!".

We see every piece of salt that we ship, everything is hand-pulled from cases, tested, re-boxed, and packed well for a journey with the angriest of UPS drivers and maddest of mailmen. Pretty packaging we don't specialize in; our stuff isn't pre-boxed in Pakistan and only opened when it reaches the end user. These are the perils of same-day shipping during the holidays, which we could never promise while still taking the extra few minutes to plug it in and LOOK....is it something I'd want my MY house? Sure, we pull a baddie every once in awhile, but we don't ship baddies!! We have a far less than 1% returned merchandise rate to back that up too.

Ionicsalts has a big holiday sale going on now. If you don't have a salt lamp, or already own one but want to know what a good one looks like, read up on some info and check the catalog.

Happy Holidays!

Water from Air via Salt - Love it!

Just happened to see a story on the local TV news the other day, and it's very worth sharing. A Florida-based company named Aqua Sciences Inc has developed a remarkable way of harvesting water from outdoor air using the hygroscopic properties of salt which we've emphasized as the leading reason that a salt lamp works so well in improving indoor air quality.

Aqua Sciences™ atmospheric water extraction machines can be furnished and installed in disaster sites, urban, rural and isolated communities to capture, purify and dispense water of superior quality on demand.

Current machines can provide between 350-1,200 gallons of water per day with a target price of approximately $0.25 per gallon dependent upon actual conditions and costs.

Machines may be powered by electricity or a self-contained diesel generator and are environmentally friendly due to lower energy requirements and no harmful or toxic by-products.

This is fascinating given the oddball weather patterns, including the drought we've been under here in Southeast. Lakes are drying up and primary water resources for major areas like Atlanta and Charlotte are reaching dangerous levels; to the point where we hear "60 days of water left"...."45 days of water left".

As long as the oil and energy companies don't get wind of this, it could be an affordable alternative when water is scarce. Otherwise we may be paying $3 per gallon for fresh water!

Anyway, how's your air? Try a salt lamp and breathe cleanly and naturally relieve most asthma and respiratory allergy symptoms that are caused by bad air in the home or office.

Even mold is kept in check by our salt crystal according to one of our customers. Shortly after receiving their salt lamps, her daughter had to grow mold on bread for a class project. In several places around the home, bread was placed according to instructions given by her teacher. After several days, the project was due. Unfortunately, the mold would not grow anywhere in the home.

Why not?
Our salt lamps are the highest quality one will EVER find. With this purity of content and structure is created a very efficient, natural air cleaner. They do not physically remove allergens, mold, bacteria and microbes from the air however. They change the air itself, creating an unsuitable environment by slightly changing the electrical balance in the air, and removing water molecules that are vital to the survival and airborne state of those floating baddies.

On one hand salt creates fresh water out of thin air, literally; on the other hand, high-quality crystal salt improves the air we breathe within the confines of any indoor space.

So, while having your own household water generator maybe be a bit farther in the future, you can do something to improve your indoor air and overall well-being by a getting a beautiful salt lamp
from Ionicsalts.com. Seriously, you get 30 day unconditional, hassle-free guarantee that assures your satisfaction. Discover for yourself what everyone else tells us....we have the best salt crystal product around, bar none.

Salt Lamps: Natural Gifts That Keep on Giving

*brushes the dust and cobwebs away from a lonely blog*

Here they come, the Holidays. What will it be this year? The usual or the unusual gift? Why risk disappointment? Consider a Himalayan salt lamp this holiday season and be sure what you're giving is natural, environmentally-friendly, good for health and happiness, and the highest-quality salt crystal you will find ANYWHERE. Most companies online will promise the world, but Ionicsalts actually delivers.

Know anyone with asthma or respiratory allergies? Why not give them a natural air cleaner that is stunningly beautiful? Our salt lamps change the condition and electrical balance of indoor air through a natural hygroscopic process involving the attraction of moisture to the salt surface. Without moisture, airborne irritants and infectious microbes cannot remain airborne and viable.....falling harmlessly to the floor. Without the positive-charged water molecules present, the natural electrical balance shift toward negative due to the reduction in positive ions. It is a documented and researched fact that negative ions are good for you, me, and everyone else.

Check out our salt lamps and bath salt at our website, www.ionicsalts.com. Keep in mind lamps are sold by weight, not by label; some may call a lamp weighing 5 lbs a medium...we call that a "mini", and anything less we consider a chip with barely enough room for a bulb. Unless using a "clip" style attachment that mounts at the bottom of the base.....these are not satisfactory when it comes to proper illumination and heating of the salt, we sell many cords to people who gripe about this.

As an aside, it has been confirmed that certain manufacturers in Pakistan, and maybe elsewhere, are making lamps from sea salt and selling them as genuine Himalayan salt crystal, which is mined from the earth. We aren't aware of the process yet but be aware. I think I've seen one of these, but sold as salt of another origin.

Happy Holidays!

Salt Lamps for Peace - Summer Sale

From now until Labor Day, all purchases get a 20% discount in an effort to create world peace and harmony! Well, ok, so that's a rather lofty goal to set given the circumstances and psychopathic leaders involved. What is certain, and anyone with a quality salt lamp would agree, is that they create a calming and healthy atmosphere and an excellent aid for meditation and relaxation. If nothing else, enjoy the calming peace that comes from a Himalayan salt crystal lamp....and save some money for the big oil companies - they really need it these days, obviously. Grrrrr....

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Howdy folks! 'Tis the season... we're busier than ever. All of us at Ionicsalts wish you and yours a safe and merry holiday; and a healthy, happy new year. In this world, even as it is drowning in chaos and caught in an undertow of psychopathy, take a moment of the waning year and ponder your reality; appreciate those you care about and even those whom you do not. Life is short and fleeting, everything is a lesson. Enjoy a salt lamp and focus on the good.

On another note, I found an article about new "non-stick" salt in the NY Times. Apparently, by adding an amino acid to the already poisonous and unhealthy common processed salt, it won't clump together due to it's attraction of humidity; therefore it can be stored in otherwise unsuitable environments.

From the New York Times, 12/9/2006

By CLIVE THOMPSON

Published: December 10, 2006

Everyone knows the havoc that humidity wreaks on salt. You pick up a saltshaker, tip it upside down and — nothing.

The problem is molecular. Salt grains are cube shaped, so it doesn’t take much to get them to stack together like Legos. Salt producers have created nonsticking salt before by adding chemicals to prevent binding. But this year, in the July issue of Crystal Growth and Design, a team of Indian scientists announced that they had discovered a better way to attack the problem: they produced salt that is round.

To accomplish this, they added the amino acid glycine to a pan of brine and then let the salty liquid evaporate. The resulting crystals were shaped like dodecahedrons: 12-sided grains. In this nearly spherical form, the grains no longer stacked like bricks but like oranges in a sack. The researchers put some of the round salt into a container, left it for a year and found that it still poured freely.

The glycine has a side effect: it makes the salt slightly sweeter. Pushpito K. Ghosh, one of the lead scientists on the project, claims he can’t detect it — “And I’ve eaten a lot of it!” — but he suspects that chefs might.

source

Perhaps someday they can remove the added flouride, which is a known neurotoxin and completely unnecessary. Chances are, if you live in a municipal area, flouride is being injected into your tap water too.

"There are also over 30 animal studies showing that fluoride is a neurotoxin which reduces learning and memory. Essentially, fluoride makes you a bit less intelligent."

That may somewhat explain what's wrong with some people.... ;-)

Holiday Sale and News

Happy Holidays to All! We have our holiday sale underway - 10% off everything in stock, including salt lamps, candleholders, bath salt, accessories, and more. Re-vamped the catalog again to accommodate new products and new protocol scheme...oh, and new cart! We're pleased to have finally moved to a new shopping cart which offers more flexibility and more shipping options.

We now offer sales to Canada! We've had enough traffic and inquiries to justify the addition. Welcome friends in the Great White North. Shipping options include UPS and USPS.

More design work to come sitewide. Finally the bugs are out of our new product gallery. Another interface and background to come.

Elvis Costello said, "All musicians are thieves and magpies". I suppose it's true in the web game. How many more new sites will find the need to rip our photos and graphics off? We use a service that protects our words and text, we look for those that steal our images. I never ends. We are happy to license photos, but not for free and not without specific, individual permissions. We reserve the right to refuse usage. We are diligent in enforcing our rights. Every image is dated, listed and registered with the Library of Congress. We have the RAW files as well. Lazy webmasters are scum. lol

We hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season.....there's always next year.

Holidays are coming, Ready?

We're gearing up for the holiday rush...although it has already started in some ways. If you're a wholesale customer, it's time to stock up. Last year we had to cut off wholesale orders at the beginning of December just to keep up with our retail orders; I expect the exact same thing this year - probably more in fact.

Our website will be undergoing a few changes, including a new shopping cart and new shipping options. Due to popular demand, we will beginning sales to Canadian customers too. Cool eh.

We have a few new crafted items that are unbelievable in quality and appearance. New natural salt lamps in more colors are on the way to the site....introducing fiery orange and red soon.

We will of course have a holiday sale, specifics are still being mulled.

Until next time....

New income opportunity and more

Ionicsalts is very pleased to announce our new affiliate sales program, perfect for those with blogs, websites, or other online presence. No inventory to keep, orders to pack, or tedious work involved with selling rocks like these. We offer several colors and sizes of banners, as well as text links for use as a sales affiliate. We fully support our affiliates in every way we can.

Help us spread the word and market these natural, amazing products - and get paid for every sale made from your referrals. For more information, visit our opportunity page.

Finally, don't forget to spend some time relaxing with the ambient, naturally healthy environment that comes with a Himalayan salt lamp. It's good for you!

New products are online NOW!

Finally, after weeks of labor, I've got the catalog updated and new stuff is up.

Still some clean-up and minor things to do, but it's fully functional.

New Himalayan salt lamps - Blues, Whites, two-color pieces, iron baskets, and so much more. There also a new Accessories page for cords, clear and colored bulbs.

Edible! We now have edible-grade Himalayan salt crystal in 1kg packages. Animals love it, and you will too. Common table salt is poison. We offer the real deal.

Still more stuff in the works. Christmas will be HUUUGE. Affiliate program on the way!

Onward and Upward....Stay tuned.

Electronic Smog and Salt Lamps

Told you so! A salt lamp will counteract this "smog".

Invisible "smog", created by the electricity that powers our civilisation, is giving children cancer, causing miscarriages and suicides and making some people allergic to modern life, new scientific evidence reveals.

The evidence - which is being taken seriously by national and international bodies and authorities - suggests that almost everyone is being exposed to a new form of pollution with countless sources in daily use in every home.

Two official Department of Health reports on the smog are to be presented to ministers next month, and the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has recently held the first meeting of an expert group charged with developing advice to the public on the threat.

The UN's World Health Organisation (WHO) calls the electronic smog "one of the most common and fastest growing environmental influences" and stresses that it "takes seriously" concerns about the health effects. It adds that "everyone in the world" is exposed to it and that "levels will continue to increase as technology advances".

Wiring creates electrical fields, one component of the smog, even when nothing is turned on. And all electrical equipment - from TVs to toasters - give off another one, magnetic fields. The fields rapidly decrease with distance but appliances such as hair dryers and electric shavers, used close to the head, can give high exposures. Electric blankets and clock radios near to beds produce even higher doses because people are exposed to them for many hours while sleeping.

Radio frequency fields - yet another component - are emitted by microwave ovens, TV and radio transmitters, mobile phone masts and phones themselves, also used close to the head.

The WHO says that the smog could interfere with the tiny natural electrical currents that help to drive the human body. Nerves relay signals by transmitting electric impulses, for example, while the use of electrocardiograms testify to the electrical activity of the heart.

Campaigners have long been worried about exposure to fields from lines carried by electric pylons but, until recently, their concerns were dismissed, even ridiculed, by the authorities.

But last year a study by the official National Radiological Protection Board concluded that children living close to the lines are more likely to get leukaemia, and ministers are considering whether to stop any more homes being built near them. The discovery is causing a large-scale reappraisal of the hazards of the smog.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer - part of the WHO and the leading international organisation on the disease - classes the smog as a "possible human carcinogen". And Professor David Carpenter, dean of the School of Public Health at the State University of New York, told The Independent on Sunday last week that it was likely to cause up to 30 per cent of all childhood cancers. A report by the California Health Department concludes that it is also likely to cause adult leukaemia, brain cancers and possibly breast cancer and could be responsible for a 10th of all miscarriages.

Professor Denis Henshaw, professor of human radiation effects at Bristol University, says that "a huge and substantive body of evidence indicates a range of adverse health effects". He estimates that the smog causes some 9,000 cases of depression.

Perhaps strangest of all, there is increasing evidence that the smog causes some people to become allergic to electricity, leading to nausea, pain, dizziness, depression and difficulties in sleeping and concentrating when they use electrical appliances or go near mobile phone masts. Some are so badly affected that they have to change their lifestyles.

While not yet certain how it is caused, both the WHO and the HPA accept that the condition exists, and the UN body estimates that up to three in every 100 people are affected by it.

Case History: 'I felt I was going into meltdown'

Until a year ago, Sarah Dacre reckoned she had a "blessed life". Running her own company, and living in an expensive north London home, the high-earning divorcee described herself as "fab, fit and 40s". Then suddenly the sight in her right eye failed: she first noticed it when she was unable to read an A-Z map. Soon she was getting pains and numbness in her joints. She could not sleep and spent nights "pacing about like a caged lion". Her short-term memory failed and if she took notes to remind her, she would forget she had made them.

The symptoms got worse whenever she was exposed to electricity. She could not use a computer for more than five minutes without becoming nauseous. Even using a telephone landline gave her a buzzing in the ear and made her feel she was "going into meltdown".

Source: http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article362557.ece

Ionicsalts - We're still here...

Three and a half months later. So much has been happening, this blog has been neglected as a result.

We recently received another 70,000 lbs of salt crystal product. The quality thus far is unmatched, seriously. There will soon be many new products hitting the website, as well as the ol' favorites. Blue and snow white salt lamps, new designs using two colors of salt, and we will be introducing Himalayan peloid with salt inclusion. This is mineral-rich mud from the bottom of the mines known for it's tremendous natural care for skin. It's a great facial scrub. Additionally we'll soon have edible Himalayan salt crystal available. This is considered "gourmet" and completely wholesome, as opposed to regular, manufactured table salt.

Things are moving quickly, no change there. We have also reached the conclusion that we are the most plagiarized and pillaged salt lamp site on the Web. Every week we get more reports of lazy, shameless people taking our images and text to use on their own sites. We are vigilant in protecting our rights, and with the time and money we put into our product photos - it is required. On one hand, it's flattering to know we have the best site and images on the Internet for these products...as well as the most informative, well-written website; on the other hand this is business, and as such we must protect our assets. We have daily scans done for possible content infringment, because of this problem we have.

We are soon to roll-out an affiliate program of sorts too. This will allow people to sell our lamps with the need for warehousing, shipping, or inventory. If you're interested please send us an email at sales@ionicsalts.com...we will add you to the list for notification once it's alive.

We've recently doubled our warehouse space (again), and finally picked up a forkift of our own. This has opened up freight shipments for us....and wholesale is growing exponentially for us - so this is a good thing.

More coming later. Peace.

The Holiday Salt Lamp Sale continues...

Merry Christmas everyone....

To understate it, our sale is doing well. We're still shipping in time for Christmas, and wholesale orders are being delayed to help get holiday orders out faster. I'd really thought our holiday sales were good last year, and they were....we sold out of nearly everything. This year is nuts, more than imagined certainly. We are very glad that so many more people will be turned on to our salt lamps, for word-of-mouth has been our best advertisement. Our lamps are better.

On another positive note, muscle tone and strength is increasing for myself and anyone working in our warehouse! Gravity is so cruel, yet so kind.

Another trip to the photographer is coming soon, we always seem to have a few that don't have photos and therefore don't make it on the website. Oh the treasures that await!

Saltflame.com has taken the main page down but left inner pages with our content visible. Emails are returned as undeliverable. We've began another cleansing project, locating plagiarized and/or stolen content and getting it taken down. We offer the opportunity to remove it....but some choose to ignore us. They are no match for my DMCA/copyright kung-fu, lessons are to be learned methinks. Too much time and money is invested in this venture to have its assets burgled away so casually. It's business.

Oh, the holiday sale is over at the end of this year - December 31, 2005! Get it while it's hot.

...and a Happy New Year!

Holiday Sale is On!! 20% Off Everything

Yes, it's here again. Last year we sold out of nearly everything, and I think that was only 10% off! This year we're very well prepared with tons (literally) of natural salt lamps, salt crystal candleholders, crafted salt lamps including animals, the finest bath salt known to man, bath bars, and gourmet edible salt. Can we empty the warehouse? Perhaps.

We still offer our "free shipping on all orders over $50". No surprises at checkout...and it's surprising when shipping rocks across the country, I promise.

Price on Home Spa Pack was raised $3 to offset the sale discount, which lowered it to where shipping costs are applied thereby defeating the purpose, Also, included the candleholder that was part of our last promotion in the Pack.

Wheels are still turning around here. We're still pushing for full-blown medical studies, our evidence is THAT compelling. The website is under constant improvement and several things are planned for the first quarter of next year.

Speaking of content, the folks at SaltFlame.com have stolen our copyrighted photos and used them in their own commercial site. I haven't ran a scan on their text content yet, but I can only imagine how much I've been copied. All of our photos, text, and graphics are protected by US copyright law along with the DMCA. Our product photos are registered with the Library of Congress and have been issued an ISBN number.
We are very diligent in the protection of our property/investments and enforce our rights with the same diligence. Action begins in a matter of days, as we've offered SaltFlame.com a window of opportunity to remove all of our pics/material from their website. Oh man, they picked the wrong website for this sort of behavior.

Happy Holidays from Ionicsalts.com and E-klectix!

Unique Holiday Gifts for Everyone

Sometimes, I really miss when Christmas was magical and mysterious; back when Santa really had flying reindeer and managed to hit every kids' house around the world in one night. I remember waking up every Christmas morning, and that moment shortly thereafter when I realized it was CHRISTMAS DAY! Waiting for everyone to get up, then marching out to view the literal fortress of gifts and boxes in bright, colorful wrapping paper...man, being a kid was alright on days like these.

Times change, do they not?

What is Christmas today? Crowded stores and malls, competition for the "hot" holiday toys, driving around town looking for a decent parking spot on fuel costing $3 per gallon, traffic jams, tired holiday songs and music everywhere you go....it seems so cliché now.

Why not do something different this year? Do some holiday shopping online. You can get more done with less time and expense, even find something new and unusual for gift-giving. Our Himalayan salt lamps make an excellent choice.

Why? How many of your family and friends own one or even know of them? Do you know anyone with respiratory problems like asthma or allergies, perhaps children you know suffer these problems? Someone who enjoys beauty and natural ambience in their surroundings? Any persons who could use an upgrade to the indoor environment in which they both work and live. Everyone likes to have something unique (besides themselves), unlike any other in the world - true?

This holiday season, give those you care for a unique, natural, homeopathic, beautiful, and ambient gift they will appreciate for the rest of their lives.
Anti-bacterial and anti-allergenic, our himalayan salt lamps are perfect for everyone, infants to seniors. Our bath salts and bath bars are the most pure and potent available anywhere in the world...period. Certainly a spa sensation without ostentation, they offer wonderful care for skin, leaving it soft and smooth. Therapeutic help for acne and many other skin problems.

Turn 'em on to something unusual, yet beneficial, this year. No gasoline or shopping headache required. Satisfaction is guaranteed.

Himalayan Salt Lamps | Candleholders | Bath Salts | Bath Bars


Ionicsalts.com offers the largest,finest selection of premium Himalayan salt crystal products.


Beware of cheap imitation 'rock salt' products, it is not crystalline nor as potent.


Our quality is peerless and guaranteed.

Are we there yet?

*sigh* Salt lamps...gotta love 'em.


After cropping, re-sizing, format converting, and otherwise manipulating ten billion photos...after creating a few hundred thousand graphics, and over a million html pages - it is done!

The catalog has been updated, and re-done in several ways. There's now a gift certificate option, right on time for the holidays. Nearly all of our new stuff is there, other stuff will be there once our photographer has his way with them.

New specials are on! Free candleholder and free shipping with orders over $50....and the "Home Spa Pack" for $59.95, which includes (1)Small Natural Salt Lamp, (2 lbs) Himalayan Crystal Bath Salt, and (2) Himalayan Salt Bath Bars....yes, we're giving the free candleholder and free shipping with it too!

Still plenty left to do; as I hold my breath while Google plays with their ranking algorithm for another week or two. They truly have the power to make or break small businesses. They've been good to our website, let's hope they remain so. The Jagger Update....so it's been dubbed.
Does Mick know about this?

On another note, we send our prayers and thoughts to the victims and casualties of the recent earthquake in the Pakistan|Kashmir|India region. Their devastation makes Katrina seem minimal. These are the miners, laborers, crafters, and business contacts that make our salt business happen, as this region of north and northeastern Pakistan is where these finest of the world's salt mines are located.

Our supply line is intact and next container is almost ready to sail, thankfully. We can't say the same for other vendors and mining companies in the area, shortages are inevitable for some.

These people of Southeast Asia are still digging out and looking for lost family and friends.
Help if you can.

Peace.