Himalayan bath salt - how to use it in a steam room for decoration

It has long been possible to surprise someone with an ordinary sauna or hammam in a sports complex or hotel. Over the course of 5 years, a steady trend has emerged towards the creation of special ethnic or climatic pairs. Salt baths have become especially widespread due to their wide range of application possibilities . Modern equipment allows you to recreate various microclimate conditions: salty sea breeze, adits and mines, cooling towers, salt baths - all this is now in demand. Below is a table with the main types of baths, characteristics and necessary equipment.

What is Himalayan salt

Himalayan pink salt is the same common table salt that is on any kitchen counter, poured into a salt shaker. Its characteristic color is given by its rich mineral composition.

The fact is that NaCl is extracted in several ways:

• Sea water evaporates, leaving behind only salt. If this process is natural, then it is called self-settling, but it happens that the saline solution is evaporated in special reservoirs, that is, the natural process is repeated.
• Boiling or evaporating salty lake water.
• Mining in deep mines, caves and quarries.

At the same time, the salt contains foreign impurities in small quantities, mainly various microelements. The purer the salt from these inclusions, the more processing it has undergone. Himalayan pink salt is mined by hand in the mines of Pakistan, there is no processing at all, which is why it is so highly valued. Due to the peculiarities of its formation and extraction, such salt is usually called rock salt or halite. It is noteworthy that from the mine to the Himalayas themselves are about 300 km in a straight line.

Loading pink salt Source www.tabnakkohkiluye.ir

There are other, “colored” varieties of table salt: black, pink, red, blue and even purple. However, Himalayan pink is the most famous among them due to its mineral composition. Its composition includes iron (it turns salt pink), manganese, magnesium, fluorine and many other components - about 80 items in total.

Application

Pink salt can be used in exactly the same way as regular salt - as an additive to food or as a decoration. There is various information about its beneficial qualities, but they are not proven from a scientific point of view. In addition, increased salt consumption for the purpose of health improvement can have the opposite effect and lead to the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system, stomach and even cancer. In addition, salt retains fluid in the body, which can cause swelling.

The maximum healing effect that can be obtained from visiting a bath with Himalayan pink salt is akin to that achieved from being in the so-called salt caves.

A typical salt cave in which people can spend some time breathing salt solution sprayed into the air. Such caves are recommended for frequent colds. Source vsepeshery.rf

Be that as it may, it should be remembered that the daily need of the human body for sodium chloride in any form is no more than 5 grams (slightly less than one teaspoon).

Pink Himalayan salt is used in cosmetology and cooking. The fact is that slabs made from such salt can withstand significant temperatures - up to 200 0C - thanks to which they can be heated and then used as a regular stove.

People most often try to use bath salt in briquettes when decorating rooms, in particular, saunas and steam rooms.

cooling tower

Just imagine, every person passes 15-25 kg of air through their lungs every day, and this is in a calm state; with physical activity, the figures increase several times. The air in the city is filled with bacteria, viruses, tiny particles of dust, mites; large factories and cars emit carbon dioxide and various chemical impurities. As a result, a large number of city residents are susceptible to diseases associated with decreased immunity: ARVI, allergies, etc.

Salt-saturated air with negatively charged ions greatly facilitates pulmonary ventilation, facilitating the rapid absorption of oxygen. At the same time, they remove significant amounts of carbon dioxide and improve heart function. Salt aerosol improves performance, both mental and physical. It also strengthens bone tissue, accelerates the synthesis of important vitamins C and B. Thus, the cooling tower restores the immune system and respiratory system.

To create the structure, hardwood is used: Canadian or Siberian cedar. The choice of material is largely determined by the characteristics of the cooling tower. Hard and durable wood that has undergone heat treatment is practically unaffected by the salt environment and will last for a very long time. Birch branches are used in the cooling tower. This tree is a unique symbol of the central part of Russia, and its wood is used in many areas of construction. And when laying the cooling tower, birch branches became a good help, since they bend well and are easy to lay in even rows. Among other things, the branches themselves are thin, and over time, intricate salt patterns will be visible on them. WDT equipment supplies brine to the cooling tower branches.

Thus, all types of salt baths are aimed at improving health and improving immunity. Breathe deeply.

How to use Himalayan salt in a bath

There are several different ways to use Himalayan bath salt as decoration, taking advantage of the unusual appearance of this mineral:

• Buy a salt lamp . This is, in fact, a rather original lamp, which is a piece of salt with a light bulb placed inside. If you plug such a lamp into the network, it will shine with a pleasant reddish-yellow light. An excellent solution for baths and saunas, and you can choose a lamp based on the size of the room: the larger the area, the more massive the piece of mineral will be.

The salt lamp is used not only in the steam room, but also in the home Source eos-sauna.ru
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in baths and decorative forms.

• Buy a small amount of salt by weight and put it in a beautiful decorative bowl, then hang it in the bathhouse. In this form, it will be a wonderful addition to the interior.
• Lay out a partition wall from salt blocks between the bathhouse itself and the dressing room. They are fastened together with special glue or attached to a metal frame.
• You can not limit yourself to just one partition, but cover one or more walls and floor with slabs, lay out intricate paths on it, and decorate the ceiling with salt tiles.
• The most expensive option is to lay the entire wall out of pink bricks and backlight it with lamps. Thus, it is possible to achieve a unique atmosphere, creating an atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility. It turns out that going to the bathhouse cleanses not only the body, but also the thoughts and soul, anxiety is reduced, and depression is alleviated.

The light from the salt wall is very reminiscent of the dawn or sunset shade of the sun, calming and peaceful Source yandex.net

The benefits and harms of a salt bath

As you know, many doctors recommend that their patients visit places with a high salt content as additional therapy. These can be not only baths, but also caves, salt rooms, etc. It is important to remember that you need to stay in such a place for at least 25 minutes, because otherwise the desired effect will not occur.

Salt baths provide significant treatment assistance to people with respiratory diseases. These include laryngitis, bronchitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, etc.

Going to a salt bath will have a positive effect on people with skin diseases: all kinds of eczema, dermatitis, etc. This is due to the fact that salt and warm air help stabilize blood flow.

Salt baths are especially popular among women. Water procedures in them tone and rejuvenate. After just a few visits, the skin looks tightened and has a healthy tone.

For fatigue and nervous tension, baths can also have a healing effect. Relaxing hot air promotes heavy sweating, along with which waste and toxins are removed from the body.

Unfortunately, this procedure is not available to everyone. If a person has severe damage to the skin, an exacerbation of diseases, has malignant tumors, or has recently had surgery, visiting a salt bath is contraindicated for him. Before visiting a salt bath, consult a specialist!

Precautionary measures

Before we begin to describe in more detail how to use Himalayan pink salt in a bath, we should say a few words about in what cases it is best to use it.

Salt's worst enemy is water. Exposure to moisture gradually destroys it; in other words, water will sooner or later completely dissolve all the salt. Since this usually happens from the bottom up, it is possible that the wall will collapse on the heads of the guests.

Therefore, the main rule on how to properly use salt in a bath as a decoration is no moisture. It is best if it is a dry Finnish sauna; a traditional Russian bathhouse is not suitable for these purposes. It is in the sauna that you can achieve the lowest humidity value for this type of room - 55%.

The humidity of a typical Russian bath can reach up to 90%, although it is usually around 70%, so it is not suitable for a salt wall Source www.saunamap.ru

The next point is sufficient ventilation. In order for the moisture to evaporate as quickly as possible, without having time to react with the salt blocks, it is necessary to ventilate the premises well after guests have used the sauna.

Russian bath

Steam is required in this area. Hot stones and active combustion processes heat the air up to 70 degrees; stronger heating can be hazardous to health. At the same time, the air humidity level reaches 80%

. In the Russian steam room, it is customary to massage with a broom; this helps cleanse the skin, but people with cardiovascular diseases should not get carried away with this procedure. Such conditions put stress on the body, they place increased stress on the heart and blood vessels. However, the construction of a Russian bath remains just as relevant and popular in our country.

The advantages include:

• the possibility of treating respiratory diseases;
• cleansing the skin and restoring its elasticity;
• opening of pores.

Also, a Russian bath can reduce pain in osteochondrosis and arthritis.

Wall of salt

It’s worth saying right away that there are absolutely no restrictions on how much area to cover with halite tiles or blocks - the question depends entirely on the bathhouse owner’s wallet and his creative ambitions. This can be either a small partition or an entire room lined with salt bricks from top to bottom.

Wall lined with bricks made from Himalayan pink salt Source hmsauna.ru

Preparation

The most important rule for starting the installation of a Himalayan salt wall is that the surfaces are completely dry. Therefore, everything is first cleaned of dust, dirt, remnants of building materials and finally wiped with a dry cloth.

The surface of the salt bricks themselves is also cleaned of any dirt and dust with a brush and degreased before applying a layer of glue.

The surfaces to which they are to be attached are cleaned with sandpaper. If it is wood, then choose coarse-grained sandpaper, and if it is glass, then choose fine-grained sandpaper.

To make the most of the decorative component of salt for baths and saunas, you should choose bricks or tiles of different shades. A wall made of such different parts will look most advantageous.

Video description

For little tricks you need to know when using a wall made of Pakistani salt, watch the following video:

Building a wall

A load-bearing structure made of vertical metal profiles is first mounted on the walls, and horizontal gutters are already installed on them. The tile itself is inserted into these grooves like a panel.

Sauna owners most often choose this method of fixing salt stones for a bath; using fastening glue is considered not a completely reliable method.

However, a special glue based on salt itself and caustic magnesite is used to glue the blocks. They are mixed with water in a ratio of 5:3 or 3:2. The resulting glue is used immediately, within 10 minutes, as it dries very quickly.

For those who do not want to prepare glue themselves, two-component dry adhesive mixtures are sold, which are diluted in water and are used up just as quickly.

Two-component glue Source pechihouse.ru

Other uses

Halite blocks can withstand temperatures up to 500 0C, so salt stones for a bath can be used as a protective screen around a hot stove. The blocks accumulate heat from the stove well and thus warm up all the air inside the steam room.

Another side and truly exotic use of Himalayan pink salt is the construction of a working fireplace from it.

Instead of erecting an entire wall, some owners limit themselves to creating small panels of Himalayan halite on the walls, always illuminated from the inside.

Salt stone for a bath can be used like ordinary stove stones, for which small samples of it (cereals, pebbles, small stones) are stacked on the stove itself. After this procedure, the halite is taken out into fresh air and dried in the sun until next time.

Salt on the heater is consumed very quickly, it literally melts before our eyes Source roomester.ru

Features of a salt sauna

The main highlight of the salt bath is that its walls and ceiling are covered with a layer of special mineral salts, which are known to be sensitive to moisture. And while a specially equipped oven heats the air, the salt begins to melt and dissolve in the humid air.

The required level of humidity (75%) is achieved thanks to the operation of the oven, which can heat up to 65 degrees, while the humidity in the room will be 35%.

Salt baths can be quite ascetic - with a regular stone stove, or they can be equipped with special ionization and ventilation systems that help remove excess moisture from the air and, accordingly, extend the life of the bath itself.

Briefly about the main thing

Pink Himalayan salt is ordinary table salt that is mined by hand in one of the Pakistani mines. It is used as a seasoning for food, in cosmetology, and as a cooking surface for cooking. Bath salt can be used in a steam room, both when decorating saunas and steam rooms, and to create a “salt” atmosphere inside the sauna. The health-improving effect of using this finishing material is questionable and remains on the conscience of the bathhouse owner himself, but its harmlessness has been absolutely proven.

The walls are tiled with tiles or salt blocks, and backlit with lamps or LEDs. First, a load-bearing profile is constructed, and the blocks are inserted into it like a typesetting panel. You can also limit yourself to simple masonry using homemade or factory-made glue based, in fact, on salt and magnesite itself.

You can also make lamps, panels, sun loungers from Himalayan halite, lay out paths in a bathhouse, and use them as stove stones.

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Useful combinations

Ideally, honey can be added to Himalayan salt. This product is loaded with a whole range of useful properties. It is both an antiseptic and an anti-cellulite agent. A powerful source of vitamins and minerals. Well moisturizes the skin and provides nutrition to the epithelium.

To make a mask mixture, you need to melt honey and salt in proportions of one to two. The mixture is applied to steamed skin. You need to let it soak in for a quarter of an hour.

To prepare the scrub mixture, salt and honey are mixed until a thick foaming layer is obtained. The foam is applied to the body in combination with a massage. You can keep it on the skin for up to half an hour, after which you need to wash it off. The procedure gives a feeling of lightness and “breathable” skin.

A mixture of salt and butter (sometimes cream is used instead of butter) is used for application to any part of the body. This cocktail is rich in proteins and will have a healing effect on the skin. Sometimes vegetable oils are used for the mixture, most often olive.