Salt caves are often used for respiratory therapy.
Halite Salt (Himalayan Salt)
Updated Feb. 06th, 2026 | Read Time: 2 Minutes | What You Will Learn:
- What is Himalayan Salt?
- Himalayan Salt Mining
- Uses & Benefits of Himalayan Salt
- Impurities & Considerations
- Nutritional Information
- Reader Comments (4)
What is Himalayan Salt?
Rock salt is also known as halite, rock salt, or as Himalayan salt in Pakistan. This mineral was formed into crystals when ancient enclosed lakes and seas evaporated. As the body of water evaporated, it left behind its salt content in thick beds in the earth.
Himalayan Salt Mining
There are large pockets of salt beds throughout Canada and the United States, as well as in Pakistan and the United Kingdom. These deep salt beds are mined to remove the salt, providing us with a source of usable halite.
Uses & Benefits of Himalayan Salt
Most commonly, halite is used to melt ice on the surfaces of walkways and roads in the winter. Because salt water has a lower freezing point than pure water, adding salt to the ice can melt the already frozen portions and prevent refreezing. This can help to maintain safe walking and driving conditions, even in sub-zero temperatures. Halite is also used to make salt lamps for decoration and makes large salt rocks used in some cooking techniques. Some clinics will use halite as an aerosol therapy for respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Impurities & Considerations
Unfortunately, when the ancient salt water lakes were evaporating, they also contained other minerals and substances that become trapped in the salt as the water disappeared. Thus, halite is full of impurities, some of which could possibly be detrimental to health. Because of this, it may be preferable to avoid using halite as a food additive, and to use other forms of salt instead. That being said, halite is still often used as a food additive in a number of places around the world. Table salt is a purified form of halite, and is the standardized form more commonly used for eating.
I heard once that pink Himalayan salt was really good for you, better than table salt, so I stopped using table salt thinking I was doing myself a favor, but upon reading more about Himalayan Salt in this article, it appears that Himalayan salt is not as good as I had once believed it to be! I'm so happy I came across this article so that I can now switch back to table salt! Don't believe everything you hear unless it comes from professionals!
Hello Rose With Thorns,
We are glad you enjoyed this article and were able to learn more about a product you use. Himalyan salt does have its own benefits; however, there are better alternatives out there like Herbamare. Check them out here: https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/food-supplements/salts.html
Have a healthy day.
I didn't know that Himalayan salt was also called halite-I had thought that the two were related but I did not know that they are, in fact, the same thing. Also, I did not know that halite is the type of salt that is used to melt the ice on the surfaces of walkways and roads in the winter. I wonder-is there a specific reason why halite salt (as opposed to another type of salt) is used for this? Finally, I did not realize that halite content is unregulated and that it can contain unknon, potentially hazardous impurities-himalayan salt has been my go-to for salt intake so I will be researching a viable alternative-thanks for the great information!
Hello Rachel,
Happy our article could clear that confusion and that you enjoyed learning more about this salt variety. Unfortunately, there can be contaminants in Himalayan salt; therefore, it's important to shop for quality brands that are pure. If you'd like to learn more about Himalayan salt vs Celtic salt, check out this article: https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/research/himalayan-salt-vs-sea-salt-discover-the-differences/