History of Himalayan Salt
The Early Jurassic
320 BC
The 1220s
Year 1870s
Today
The Formation of Himalayan Salt
Himalayan Salt started to form around 200 million years ago when crystallised salt formations from dried sea beds were submerged by lava eruptions. The salt was protected from pollution by the external environment as layers of snow, ice, and rock formed above and buried it under.
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Discovery by Alexander the Great
Legend says the famous Khewra Salt mine, a Himalayan Salt mine in Pakistan's northern Punjab region, was first discovered when the troops of Alexander the Great moved through the region then. In fact, the soldiers' horses were the ones who stumbled upon the Khewra salt deposits when they started licking the rocks they found around the landscape.
The First Mining
Himalayan Salt was extracted and traded from the Khewra Salt Mine on a small scale as early as the 13th century. Estimates put the amount of salt within the Khewra Mine at up to 600 million tons.
Large-scale Mining Ensues
British engineer Dr H. Warth started to excavate the main tunnel of Khewra Salt Mine in 1872. Warth reinforced the existing digs, introduced excavation equipment and a reliable water supply, and built storage warehouses. These improvements to the Khewra mine infrastructure were so successful that production boomed and authorities even had to introduce penalties for salt smuggling. During Dr Warth's tenure, the mine was producing over 187, 000 tons per year.
Success of Himalayan Salt
With the introduction of modern equipment and digging methods, Khewra Salt Mine produces 385, 000 tons of Himalayan Salt per year. However, supplies for Himalayan Salt are not running out anytime soon as the Khewra Mine is expected to continue its salt production for the next 250 years. As a result, Khewra Mine has given a special place in the culture of the region, making it an incredibly popular destination for tourists.
History of Salt Therapy, Halotherapy
The Medieval
Period
The 1800s
The 1940s
The 1960s
Today
Steeped in history, Salt Therapy is one of the earliest forms of alternative medical treatment. Some historians point the origin of salt therapy to around the 4th – 5th centuries B.C. in Greece. In those days, people who were sick were taken to the salt caves to convalesce.
First Official Research by Dr. Felix Bochkowsky
Dr. Bochkowsky, the state authority for occupational health in Poland, observed something astonishing: Men who worked in salt mines had clearer skin and looked younger. These salt miners also seemed to be cleared of respiratory issues. Such was in stark contrast to their coal and metal counterparts. In 1843, Dr. Bochkowsky became the first to officially publish findings on Salt Therapy. He also established the world’s first health facility in Poland for respiratory disorders and general well-being.
Rise of Salt Therapy by Dr. K.H. Spannahel
In 1949, German physician Dr. Spannahel noticed that villagers who had sought refuge in Klutert salt mine during World War II did not suffer from any respiratory conditions. Intrigued, he devoted his time to expound on the research on Salt Therapy.
Proliferation of Salt Therapy by Prof. Mieczyslaw Skulimowski
Around the 1960s, Prof. Skulimowski treated patients with respiratory conditions in underground salt mines. Thereafter, he expanded to treating patients with allergies and those seeking overall health benefits. His treatment methodology had proven popular and successful.
Many who have benefitted from Salt Therapy claim its effectiveness in reducing over-reliance on medications and credit salt therapy for clear skin. Today, the popularity of Salt Therapy has also spread across Europe and into other continents such as the Middle East, Asia, and even Oceania.