Diversity Through the Decades: How the University of Florida Has Changed

From Salt to Crystal: Understanding Where Holistic Trends Come From

Story and Photos by Viviana Moreno

Society is no stranger to trends. From fashion to social media to food, trends define periods of life, whether for a week or a decade. Wellness trends are one sector of the trends cycle that reimagine ageold traditions. The origins of these trends are often obscure or forgotten along the way as they ebb and flow. However, many of the more recent wellness trends often have a deeply rooted history and have just been reclaimed in the name of self-care or been dug out of their caves and reintroduced to society.

It is commonplace to spot items like salt lamps, crystals and oil diffusers in stores. As trends tend to do, the history of certain items and practices may become blurred in the commercial craze that often accompanies what is considered the “new thing,” but whether someone is purchasing a salt lamp for aesthetic reasons, there is still an origin story attached to it. With the emphasis on self-care practices, which often entail some form of holistic practice, it’s interesting to uncover just how deep the stories of some of these popular items and practices run.

Crystals

These precious, and usually mesmerizingly beautiful, rocks are used as an alternative medical practice where the healing properties are believed to be encased in the crystal. These properties are harnessed to relieve someone of an ailment, ward off potential issues or tap into positive energy. According to Elizabeth Palermo’s reporting for Live Science, a science news outlet, the technicality of the practice involves “allowing positive, healing energy to flow into the body as negative, diseasecausing energy flows out.” The specific placement of certain crystals along the body may induce feelings of relaxation, concentration and overall well-being. While researchers have not concluded this to be fact and often attribute a placebo effect to be in play, individuals seek out crystal healing or use crystals because “their value may be in fulfilling the spirit” and some proponents can even be skeptics of the promised wellness benefits, as discussed in Caroline Tell’s report for The New York Times.

The history of crystal healing is interesting, especially when considering the modern application of the practice. According to Kristine D. Carlos’ research titled “Crystal Healing Practices in the Western World and Beyond,” the origin of using crystals may trace back to “the mythical ancient continent of Atlantis whose people allegedly used crystals for telepathic communication.” Today’s modern application of crystal healing can be attributed to “Asian cultures, most notably the Chinese concept of life-energy (chi or qi) and the Hindu or Buddhist concept of chakras, which are vortices of this life-energy, said to connect the physical and supernatural elements of the body,” according to Palermo.

Whether or not wearing crystal-laden jewelry or participating in crystal healing sessions truly reaps benefits, the history is just as intriguing as the crystals themselves.

Salt Lamps and Halotherapy (salt therapy)

Although salt lamps are inviting just by design, they are also said to provide wellness benefits. According to Helen West’s reporting for Healthline, proponents claim the three main bennefits are improved air quality, boosted mood and better sleep. Described as “natural ionizers,” salt lamps may “produce ions by attracting water particles that evaporate off as a salt solution when heated by the lamp, forming mostly negative ions,” which are said to have health benefits. Megan Forcey, the president of Relax Salt Rooms in Gainesville, described the process of halotherapy (or salt therapy) as a “halogenerator grinds pharmaceutical salt to a fine dust that is dispersed into the room for you to inhale; the salt rooms are designed for relaxation so you will want to sit back in our zero-gravity chair and breathe deeply.” To add to the soothing ambiance, meditative music streams through the room along with the drip sounds of a small fountain. Salt therapy patients often seek to remedy respiratory and skin concerns — everything from asthma and allergies to psoriasis and eczema. In Gainesville, these conditions can be aggravated by the very nature of the area. As Ashley Upham Rothseiden, owner of The Healing House of Alachua explained, Alachua is a Native American word that translates to “big sink,” which means “pollen and

"The specific placement of certain crystals along the body may induce feelings of relaxation, concentration and overall well-being."

other allergens in the area tend to hang around and get stuck in our swampy lands here in the Gainesville area.”

The history of practices involving salt in general dates back to ancient civilizations. However, salt therapy can be traced to Dr. Feliks Boczkowski, who opened the first salt treatment facility at the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland in 1839. As Upham noted, it’s important to understand that “over time other physicians had noticed similar responses to time in salt mines.”

Aromatherapy

At-home oil diffusers can be used to invoke anything from energized spirits to calmness and relaxation, depending on the specific oils used. Whether someone uses an oil diffuser in their home or seeks aromatherapy sessions in a facility, this practice is also one dating back to civilizations throughout history. The International Federation of Aromatherapists asserts historical texts from Asia to Ancient Egypt “describe the various procedures and rituals involved in the making of healing ointments, medicated oils, poultices and healing perfumes.” Regions around the globe practice some form of aromatherapy in various ways to positively affect one’s spirit, cure ailments or upholding religious traditions.

What could be considered modern aromatherapy was coined by French chemist Dr. René-Maurice Gattefossé in 1937, according to "Complete Aromatherapy Handbook: Essential Oils for Radiant Health" by Susanne Fischer-Rizzi. Inspired by Dr. Gattefossé’s work, French physician Dr. Jean Valnet used essential oils to treat the injuries of World War II soldiers. The ripple effect among physicians and those fascinated by the research and application further refined the practice. This has all led to today’s resurgence in using aromatherapy to treat various ailments and improve quality of life.

In holistic and alternative wellness spheres, trends may morph and fade, but the practices are often rooted in deep history. Just like with most things that come around again and again, there is always an origin story waiting to be uncovered. The Origins Issue 59

Gatorade: Gainesville Gem, International Treasure

Story by Zahra Khan

Photos by Melissa Hernandez De La Cruz

Cracking open the orange cap on a fresh bottle of Gatorade, you take a sip and an obligatory, audible “ahhh” escapes your throat. Starbucks trademarked the saying “that first sip feeling” on their coffee cups, but that exhilaration isn’t exclusive to beverages in cups with the double-tailed green siren.

The popular sports drink was created in 1965 by Dr. James Robert Cade. According to the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention in Gainesville, Gatorade was the answer to a flippant question posed by former Florida linebacker Dwayne Douglas: “Why don't football players ever urinate during a game?” a score of 27-12. Afterward, the head football coach of Georgia Tech approached Florida’s Bobby Dodd, and admitted, "We didn't have Gatorade. That made the difference,” according to the Cade Museum.

Dehydration in sports isn’t the only realm where it presents itself as an issue. In fact, dehydration is a major cause of mortality in the developing world among infants and children. Each year approximately 760,000 children die of diarrheal disease worldwide and Gatorade is now used to combat it, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information and the Cade Museum.

Today Gatorade is offered in over 80 countries and in 50 varieties, according to Bartleby Research. It also dominates nearly 80% of the sports beverage industry with almost $5 billion a year in sales internationally, according to Cade Museum.

Cade and his research team responded to the linebacker’s inquiry by creating the drink that replaced the electrolytes they lost to sweat during games. They first tested the drink on the freshman portion of the team, who then overcame their upperclassmen peers in a practice game. In October 1965, the Gators unexpectedly defeated the LSU Tigers. Their performance gained attention and piqued the interests of opposing teams about their drinks. In 1967, the Gators overcame the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the last half of a game after failing miserably in the first. Their performance resulted in Florida’s first Orange Bowl victory with Mark Long, Director of Incubator Services at the University of Florida recalls his days as a high school athlete in the late '60s.

“I’m old enough that I remember playing football, running track and having to take salt tablets with a lot of water to avoid dehydration, so this was a big step.”

The Origins Issue 61