Halotherapy (Salt Therapy)

Halotherapy is the practice of salt therapy that uses microsalt to promote a range of health benefits once inhaled. In the popular practice of dry halotherapy, the treatment is intended to recreate the atmosphere of salt caves with dry, cold conditions and a high concentration of micronized salt in the air.

The powerful healing properties of halotherapy are earning the attention of some of the world’s most advanced medical institutions and publications. Many believe that when people inhale this salty air, it can help stimulate the respiratory system, reduce inflammation, fight infection, clear blockages and reduce discomfort.
As it is an alternative treatment, halotherapy medical research is not as prevalent, and salt therapy benefits are currently anecdotal and not scientific. That being said, salt is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, and can help with excessive mucus, pathogen agents, digestive issues, depression, skin conditions, and immune system oversensitivity. With all these benefits, it is easy to see that incorporating salt therapy into your life can help improve overall wellness.
Health benefits of salt therapy include aid in treatment of the following conditions:
- Asthma
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Breathlessness
- Chest Tightness
- Tonsillitis
- Laryngitis
- COPD
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Colds
- Ear Infections
- Sinus Infections
- Allergies
- Depression
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
- Hay Fever
- Snoring
- Sleep Apnea
- Insomnia
- Acne
- Rosacea
- Dry Skin
- Rashes
To learn more about the Halotherapy benefits visit the Global Wellness Institute
Microsalt is especially effective when used for respiratory and skin conditions. In the respiratory system, the main halotherapy benefits (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hydrophilic, and mucokinetic) help stimulate the body’s process of cleansing the system to eliminate foreign particles such as pollutants and allergens to restore proper respiratory functions. For the skin, salt therapy helps regulate pH levels and enhances the reparative and regenerative properties. It can also boost the production of collagen fibers for rejuvenation and lymph cells for an immune system boost.
Halotherapy also helps improve mental health and boosts mood. Salt contains negatively charged ions that leave you feeling invigorated, positive, and stress-free. These negative ions are also known to reduce serotonin levels. While serotonin is typically associated with happiness and calmness, serotonin syndrome, or the excess of serotonin in the system, can cause agitation and insomnia. Salt therapy can help normalize serotonin levels, thus leveling out mood and improving sleep.

A BRIEF HISTORY

Twenty million years ago Eastern Europe was partially covered by a shallow sea. With the disappearance of the sea, large amounts of layered salt were left behind.

In the 14th century people started to mine salt for their own use and for sale. Large salt mines were developed in the south of Poland near Krakow leaving huge chambers deep in the mountains. Over time, it was discovered that salt miners, as a result of working in the salt mines, had very few respiratory conditions, looked much younger than their age and rarely got sick.

RECOGNIZING THE EFFECT ON HEALTH

In the 1840s, a Polish doctor named Feliks Boczkowski noticed something interesting while treating workers in the Wieliczka Salt Mines. Unlike other miners who routinely experienced lung problems from breathing in the pollutants in the mines, he found that patients rarely had respiratory issues. Boczkowski attributed this to the high salt content in the cave’s microclimate and he published a treatise detailing his theories in 1843. Several years later one of his pupils opened the first salt inhalation clinic in Poland.

This was not the first-time people had drawn the connection between salt content in the air and improved respiratory health. Catholic monks in Europe regularly brought people with respiratory issues into salt caves and then crushed the salt with their feet to release it into the air.

Salt therapy was also used in the days of ancient Greece and Rome.

While there are many health benefits of salt therapy, every user’s case is different. Salt therapy side effects are rare and are typically avoidable, but depending on your sensitivities to salt, you may experience some discomfort. Some reported side effects include temporarily constricted airways, headaches, minor tightness in the chest, and slight eye irritation. Typically, these “dangers” of salt therapy are hardly risks at all and can be avoided by ensuring the environment is controlled by managing the time spent and levels of salt in the atmosphere.
While one can breathe salt air for 24 hours without adverse effects, we recommend doing short sessions at a regular cadence to avoid side effects and create lasting results. Set a timer when practicing halotherapy on your own or speak with a professional to determine the appropriate halotherapy session time for you if visiting a wellness center. If you have any major health concerns, consult your doctor before participating in any new treatments.
Halotherapy is a natural therapy, however any individual who has any serious health conditions or women who are pregnant should always seek proper medical advice prior to starting any alternative therapy.
- Contraindications include:
- Infections associated with a fever
- Respiratory system cancers
- Tuberculosis
- Cardiac disease patients
- Acute respiratory disease
- Severe hypertension
- Chronic obstructive lung diseases
99.99% pure sodium chloride (Pharmaceutical grade salt). It contains no fillers or caking agents. It comes from a natural source and it is naturally processed to remove all of its impure elements. It is the same salt that hospitals use and is the same type of salt used in Halotherapy research.
Halotherapy offers the best results when practiced regularly. The benefits are cumulative, so consistency and frequency are the key.
People with chronic issues will benefit greatly by doing the therapy at least 3-4 times a week. Those who are looking to incorporate Salt Therapy into their regular wellness routine would benefit from a weekly session.
The single saline cartridge will last 20-25 minutes.

Disclaimer: Our recovery tools are designed to support a healthy lifestyle, not diagnose, cure, or prevent specific diseases or medical conditions. Seek medical advice from your physician before embarking on a program of Halotherapy.

This website is for education and information purposes only.