Salt room halotherapy is a natural health treatment that has been around for hundreds of years and is growing in popularity. It has lots of health benefits according to its proponents. But exactly what is halotherapy and what benefits does it offer? Read on to learn more.
What is halotherapy?
The aim of halotherapy is to simulate the natural climate of salt caves. What this basically boils down to is you sit there in a man-made replica of a salt cave and breathe salty air.
The salt cave is really just a room with the walls and floor packed with salt and into which salty air is pumped. There will also usually be Himalayan salt lamps in the room.
That might not sound like much, but let’s take a look at some of the claimed halotherapy benefits…
Halotherapy benefits
Purported benefits of salt halotherapy include the following:
- Easing of respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. It also helps with symptoms associated with smoking such as coughing and wheezing.
- Relieving of allergy symptoms due to the fact that the salty air you breathe opens up and clears your airways and allows better air flow. The salt you breathe in also absorbs toxins in your airways.
- Easing of anxiety and depression. Halotherapy treatment is very relaxing and calming, and helps reduce stress. In addition, the negative ions produced by the salt results in your body producing more serotonin. This is a chemical that helps to regulate your mood and promote happiness. In some hydrotherapy places you can also elect to receive a massage and/or other relaxation treatments.
- Treatment of skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. As mentioned above, the salt you inhale absorbs toxins. The salty air has a similar effect on your skin as the salt absorbs impurities and helps to reduce inflammation.
- Boosting your overall health. Salt halotherapy is also claimed to boost your body’s response to illness and infection, helping slow the spread of some illnesses.
Halotherapy side effects and dangers
There haven’t really been any serious scientific studies on halotherapy side effects and dangers. Indeed, there haven’t been too many studies on halotherapy benefits either. Most of the evidence is anecdotal rather than science based.
That said, halotherapy is likely perfectly safe for most people but you should bear in mind that if you visit a halotherapy salt room the staff are probably not going to be medically trained.
So if you do have a problem they won’t be able to provide much help in an emergency situation. Such a situation is unlikely to occur but it is something to keep in mind when weighing up whether or not to give the treatment a try.
Halotherapy at home
Visiting health spas to receive halotherapy treatment can of course be expensive. So what about halotherapy at home? Is there any way you can get the benefits of halotherapy without having to visit a costly spa or clinic?
The answer is yes, there are actually ways to undergo your own halotherapy at home. The easiest way is through the use of a salt pipe. Not only do these offer the same halotherapy benefits as visiting a spa at a much reduced cost but they are also easy to carry around so you can use them whenever you feel the need.
How do salt pipes work?
Salt pipes are designed to recreate the microclimate you would experience in a halotherapy clinic. They are refillable medical devices with a salt chamber sandwiched between two filters and a mouthpiece. You simply breathe in and out through the mouthpiece for a short time each day. In this way, you are inhaling the salt in the same way you would in a halotherapy cave.
Himalayan salt lamps
Another way to get the benefits of halotherapy at home is via Himalayan salt lamps. These are lamps made from salt crystals and they emit negative ions when lit.
They help to remove pollutants from the air and of course when you breathe in the negative ions you get the same benefits as you would do sitting in a salt cave.
Summary
Salt halotherapy is a relaxing health treatment. Anecdotal evidence suggests it offers a range of health benefits though there has been little scientific study done to back up these claims.
It should be safe for most but it’s recommended that you consult your doctor before visiting a halotherapy clinic if you have underlying health issues. Also, keep an eye out for any new symptoms that might appear after undergoing halotherapy treatment.
Ethan Hansen says
I found it interesting how you mentioned how salt room halotherapy can help you feel relief from symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, and smoking. My wife and I are in the process of moving to a dry area of the country and we have quickly realized that the dry air is hard to breathe in because of our asthmatic lungs. Because we want to get acclimated as soon as possible in our new home, I will keep this in mind as we search for salt therapy services near us!