What is Halotherapy – Salt Therapy?
Halotherapy is a form of alternative medicine which uses diffused airborne salt to cleanse respiratory conditions. This can be in natural salt caves, man-made salt caves or by use of a Halogenerator at home to reproduce the natural climate by diffusing the fine mineral dust in a confined space.
Man-made caves typically use Himalayan salt or minerals from the Dead Sea.
Does this work? What does it benefit? How do you use it? Let’s look a those.
Can You Do Halotherapy At Home?
Yes, halotherapy can be practiced at home using portable devices, such as salt inhalers or home salt therapy rooms equipped with a halogenerator . These devices disperse microscopic salt particles into the air, mimicking the environment of a cave for personal use.
Jacuzzi® Clearlight infrared saunas has added a very high quality Halogenerator to its product line up. Adding this to your sauna order will increase the clearlight sauna cost as it is a quality addon.
What Is A Halogenerator?
A Halogenerator is a device which diffuses the mist into the air, consisting of negative chloride ion and positive sodium ion, into a confined space.
Through breathing, the saline molecules will enter the lungs and release the negative ions into the moist airways. This attracts excess mucous and fights bacterial infections.
This confined space can be a small space at home such as a sauna or a room.
Most of us have grown up believing that adding sodium to food is dangerous and bad for our blood pressure. So it may surprise us to learn that breathing it in may be beneficial for us due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial characteristics.
. It can be hung on the inside wall of a sauna or used in any other small confined space – even your vehicle. It is expensive, yet much less than the cost of many others.
Clearlight’s HALO ONE® utilizes a 3% concentration of pharmaceutical-grade saline solution to ensure both efficacy and safety.
If you contact Clearlight to ask about this, I suggest first reading our complete in depth Jacuzzi sauna review to become more familiar with their products and what to ask when you call them. Jacuzzi Clearlight sauna is a top rated brand for many reasons and it is the brand of sauna we have in our home.
Does Halotherapy Really Work?
Halotherapy, or salt therapy, is reported by many to improve respiratory and skin conditions by inhaling salt-enriched air. Studies suggest benefits in alleviating symptoms of asthma, allergies, and skin disorders like eczema. However, responses can vary widely among individuals, and more extensive research is needed to establish its efficacy comprehensively.
This does appear to be beneficial. Respiratory sufferers do experience some degree of relief from symptoms. Particles are inhaled and settle on the airways drawing in water. This action thins the mucous making it easier to expel and can relive some allergy suffering as well.
What Is A Salt Room Session?
A session is a scheduled time in a natural or man-made salt cave utilizing Halotherapy a natural, drug free practice that improves respiratory and skin conditions, sleep and overall wellness. A session can also be at home utilizing a confined space.
How Much Does Salt Therapy Cost?
A salt session will range from $20 to $60, depending on the size of the cave or sauna. A typical Halogenerator can cost $1200 to $6500, and is considered an expensive investment.
What Are the Benefits of a Salt Room?
The inhaled dry particles attract excess mucous in the lungs, reducing inflammation. Respiratory conditions including allergies, asthma, bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) have been shown to improve.
Is Salt Therapy Good for COPD?
This involves breathable particles intended to improve respiratory conditions including lung conditions like COPD and asthma. In 1843, Feliks Boczkowski noted the benefits while treating miners in the Wieleczka Salt Mines and is considered the father of the modern practice.
While this dates back to ancient Greece, Feliks Boczkowski was credited with first documenting the effects on patients. Feliks was a Polish medical doctor who noticed his patients from the Wieleczka Mines did not suffer from the same lung problems that workers in other mines experienced.
It appears to be effective in treating more than the respiratory system, flu and sinus problems. As the air borne molecules contact the skin they appear to treat ailments including eczema, psoriasis and acne.
Respiratory Health
This also offers significant benefits for respiratory health. It does this by leveraging the natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. This is particularly effective in providing relief from asthma, as it helps clear airways and reduce bronchial inflammation.
It also aids in the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by facilitating the removal of toxins trapped in the respiratory tract. Treatment of acute or chronic bronchitis also benefits from halotherapy, by its process of helping to dissolve mucus and improve lung function.
Skin Health
The benefits of halotherapy extend to skin health and anti-aging effects, where the micro-particles improve skin barrier function and foster beneficial microbial balance.
This can be particularly beneficial for conditions like eczema and psoriasis, as it helps to reduce outbreaks and soothe irritated skin. It is likely the calming and anti-inflammatory properties which can alleviate acne symptoms. It does this by reducing bacterial growth and inflammation.
Immune System Boost
Halotherapy significantly contributes to an enhanced immune response by stimulating the body’s natural defense mechanisms. The particles used (which should be pharmaceutical grade) have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which help to strengthen the immune system.
Regular sessions can build to a reduced frequency of colds and flu, as this aids in keeping respiratory passages clear. This also reduces being susceptible to infections.
As well this provides support for allergies by alleviating symptoms such as nasal congestion and inflammation.
Relaxation and Athletic Performance
Halotherapy offers potential relaxation benefits. It can be an effective tool for stress reduction and anxiety relief. This is compounded in spas where massage and relaxing music are added to the session.
By promoting a calming environment and facilitating deep breathing, it helps improve sleep quality, ensuring better rest and overall well-being. The calm setting contributes to mental clarity and emotional balance, essential for managing daily stress.
Athletes can experience enhanced respiratory function and reduces inflammation, which are obviously beneficial for optimal performance. The natural anti-inflammatory properties aid in faster recovery time by soothing muscle soreness and promoting quicker healing. This combination of benefits supports both relaxation and peak physical performance.
Are There Any Side Effects To Salt Therapy?
The therapy is generally well-received; however, some individuals might notice a slight taste or experience a mild scratchy throat after a session.
What Are The Negatives of Salt Therapy?
Despite assertions from some experts, the evidence lacks rigorous scientific support. Additionally, it is important for patients to be aware that inhaling concentrated salts (hypertonic saline) can irritate the airways. This irritation often leads to coughing and increased mucus production, which may exacerbate asthma symptoms in some individuals.
Studies and Safety
Despite being far from universally accepted as a scientifically proven fact, this is becoming popular. Studies have shown improvement in respiratory symptoms while some medical health experts have called this an unproven treatment and attribute many of the improvements to the placebo effect.
Is Halotherapy Scientifically Proven?
Halotherapy is supported by various studies indicating its potential benefits, particularly for respiratory and dermatological conditions. However, the scientific community calls for more rigorous, large-scale studies to conclusively prove its effectiveness across different conditions and populations.
One advisor to the American Lung Association recently had this to add:
Dr. Norman Edelman, Senior Scientific Advisor to the American Lung Association, suggests that potentially, it could be more than just a placebo effect. Most people with obstructive lung disease such as asthma or COPD cough sputum (a thick mixture of saliva and mucus), and trying to bring it up can be distressing. (Think about the last time you had bronchitis, for instance.)
“When fine salt particles are inhaled, they will fall on the airway linings and draw water into the airway, thinning the mucous and making it easier to raise, thus making people feel better,” said Dr. Edelman. “Also, these environments are allergen-free and thus good for people with allergies affecting their lungs.” Promising or Placebo? Halo Salt Therapy: Resurgence of a Salt Cave Spa Treatment | American Lung Association
Can Salt Therapy be Harmful?
This appears to be safe for adults and children. No harmful effects have surfaced in normal use or Halotherapy studies. In natural cave environments, miners and others have been found to have improvements in respiratory conditions. Man made caves often have separate adult caves and child caves.
Who Should Not Use Halotherapy?
Who Should Avoid Salt Therapy?
People with severe respiratory issues, acute or severe infections, and those with significant cardiovascular conditions should avoid this. Additionally, anyone with hypersensitivity or those who have experienced adverse reactions to this in the past should refrain from participating.
Who Should Not Go Into A Salt Cave?
Individuals with severe health conditions, particularly those with severe hypertension, infections with a fever, or contagious diseases, are advised to avoid salt caves. Pregnant women and those with serious respiratory system cancers should also consult healthcare providers before considering this.
Are Salt Caves Safe During Pregnancy?
This would normally be safe at any stage of a pregnancy. One session of 45 minutes is equivalent to 3 days at a ocean beach. This is as safe as breathing in air at the beach and safer than medication for respiratory illnesses. However, we recommend discussing this with your physician.
The caves are far different from lamps. We agree that the mineral lamps may simply be for ambiance. And there is now a lot of hype surrounding this idea which is not new but is certainly gaining in popularity.
While we at Healing Heat Therapy have not personally tried this, it has enough support to show promise in helping sinusitis and related sinus infections. Clearlight, a company that for over two decades has provided the best of infrared to its sauna customers, has recently added a Halogenerator. The company has shown such dedication to innovation and the highest quality standards that we think it does warrant a consideration.
How Long To Sit In A Salt Room?
The recommended duration for a halotherapy session typically ranges between 20 to 45 minutes. This time frame allows individuals to inhale enough particles to potentially aid in respiratory and skin health, and sessions can be adjusted based on personal comfort and specific health conditions.
Clearlight’s HALO ONE® utilizes a 3% concentration of pharmaceutical-grade saline solution to ensure both efficacy and safety.
How Often Should You Do Halotherapy?
The frequency of halotherapy sessions can vary depending on the individual’s health goals and conditions. Generally, for chronic respiratory or skin conditions, sauna heat sessions might be recommended 2-3 times a week. For general wellness purposes, less frequent sessions, such as weekly, may be sufficient.
Popularity of Salt Therapy
This has become extremely popular.
The cave in Williamsburg Virginia, one of the first in the US, was started by Agnieszka Drygala . He imported 15 tons of the mineral to create the mineral rich environment. There is another cave and spa in Asheville, NC that surrounds you with over 20 tons of mineral crystals.
There are nearly 200 rooms available across the U.S alone. Many of these facilities also offer massages and other treatments, allowing guests to benefit from multiple therapies at once.
Spa packages often feature unlimited monthly visits and include special accommodations for children, in separate areas from the adults. Client testimonials reinforce the health benefits, with many reporting reduced reliance on inhalers and decongestants.
The experience in a room can be similar to a meditation session. The users can breathe deeply while enjoying soothing music. The environment in these areas is carefully controlled. They are usually around 40 to 50 percent humidity and temperatures between 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit to optimize safety and effectiveness.
Can You Use Table Salt For Salt Therapy?
No. Table salt is not suitable due to its processing and additives. It is important to know that Pharmaceutical grade salt is highly refined and pure and is specifically designed for therapeutic uses.
Himalayan, known for its trace minerals, is generally not recommended either because these minerals can be harmful to some individuals.
Most importantly, it is crucial to note that any pharmaceutical grade is completely different from magnesium (table salt).
As an example, Clearlight’s diffuser uses utilizes a pharmaceutical-grade 3% saline solution for safety.
What Is The Best Home Halotherapy Machine?
We will update when we have completed more testing and reviews. However, Clearlight’s HALO ONE® we know to be an excellent choice from a company with exceptional products.
Types Of Halotherapy
- Therapeutic Environment of dry salt therapy (speleotherapy) includes caves, rooms, halogenerators
- Inhalers, handheld and portable inhalers
- Commercial centers including spa treatments, wellness centers and medical clinics
images courtesy of:
lung .org