Salt Therapy, Salt Rooms, Salt Caves, Halotherapy. They truly are worth their salt.
We all know how refreshed we feel after spending time in the ocean or on the beach. That rejuvenating feeling of stepping out onto the sand and taking a big deep breath. We breathe in the fresh salty sea air, as we look around taking in the ocean; her heavenly aromas and feel the warm sun on our skin.
For those of you lucky enough to be near the ocean, please practice mindfulness and gratitude while the rest of us retreat to our land-locked Salt Rooms for healing during the winter.
As some of you may already know, I love exploring non-traditional treatments and healing therapies while I up my self-care game during the winter months. In my experience, Salt Rooms are like a large outlet to plug into Mother Earth for rejuvenation, cleansing and purification of mind, body and spirit.
It looks like this spa-trend isn’t going anywhere and I don’t want it to. If you close your eyes, it feels similar to spending time in the salty sea air as you visualize the healing taking place.
What is Salt Therapy?
You may have seen the Salt Rooms, Salt Caves and Salt Therapy around town or even visited a few times. The origins of halotherapy date back to the medieval era and researchers only recently started studying its potential benefits.
My research states that Salt Therapy is a fantastic place to meditate, connect wit the Earth, cleanse, purify and seal oneself. It’s a nice place to take some “me time” too!
Check out what Healthline had to say about the scientific aspects of salt therapy…
Dry Salt Therapy
The dry method of halotherapy is usually done in a man-made “salt cave” that’s free of humidity. The temperature is cool, set to 68°F (20°C) or lower. Sessions usually last for about 30 to 45 minutes.
A device called a halogenerator grinds salt into microscopic particles and releases them into the air of the room. Once inhaled, these salt particles are claimed to absorb irritants, including allergens and toxins, from the respiratory system. Advocates say this process breaks up mucus and reduces inflammation, resulting in clear airways.
The salt particles are said to have a similar effect on your skin by absorbing bacteria and other impurities responsible for many skin conditions.
Salt is also said to produce negative ions. This theoretically causes your body to release more serotonin, one of the chemicals behind feelings of happiness. Many people use Himalayan salt lamps to get the benefits of negative ions at home. However, there’s no evidence that these lamps have any benefit other than adding ambiance
- “Active salt room has a machine called a halogenerator, to which salt is added. The equipment breaks down the salt into tiny particles that circulate in the room.” – WebMD
- “Passive salt room. This type of room does not have a machine to break down the salt. Instead, the room is filled with different types of salts, such as Himalayan salt. It looks like a salt cave, with controlled temperature and humidity.” – WebMD
Wet Salt Therapy
Halotherapy is also done using a mixture of salt and water. Wet methods of halotherapy include:
- gargling salt water
- drinking salt water
- bathing in salt water
- using salt water for nasal irrigation
- flotation tanks filled with salt water
Health Benefits of Halotherapy accoding to WebMD
”Studies have found that halotherapy can have benefits for respiratory conditions, skin problems, and allergies.
Salt is a natural and safe ingredient. It does not have any notable side effects.
- Mucoactive, clearing up mucus from your airways
- Antibacterial, helping prevent infections
- Anti-inflammatory
- Immunity-boosting
- Anti-allergic
Research finds that because of these properties, halotherapy treats:
- Lung infection
- Throat infection or pharyngitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Smoking-related breathing problems
- Respiratory allergies
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Cold or cough
- Pneumonia
- Sinusitis
- Rhinitis
- Tonsillitis
- Cystic fibrosis
Halotherapy helps breathing problems caused by COVID-19, by improving breathing and the amount of oxygen in the blood.
Tiny salt particles used in halotherapy can also help repair your skin cells and protect your skin from aging and infection. This therapy also treats:
- Acne and rosacea
- Skin allergies
- Rash
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Dermatitis
- Fungal infection such as onychomycosis
- Wrinkles and signs of aging skin”
I thoroughly enjoy this Salt Therapy and feel an immediate connection to Mother Earth once I step my bare foot onto the pure salt therapy crystal floor. I suggest you book a session if you haven’t already – soak up all the benefits!
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