A beach vacation is good for the mind and body in that it relaxes you, but is there more to it than that? Researchers suggest that yes, there is. According to findings published by the Lung Institute, breathing in salty air for an extended period of time helped clear the lungs of study participants and reduced the incidence rates of cystic fibrosis flare-flare ups and the need for certain antibiotics. Another study found that lung disease patients also experienced therapeutic qualities of salty air, including but not limited to improved lung function, thinner mucus, reduced coughing and decreased sinus pressure. These findings back what wellness professionals across the globe have been trying to prove for years: that salt heals.
The Origin of Halotherapy
Halotherapy, derived from the Greek word halos, meaning “salt,” is a therapy in which salt is used to help heal and support the body. Though salt inhalation therapy in Florida may be a new trend, it has ancient roots. Ancient Ayurvedic cultures used this therapy technique for thousands of years to dampen the throat and nose and to help prevent and treat illness and allergies. The effect is similar to that of a Neti Pot, which is sold as a healthcare device.
Though some cultures relied on the healing powers of salt for millennia, it wasn’t until the 18th century that the Western World started looking to salt for its therapeutic qualities. In the 18th century Poland, it was noted that salt miners had considerably better immune systems, sinus clarity and lung health than their friends and family members. If a miner did happen to fall ill, the recovery time was fast and the symptoms mild. They attributed this to inhaling salt on a daily basis. Health and wellness professionals today attempt to harness the powers of salt via halotherapy.
Why Salt Inhalation Therapy Is All the Rage
There are several different types of salt therapy one can undergo, each of which focuses on providing specific health benefits. Some of the more popular types of halotherapy are as follows:
- Dry Salt Inhalers
- Neti Pots for Nasal Irrigation
- Saline and Brine Baths
- Gargling
- Colonics
- Crenotherapy
- Salt Lamps
- Salt Caves
Regardless of which type of therapy you choose to undergo, you are bound to experience some health benefits. This is because, according to an ENT facial plastic surgeon in New York, sodium chloride is an integral part of the body’s physiology and helps with homeostasis. Saline in the lungs helps eliminate toxins that we either inhale or come into contact with, as salt allows the body to excrete impurities through ion exchange. Furthermore, salt has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties that help fight germs.
As if those benefits aren’t enough, breathing in salt air helps thin the mucous, thereby allowing the body to more easily sweep away secretions. This, in turn, improves draining and diminishes bronchial sensitivity, hence the benefits to the lungs.
Halotherapy also provides substantial benefits for those with chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. This is due to salt’s anti-inflammatory properties and the magnesium within it. In fact, it is because of salt’s magnesium that skin care companies include Epsom salt in their bath products.
Actual health benefits aside, sitting in a salt cave can have substantial therapeutic benefits. Salt room settings are tranquil and require individuals to unplug and disconnect for up to an hour. An hour in which you can sit, relax and reflect can do the mind a world of good.
Relax in Amrit’s Salt Cave
At Amrit Ocean Resorts and Residences, we invite you to come to relax and unwind in our state-of-the-art salt cave. The specially designed halotherapy chamber is climate controlled and utilizes negatively charged ions in the salt vapor to induce mental clarity and improve health. To learn more about salt inhalation therapy in Florida, visit our Bespoke page today.
