Why do you need salt therapy? Imagine you live in an area where you have to monitor the air quality level every day, sometimes every hour, to determine if it’s safe to go outside for a few months a year. If you live in California, Washington, Oregon, sometimes even Idaho, or anywhere along the West or Pacific Northwest this is a yearly reality for you–and that’s if you’re lucky enough to live in areas not directly affected by wildfires.
As someone who grew up with hurricanes, not air quality concerns, it’s still weird to me despite living in one of those states for years now. The air is literally toxic and the only way to escape is by going inside.
In this article, we’re going to talk about salt therapy and salt spas–what they are, the benefits, and how they relate.
What is Salt Therapy?
Salt therapy, or halotherapy, comes in two different forms, dry salt therapy, and wet salt therapy. It is a drug-free treatment.
Dry salt therapy is done in spas in an environment that has no moisture or humidity. It takes place in a space often called a “salt cave.”
Wet salt therapy can be done at home with gargling mixtures including salt, with a neti pot, using a salt scrub, and soaking in a saltwater bath.
How Does it Relate to Bad Air Quality?
Unhealthy air can aggravate your lungs, increasing your chance for bronchitis if you’re prone to it and worsening asthma symptoms. Salt therapy gives you “good” air compared to the “bad” air experienced during wildfire season and could be a good treatment to try to feel better if you want to try something you haven’t before.
What’s the History Behind it?
This kind of therapy is nowhere near new.
It originated from cave therapy or speleotherapy and a salt cave in Poland called Wieliczka. Workers exhibited fewer respiratory illnesses during the time working in the caves and it’s been assumed the salt in them is the reason why.
The term has been around for around forty years, introduced in the late ’80s by a group of scientists in St. Petersburg, Russia. Eventually, this led to the first artificial above-ground cave.
How Does it Work?
A machine called a halogenerator is put into a room and it fills it with pure-grade sodium chloride particles.
Some spas allow you to bring friends or children and go in with groups. Children may even be able to go in with an adult.
Depending on the spa, some people are completely naked and others wear a robe or are otherwise clothed.
What Do I Do During it?
Absolutely nothing if you want to! You can meditate, read a book, or just close your eyes. You’re able to talk to the people you brought with you too if you’d like and it’s an option.
Meditating may be a nice option. From my research, I’ve gathered that you tend to be away from others (unless you’re bringing someone or multiple others), and I know plenty of people don’t get time away from the noise.
I read recently about one person scrolling through her phone while in the salt therapy room, although honestly you can (and probably do) do that anytime, so maybe not for this? It might be a nice break and, if you’re going in there to help with stress it would absolutely be a good idea to not bring your phone.
I feel like I would bring something to read. How nice would it be to have uninterrupted reading time?
What would you bring with you or what would you intentionally leave behind? Think about it!
Benefits of Salt Spas
There are so many benefits to them!
- Not only can they improve asthma symptoms, but they can also improve ear, throat, and nose infections. Oh and help with bronchitis, allergies, congestion, pneumonia, and cystic fibrosis. My partner gets chronic bronchitis almost every year and keeps a cough long after he otherwise feels better. A trip to a salt spa may be a good idea for him and for me too since I have allergies.
- What about skin conditions like eczema, acne, and psoriasis? Can it help them? Absolutely it can. Personally, I battle eczema on a daily basis so it’s almost worth trying for that alone. The only long-term solution I’ve found to healing my hands has been to decrease the number of times I wash my hands–not something you want to do in the middle of a pandemic. While it doesn’t say if this is long or short term, it may be a nice experiment.
- What about sleep apnea, insomnia, poor concentration, anxiety, depression, and migraines? Viral infections? Yup, it helps with those too.
As someone who deals with five of the problems listed right above, it sounds really nice. I may even have to take others with me at some point to check it out. Maybe a girl’s trip?
Can They Help Me with Stress?
It’s one of the key benefits talked about so yes. Breathe in the salty air and let your worries drift away like a summer breeze.
It may take a time or two to be able to relax enough for it to help your stress level. I know it would for me.
Don’t give up on it if it doesn’t work the first time or the second, the third may be the charm. On top of it, when your stress level falls, your body feels good, which, ultimately, adds up to your self-improvement.
How Often Should I Go? How Soon Will I See My Results?
This depends on a few factors. Some people see results right away while others only see results after a few sessions.
For mental health conditions, a time or two may do the trick. I say two because it may be hard to get out of your head your first visit and actually relax.
For anything else, I would ask the people who work there and see what they say or read the online reviews.
I’ve given you tons of reasons to go try salt therapy spas. What are you waiting for? Let us know how it went below!
