The way to a healthier lifestyle might be... salty?
Salt rooms, also called salt caves, are spaces that boost breathing and alleviate stress by exposing our bodies to air containing naturally occurring minerals, according toMargaret Smiechowski, the owner ofSalt Cave Inc.andOceanair Himalayan Salt Cavein Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Breathing very small salt particles boosts our respiratory health, skin and overall wellness in a gentle session that lets us check out from our busy lives.
"The experience is simple, relaxing, and surprisingly powerful," she said. "Just breathing, resting, and allowing nature's oldest mineral to do its work."
The history of halotherapy
Salt therapy, also known as halotherapy, isn't a new wellness trend, according to Smiechowski, who has been building salt rooms and salt caves across the United States for more than two decades. The practice has been ongoing for decades, originating in Eastern Europe as a natural method before studios and spas started advertising salt rooms.
The beginnings trace back toWieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Poland, which became a halotherapy destination in the 1800s after Feliks Boczkowski studied salt's beneficiary effects on miners, according to theSalt Therapy Association. The site is now ahealth resortmore than 400 feet underground people can visit to get treatments.
Modern salt rooms you may see at your local shopping center today attempt to recreate the conditions of natural subterreanean salt mines like Wieliczka, Smiechowski said. This is done by infusing air with microscopic particles of pharmaceutical-grade salt, which are small enough to enter your mouth or nose and fill your body with mineral-rich air.
Take halotherapy with a grain of salt, doctors say
Inhaling teeny salt particles can provide anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory method for a variety of health conditions, according to theSalt Therapy Association, an organization that promotes salt therapy. These include respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergies, colds, bronchitis, COPD, cystic fibrosis and ear infections, among others.
Halotherapy is also a service used for skin conditions including psoriasis, eczema, acne and rosacea. The salt normalizes pH levels and encourages reparative and regenerative cycles for our skin, as well as boosting skin growth and strength, according to theSalt Therapy Association.
It's important to remember that halotherapy is not a medical treatment, according toBruce A. Brod, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. So any potential benefits should be taken with a grain of salt.
"There's no scientific evidence or high-quality medical literature to support any benefit to skin health from salt rooms," Brod says. "I haven't had patients ask me about using salt rooms, but if someone did, I'd tell them that while the experience might feel relaxing, there is limited evidence on any particular health benefits to the skin."
He added that he is concerned salt exposure could interact negatively with our skin, irritating conditions or disturbing prescribed topical medications, curbing their effectiveness.
There is still much research to be done on the extent of benefits halotherapy provides, according to Laxminarayan Prahhakar, pulmonology fellow at Northwell's Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
"There is inconsistent evidence but there is data that shows improved lung function, and mucus clearance for people with chronic respiratory diseases.," Prahhakar says. "Depending on their respiratory condition, they would require inhalers, antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications. These treatment options should be discussed with their healthcare provider."
But the risk of salt therapy remains extremely low, and at the bare minimum can be an enjoyable break from our busy routines. Zoning out amid the soft glow of the salt room can help reduce stress and boost mental health, Smiechowski says. The session can be a retreat for our minds and bodies.
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What to know about trying a salt room
There are two kinds of salt room to look for: "Active" salt rooms involve a halogenerator dispersing crushed pure sodium chloride into the air, according to theSalt Therapy Association. "Passive" salt rooms attempt to mimic a natural salt cave, stocking a room with types of salt such as Dead Sea, Himalayan and Rock Salt. The salt isn't pumped through the air, so it's not considered halotherapy. But "passive" salt therapy in a controlled climate does provide many of the same psychological benefits, according to the association.
You may see a crop of salt rooms popping up in your community, so Smiechowski advises to look out for a few key elements:
Salt-covered walls throughout the room
A professional halogen generator system, which propels the mini salt particles through the air.
Proper humidity and climate control
Clear information about how the therapy works
"If any of these elements are missing, the therapy may not be effective," she said.
The lack of standards for salt rooms is a concern for Brod, too, he says, especially if people have a health vulnerability that could be exacerbated by the wrong treatement.
"We just don't know and the research has not been done," he says. "I am not aware of any authoritative standards being set by medical regulatory agencies at the state or national level."
If you do visit one, Smiechowski says to prepare to get comfortable in the space, relax and breath in the air while reclining. You may not notice the salt, even if it's doing its job, she said.
"When guests leave the session, they shouldn't be covered in salt," Smiechowski said. "Instead, the experience is subtle. You might notice only a slight saltiness on your lips."
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Are salt rooms safe for kids?
Not only does breathing the air clear mucus and reduce airway inflammation for kids, but it can provide a tactile activity for young ones, Smiechowski said. The floor is typically laid with salt crystals, which kids can dig or play with as they breath in the healthy air.
"It is likely low risk ... but overall more research is needed," says Melanie Brown, medical director of Pediatric Palliative and Integrative Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "For children especially, we want to be careful not to substitute therapies like salt rooms for treatments that we know are effective. If a child has asthma or another chronic respiratory condition, evidence-based care and making a plan with your pediatrician or pulmonologist should always come first."
Brown says too look out for how salt rooms are maintained before taking kids.
"Parents should pay close attention to cleanliness, air quality and infection control when considering these spaces and always discuss any treatments with your medical care provider."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What is a salt room? Why people use halotherapy for health benefits
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