Though the healing properties of salt have been touted for millennia, modern-day salt therapy originated in Poland in the mid 1800’s when a physician began to notice that his patients who worked in salt mines had no lung problems or respiratory conditions. Fast-forward almost 200 years, and today’s salt lounges use aerosolized micro-particles of salt to simulate the microclimate of salt mines. At its core, salt therapy – or halotherapy – is a mechanism for purifying and healing the body. But how does it work? And for what aspects of health and wellness is it beneficial? Here’s a brief overview of this simple yet effective therapy experience.

1. 
   How Does It Work?

Salt, an electrolyte, serves to balance fluids in our blood and maintain healthy blood pressure, and it is also essential for nerve and muscle function. It is also very anti-inflammatory. Thus, any type of salt therapy will offer healing benefits. Salt lounges, specifically, grind salt into microscopic particles and release them into the air of the room. Once inhaled, these salt particles are thought to absorb irritants, including allergens and toxins, from the respiratory system. It is also thought that the salt particles kill off microorganisms in the lungs and that the salt reduces pulmonary inflammation. The salt particles are said to have a similar effect on your skin by absorbing bacteria and other impurities responsible for many skin conditions.

1. 
   Physical Benefits

Once absorbed into the body and the skin, the microscopic salt particles provide literally dozens of benefits. The main benefits include:

• Pain relief — helps reduce muscle soreness (yes, even DOMS or delayed onset muscle soreness), reduces joint pain, arthritis pain, overall aches and pains and even headaches. 
• Skin rejuvenation — triggers skin microcirculation and cellular membrane activity, anti-aging effects via cell healing (promotes nuclei growth and repair), purifies pores, smooths wrinkles, elevates healing for many types of skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, itchiness, redness and infections causing rashes or irritation.
• Systemic healing — boosts immune function, improves muscle relaxation, circulation, neural response, helps detox the respiratory system by attracting and removing pollutants and allergens, reduces inflammation, helps alleviate asthma symptoms (specifically via anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic mechanisms), increases ability to achieve deeper sleep and opens detox pathways.

1. 
   Mental Benefits

While the main benefits of salt therapy often revolve around the amazing respiratory and skin benefits, halotherapy is also known to help with symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety. One study showed that 14 weeks of salt therapy improved tryptophan and serotonin metabolism, leading to an antidepressant effect – these two chemicals help to regulate our mood. After a salt therapy session, patients have reported improved mood, mental performance, better sleep, and less stress. Plus, our salt lounge is like your own personal oasis. You will leave feeling invigorated and refreshed.

1. 
   What Is A Salt Lounge Experience Like?

You sit in a comfy chair in a beautiful, cozy, dim room and breathe deeply. That’s it! It’s a very relaxing and soothing experience. There is no therapist or technician involved – it’s just you and your thoughts. And a whole lot of salt in the air. Breathing the salty air is not difficult; you’ll likely barely be able to tell there’s anything different about the air in a salt lounge. (South Texans are much more likely to notice the extremely low level of humidity in the room rather than the salt in the air!) The salt will not burn your eyes or irritate your skin. It’s basically just a relaxing hour in a spa with a little bit of salt and a host of amazing benefits.

Whether you’re looking for help with a respiratory or skin condition or you’re looking to add a tool to your arsenal for dealing with depression or anxiety, salt therapy is definitely worth a try. Our modern world relies so heavily on pharmacological interventions. It’s a breath of fresh (salty!) air to find an easy and effective treatment that comes directly from mother nature. Give salt therapy a try, and let it work its magic.