FAQS

There are many benefits of halotherapy, including the following:

• Relief from chronic pulmonary diseases (asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis)
• Increased immunity against the common cold and flu
• Relief from rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis
• Relief from allergies to household and industrial pollutants
• Diminished multi-chemical sensitivity syndrome
• Stimulation of carbohydrate, protein and water exchanges
• Improved synthesis of enzymes, reduced blood sugar
• Improved blood microcirculation
• Improvement in skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, hives and rashes
• Improvement in skin oil secretion and skin inflammation (acne and rosacea)
• Elimination of snoring and better sleep overall
• Decrease in fatigue, stress related conditions, anxiety and depression
• Enhanced concentration capacity and improvement in ADHD condition
• Increased activity of metabolic processes
• Feeling of freshness, relaxation and satisfaction

HALO = SALT.  Salt Therapy evolved from Speleotherapy, which is prolonged exposure to underground salt caves and mines. Many countries, including Austria, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Poland, and Ukraine have been using Speleotherapy clinics for over 100 years. It involves spending 2-3 hours underground in a salt cave daily for 2-3 weeks.  Halotherapy replicates the salt cave environment but only requires 45 minutes to achieve therapeutic results.

Unlike a salt mine, a Halotherapy room is conveniently located in a controlled environment. We have the ability to change the amount of concentration of salt in the air, humidity levels and temperature range.   The concentration of pure pharmaceutical grade salt in the room can be adjusted to a level appropriate to individual conditions.

Halotherapy uses a special generator to grind pharmaceutical grade salt into fine particles known as Dry Salt Aerosol.  Microparticles of salt are dispersed into the room during the 45-minute treatment session. The particles, measuring less than 5 micrometers in diameter, are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli. The inhaled salt may help kill bacteria, break down mucous and pollutants lodged in the respiratory tract.  These can either be coughed up or eliminated through the blood stream.  The treatment may reduce hypersensitivity and inflammation in the lungs, thin out mucus build-up, eliminate allergens, improve lung function and open up breathing passages. It also has positive benefits for your skin.

Halotherapy is 100% natural, safe, and drug-free, providing effective long-term relief. It can be used as a complementary treatment to prescribed medications or as a sole treatment. When Halotherapy is used as a complementary treatment, it can increase the effectiveness and decrease the amount of prescribed medications. Always check with your doctor before starting new treatments to be sure it is right for you.

You may experience a dry throat and increased coughing after your first session.  This is a natural part of the clearing process of the respiratory system.  The pollution which has accumulated over time is being released by the salt and is then expelled from within the deepest regions of the lungs.  You may also notice slight skin irritation, throat tickle (gargling with water resolves this) and minor eye irritation (use eye drops.)

Salt therapy is not appropriate for:

• Acute stage of any illness
• Infections accompanied by fever
• Acute active tuberculosis
• Stage 3 COPD
• Intoxication
• Contagious ailments
• Use of an oxygen tank to aid breathing
• Cardiac insufficiency/severe heart disorders
• Spitting up blood
• Unstable or uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Acute stage of kidney disease

The treatment is suitable for children of any age (as young as 6 months old). Children seem to respond to the therapy even more quickly than adults. Salt MedSpa has a special focus on children with a treatment room designed specially for them.  Ever try to irrigate the nose of a child with saline solution or to use an inhalation mask? Halotherapy makes it simple and more effective. (See How is dry salt aerosol better than saline treatments?) Children love to play in the Activity Room, unaware that they are being treated. There is a play area with toys, a TV to watch cartoons and a salt floor to play in.

If your child has been on medications for awhile, but the treatment outcome is not satisfactory, it may be worth trying Halotherapy.  In fact, in countries where Halotherapy is practiced in mainstream medicine, doctors recommend parents try this natural remedy before putting children on medication, or at least use it alongside medication to avoid high dosage. Children treated by powerful hormones (steroids) are at increased risk of bone fractures and growth retardation.  Halotherapy is said to be 75 – 98% effective and could reduce the possibility of side effects from intensive drug treatment.

While medications are useful for chronic diseases, there are some side effects associated with repeated or long term use. Continuous drug therapy is associated with the possible development of allergic or toxic reactions, development of antibiotic resistance, imbalance of intestinal bacteria, and overgrowth of yeast. Steroids used for breathing and skin problems can also affect growth in children, lower bone density, contribute to cataracts, glaucoma and bruising.

Halotherapy may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of common colds. The best time to treat a cold is at its onset. Halotherapy treatment at the first sign of cold symptoms helps to eliminate or reduce mucus and inflammation of the respiratory system.  This helps stop the cold without medications and reduces prescription drug use. This is especially important for children and adults with asthma since the common cold is a trigger for asthma.

TYPICAL AMOUNT OF TREATMENTS
(BASED ON EASTERN EUROPEAN PUBLISHED CLINICAL REPORTS)

See our testimonials page.

Salt room therapy requires no special clothing; the salt will not damage your clothes or leave any noticeable residue. Those with skin conditions may elect to wear bathing suits for maximum exposure to the salt.  We provide you with surgical shoe coverings to cover your feet.  For children, we request that they come to sessions in clothing that is clean and free of dirt or mud. We also request that children with long hair wear it in a pony tail or bun to minimize the amount of hair on the salt room floor.  Surgical bonnets are also provided to cover hair if requested.

With over two tons of salt on the walls and floor of the treatment rooms, the microclimate of our salt room is said to be 3 times cleaner than a sterile surgery room in a hospital.  Therefore it is nearly impossible to catch any infection or be affected by bacteria during the therapy. Salt is a natural anti-bacterial and it kills almost all bacteria on contact. In addition, our HEPA filtered ventilation system is constantly working to circulate the air in the salt room, drawing used air out and clean, filtered air in.  Completely new air is pumped into the room before each session.

Dry salt is more effective then moist salt (saline).  Dry salt is very high in negative ions.  The inner surfaces of your airways are positively charged and therefore draw the dry salt into the airways where it is most beneficial.  Also, saline is known to cause some bronchial hyperactivity.  Dry salt aerosol used with the right temperature and humidity like in a halotherapy room avoids bronchial swelling and spasm.  You also ingest less salt during a 45 minute Halotherapy session than the dose received while inhaling moist sodium chloride aerosol (saline). Lastly, people have been known to contract serious infections from non sterile water used in moist saline therapies.  This cannot occur with dry salt aerosol.

• Makes skin more resistant to bacteria
• Decreases swelling and inflammation
• Normalizes pH balance of skin
• Increases turgor (elasticity and hydration of skin)
• Stimulates growth and helps repair/regenerate skin
• Balances oil production and helps with hydration (helps your cosmetic products work better)
• Decreases itching, and heals fissures, cracks, and scratches in the skin
• Used for :
  • Rashes
  • Skin infections
  • Post operative healing
  • Acne

Although it is covered in Canada and European countries it is not a covered expense in the US.  Reimbursement may be possible through flexible spending accounts, so check with your plan.  Forms are available at the front desk if your plan requires documentation from your doctor.