Salt Therapy at Home: Benefits and Side Effects
Salt therapy, or halotherapy, has been used for centuries to treat certain health conditions and promote well-being. Salt caves and therapy rooms remain a popular way to alleviate the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, and other chronic lung conditions. Today, however, it is possible to bring the benefits of salt therapy into your own home and develop a regular practice that can transform your health and improve your well-being.
Salt inhalers and salt lamps are easy ways to bring salt into your environment so that you can benefit from the salt particles that are thought to be healing for the lungs. However, it is also possible to use an air purifier for effective salt therapy in your home, and the Salin Plus Air Purifier, for example, delivers a blend of microcrystallized salts to create a fine spray of sodium chloride and change the ionisation of the air in the surrounding environment.
Salt Therapy: A History
Salt therapy is an age-old practice that can be traced back to Hippocrates in Ancient Greece, who recommended it in the treatment of respiratory illness. It was well documented throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and after it was observed that salt miners experienced better respiratory health than those who were not regularly inhaling salt dust, the first therapeutic centre was set up in Poland in 1839. Today, it is a well-respected treatment for respiratory conditions, and many medical professionals and hospital settings accommodate the practice.
The first device for salt inhalation was developed in 1985 in Odessa, designed to replicate the grinding and crushing process that disperses salt particles into the air. The Salin Plus Air Purifier uses cutting-edge technology to create a therapeutic environment and has a compact, sleek design that is easy to set up and move between rooms. It uses filters made from microcrystalline sediment and a bellows mechanism to optimise the positive effects of inhalation and can treat up to 150 cubic meters. Using a device such as this for at least eight hours per day is recommended, and using it at night is often a good way to ensure effectiveness.
A salt lamp can enhance the ambience in your home and gives off a calming, dim light while releasing salt particles into the air. However, this is not likely to make dramatic changes to your environment, so it has limited potential to benefit your health. A salt inhaler or salt pipe can be used to inhale salt particles directly, and many people find this helpful when used alongside medicated inhalers for asthma, for instance, as it can have a healing effect on the lungs. Inhalers must be cleaned regularly to ensure good hygiene.
Salt Therapy at Home: The Benefits
Bringing the benefits of salt therapy into your home means you can use it regularly to improve symptoms of respiratory conditions and optimise the healing effects on the lungs and the skin. The benefits of regular salt therapy include:
• Supporting the respiratory system. Regular use of salt therapy at home can help to clear mucus in the body and relieve the inflammation caused by conditions such as allergies, sinusitis and asthma. Common observations by regular users include a reduction in coughing and easier breathing. Using the Salin Air Purifier at night can improve the quality of the air you are sleeping in, and this can make it easier for your system to rest and recover overnight.
• Boosting the immune system. Salt therapy can support the immune system and help you to fight off cold and flu bugs by keeping the respiratory system clear and helping to reduce allergens in the body. This can help you to avoid seasonal bugs or to fight them off more effectively if you do come into contact with them.
• Improving the health of the skin. Increasing the salt particles in the air can help to hydrate the skin and can also be useful in calming and alleviating allergy symptoms. For instance, conditions such as acne, eczema, and inflammatory skin conditions can be relieved using salt therapy.
• Better quality sleep. If your sleep is disturbed, especially by throat irritation, your immune function will be compromised, and you will not feel your best. Improving the environment you sleep in by using a salt therapy device at night can transform the way you sleep and enable you to get good quality, restorative sleep that will improve your health exponentially.
• Relaxing the body and mind. Most people lead fairly stressful daily lives, and this can take its toll on the body and the mind. Taking responsibility for your health means addressing the stresses in your life and making changes to combat these. For instance, yoga and meditation can be transformative. If you can take the time to create a relaxing space to carry out salt therapy at home, perhaps using a salt lamp or making your bedroom a more peaceful space, you will benefit from the time to relax and calm your system as well as the salt therapy itself.
• Take control of your health. It is all too easy to hand over control of our health to the experts, and, of course, it is very important to take medical advice when you need it. However, there may be many ways to manage your general health more effectively, reducing the likelihood of health complications. Learning to use techniques such as salt therapy at home can feel empowering, improving your long-term health and well-being and supporting any treatment you are undergoing. You should always discuss such measures with your care provider, especially if you have a chronic or long-term condition.
As well as the physical benefits, the flexibility of salt therapy at home is a major benefit, allowing you to give yourself frequent salt therapy when it suits you. This is a cost-effective and convenient way to manage your health and well-being.
Potential Side Effects of Salt Therapy
If you think you may benefit from regular salt therapy, you may wish to discuss this with a doctor or pharmacist to ensure that it is a good course of action for you. Some people with chronic lung conditions may need to try salt therapy under medical supervision, so be aware of your circumstances and seek advice when needed. It is a good idea to begin by building up your sessions gradually to begin with.
Potential side effects of salt therapy include:
• Overuse. If you use salt therapy at home too much, it is possible that it will lead to dryness of the nasal passages or irritate your respiratory system. This is why it is essential to build up the length of time you use salt therapy gradually.
• Irritation. If you notice that you are sneezing or coughing more after a salt therapy session or that your mouth feels drier than usual, this may mean that the salt therapy has caused irritation, and you may need to reduce the frequency of sessions or take a break.
• Change in symptoms. While most people find salt therapy very helpful in alleviating their symptoms, some people may find that salt therapy causes irritation or a worsening or symptoms. This may happen in extreme cases, such as if you have very severe asthma and the lungs are in a constant state of heightened sensitivity.
• Devices not kept clean. If your salt inhalation device is not kept clean, there is the risk of bacterial infection due to a build-up of bacteria. This could be dangerous and is a potential hazard with any device that is being used in your home, and a good cleanliness routine can alleviate this risk.
Salin Plus at WonderCare
Here at WonderCare, we know that taking care of your health is the most important self-care care and we are here to help you find the best solutions for you and your family. We can help you with lifestyle changes such as introducing an air purifier to your home, giving up smoking or beginning a new exercise routine, and we can also help you to find the medications and supplements that support your well-being.
If you are living with asthma, allergies or other respiratory conditions, we can help you to find treatments that work, including salt inhalation systems, antihistamines and alternative therapies. Your healthcare needs are unique to you, and we will help you to consider the options for you and your family members so that you can start feeling better straight away.
At WonderCare, we stock an extensive range of healthcare products for babies, children and adults, as well as hair and beauty products, skincare sets and gifts so that you can find everything you need in one place. We deliver across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK, and you’ll receive free shipping on orders over €40. Shop on our website for collection in our Milltown store, or come in and chat with our friendly team.
Feel free to contact us at 01-260 0262 or email team@wondercare.ie should you have any questions regarding Salt Therapy.
