The Therapeutic Benefits of Salt Room Therapy

The practice of sitting together inside a cave has been around since, well, before humans walked upright. Fast forward through centuries of evolution and we’ve landed in the same place—but now, we call it self-care. Modern salt caves or salt rooms are now being manufactured using halogenerators (which distribute high levels of microscopic salt particles into the air) and are often built with walls of salt. These spaces are visited by folks seeking out the reported mental and physical benefits of “halotherapy” or salt therapy as part of a holistic health regimen.

Halotherapy has existed since the 12th century when Eastern Europeans traveled to naturally occurring salt caves to improve their health. The modern attitude toward salt caves began to develop in the 1800s, when Polish salt miners found themselves healthier than their neighbors, with fewer respiratory illnesses such as common colds and coughs. Later, after WWII, German doctor Karl Hermann Spannagel noticed an anecdotal improvement in health in his patients who had hidden in salt caves to avoid bombing. Today, European salt caves are tourist destinations, with underground health resorts that claim that halotherapy can improve visitors’ repository conditions from allergies to COPD. But you don’t have to get on a plane to experience halotherapy — manmade salt rooms exist everywhere from Albuquerque to Yellowstone, and you can often sign up to spend time in one for a surprisingly affordable price.

As noted above, salt therapy rooms use a tool known as a halogenerator to crush sodium chloride and disperse it into the air in particles tiny enough to enter the lungs through the nostrils, mimicking the environment of a natural salt cave. Though many spas tout the benefits of beautiful pink Himalayan salt rooms or may layer salt onto their floors or walls as decor, the halogenerator is the key ingredient in any salt room.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A SALT THERAPY EXPERIENCE

A typical salt therapy session is 45 minutes, says Carol Oldmixon, the owner of Montauk Salt Cave in Huntington, New York. “We use a halogenerator to pump the salt into the room, and you just lay back and breathe for 45 minutes,” she says. She plays meditative music in her salt cave to help clients relax, and the room is heated (or cooled, depending on the season) to about 70 degrees. You can wear your regular clothes—minus your shoes since the floor is made of salt.

According to Oldmixon, you can feel an immediate difference in your body when you step into a salt therapy room. “It really supports the body. It’s a natural treatment for conditions such as anxiety, sleeplessness, allergies, asthma, inflammation, and the common cold,” she says. “It shrinks inflammation, which opens up your sinuses and allows everything to drain…you’ll see an immediate difference in your sinuses.” Clients often visit Oldmixon’s salt cave weekly, especially when dealing with chronic conditions like allergies or arthritis. For most folks, there are no side effects to halotherapy, though she directs concerned clients to check with their doctors before entering a salt therapy room. Typically, she advises people who are currently undergoing chemotherapy or who have recently had an organ transplant to avoid halotherapy. Folks of all ages visit her salt cave, and she even has a family room set up for parents and children to enjoy together.

WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF HALOTHERAPY?

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding halotherapy from spa lovers and wellness practitioners, board-certified physicians aren’t ready to confirm any definite physical boons to halotherapy. “A lot of wellness centers and spas tout all kinds of benefits stemming from halotherapy, alluding to how salt, with its anti-inflammatory properties, has been used for centuries to do everything from improving asthma and treating COPD to improving eczema and acne,” says Omer Ibrahim, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology. “While studies on how halotherapy can help improve respiratory issues or even work to complement allopathic medicine exist, there are very few of them, they are limited in the number of subjects, and the results have been inconclusive.”

According to the American Lung Association, more research needs to be done before doctors can be certain of the therapy’s respiratory benefits. Dr. Norman Edelman, the ALA’s Senior Scientific Advisor, believes that inhaling salt could at least provide relief for certain respiratory symptoms. "When fine salt particles are inhaled, they will fall on the airway linings and draw water into the airway, thinning the mucus and making it easier to raise, thus making people feel better," Dr. Edelman told the ALA. "Also, these environments are allergen-free and thus good for people with allergies affecting their lungs." Internist and gastroenterologist Dr. Niket Sonpal points out that “many people report feeling better after sessions, especially those with respiratory issues, [but] the scientific community has not fully validated its effectiveness through large-scale, rigorous clinical trials.”

Some salt therapy proponents also claim that the practice can be beneficial for immune system support. AEDIT Founder and Board Certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. William Kennedy, notes “By inhaling micronized salt particles, the body can reduce inflammation, expel toxins, and improve respiratory function. With regular sessions, this simple yet powerful treatment can provide lasting support for your overall health."

Dr. Kennedy also says that halotherapy can have a positive impact on your skin. “Being immersed in fine salt particles can help cleanse and detoxify the skin. By balancing moisture levels and promoting cell regeneration, halotherapy can help to alleviate conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis," says Kennedy. Arash Akhavan, board-certified dermatologist and owner of The Dermatology and Laser Group in New York City, agrees that “some anecdotal reports indicate that salt room therapy may provide mild benefits for inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis due to its potential antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.” The salt exposure may also offer mild exfoliation, Akhavan says, which can help with conditions like acne. Still, “any observed improvements are likely temporary and not a substitute for evidence-based dermatological treatments.”

Though halotherapy itself is not yet directly linked to skin benefits, there are physical rewards to a regular self-care practice. “Stress reduction and self-care can have a profound impact on skin health,” says Dr. Akhavan. “Chronic stress leads to elevated cortisol levels, which can exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions like acne, rosacea, and eczema. Engaging in relaxing activities, such as halotherapy sessions, may help regulate stress responses and in turn, improve skin appearance by reducing flare-ups of stress-induced conditions.”

WHAT ARE THE MENTAL BENEFITS OF SALT ROOM THERAPY?

Though the physical benefits of halotherapy require more study, salt rooms also provide a calming, refreshing space conducive to meditation and quiet reflection. Studies show that mindfulness leads to diminished stress, anxiety, and depression and makes it easier to regulate your emotions. Making regular time on your calendar for a wellness treatment, whether a full-blown spa day or an hour in a salt cave, can help integrate self-care practices into your daily life and work as a reminder to tend to your mental health. Many salt caves offer spiritual and self-care practices inside the room, from guided meditations to yoga classes to massages. Some gyms are even adding salt rooms. Whether from the ionized particles you’ve breathed in, the soothing instruction, the time to yourself, or all of the above, chances are you’ll leave a salt room feeling calmer than when you walked in.

We can’t yet conclusively say whether a salt cave can help with asthma or soothe your allergies, but according to Dr. Kennedy, “halotherapy does offer a natural and effective way to reduce stress by promoting deep relaxation and improving breathing which can help to lower cortisol levels. The calming environment and therapeutic effects aid in clearing the mind, easing tension, and help you to feel rejuvenated.” Regardless of whether you’re looking for help with respiratory symptoms, glowier skin, increased immune health, or just a relaxing place to meditate, halotherapy can be a valuable part of your wellness routine. After all, have you ever regretted spending an afternoon at the spa?