What Is Halotherapy? Uses, Benefits, and Risks

Halotherapy, also known as salt therapy, originated in Eastern Europe and has been utilized in traditional medicine for centuries. 

It continues to be a popular holistic remedy to help promote respiratory health, improve skin conditions, enhance relaxation, and support overall well-being.

Explore the numerous advantages of halo salt therapy and discover whether it’s the right choice for you.

What is halotherapy? 

Halotherapy involves exposing the body to mineral-rich salts in controlled environments to support health and well-being.

Halotherapy salt therapy typically utilizes pharmaceutical-grade sodium chloride or Himalayan sea salt, which offers other essential minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, zinc, and potassium.

Salt therapy environments are designed to create a calming and serene atmosphere, where the soothing ambiance, in combination with salt exposure, encourages relaxation and stress reduction.

Depending on the type of halotherapy, salt particles are either inhaled or absorbed through the skin, which may help clear airways, reduce inflammation, improve skin condition, and promote relaxation. 

Additionally, the exposure to negatively charged ions during halotherapy sessions may also help counteract the physiological effects of stress, thereby supporting improved mood and overall mental clarity.

Watch the video below to understand the critical difference between sea salt and table salt. 

Halotherapy methods 

Halotherapy can be practiced as either dry or wet salt therapy, each offering distinct health and wellness benefits.

Dry salt therapy

The therapeutic benefits of dry salt therapy have been acknowledged since the 19th century, as salt miners showed faster healing rates and better respiratory health after spending extended time in salt mines.

Today, dry salt therapy is usually conducted in an artificial salt mine environment that replicates natural salt caves. These salt rooms typically feature salt-covered walls and floors, along with warm and ambient lighting, creating a calming and rejuvenating ambiance.

The two main approaches to dry salt therapy include active salt therapy and passive salt therapy.

Active salt rooms are equipped with a halogenerator, a machine that disperses tiny salt particles into the air to create a controlled environment rich in therapeutic salt aerosols. 

This setup is standard in most salt cave spa treatment facilities and offers potential benefits such as reduced respiratory mucus, lower inflammation, enhanced cognitive function, and relaxation. 

In contrast, passive salt therapy, or speleotherapy, doesn’t utilize halogenerators but relies on natural or simulated salt cave environments. 

Sessions take place in underground salt caves or specially designed rooms that mimic the climate of a salt cave.

These environments are rich in natural salt and are carefully maintained with optimal temperature, humidity, and air composition to maximize the therapeutic benefits for respiratory health, skin conditions, and overall well-being.

Wet salt therapy

Wet salt therapy encompasses saline solutions and saltwater baths to help alleviate allergies, relieve sinus congestion, soothe irritated skin, and improve chronic respiratory disorders. 

Additionally, mineral salts, particularly Epsom salt, are utilized in flotation therapy, also known as restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST). 

This practice involves floating in a tub or sensory deprivation tank filled with water that creates a zero-gravity-like environment. High concentrations of Epsom salts enhance water buoyancy, allowing the body to effortlessly float and relax completely.

According to evidence published in Human Brain Mapping, the REST technique has been shown to help reduce anxiety, depression, and pain, alongside facilitating increased feelings of serenity. 

3 Potential benefits of halotherapy

Halotherapy offers several potential health benefits, including respiratory support, skin health improvement, and stress relief.

Here are three key salt therapy benefits.

1. Antimicrobial effects 

According to research published in Healthcare, many of the benefits of halotherapy are linked to the body’s exposure to hydrated salt aerosols, known as solions.

Solions exhibit bacteriostatic properties, meaning they inhibit bacterial growth and adhesion by disrupting microbial cell membranes, which affects bacterial integrity and nutrient uptake.

These antibacterial properties may explain why salt therapy is often used to manage microbial skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, and acne.

2. Mood-boosting properties

The soothing environment of salt therapy rooms, in combination with exposure to saline aerosols saturated with negative ions, can help improve your mood.

"Natural environments, such as the countryside, dense forests, the ocean’s salty air, and salt caves, expose you to up to 20 times more negative ions than indoor spaces, which can help reduce stress and enhance mood," explains Dr. Berg.

Research published in BMC Psychiatry confirms that ion exposure positively affects mood and emotional well-being.

The researchers noted, "Negative ionization, overall, was significantly associated with lower depression ratings, with a stronger association observed at high levels of negative ion exposure."

By combining the relaxing setting of halotherapy with the scientifically backed benefits of negative ions, salt therapy appears to offer a natural way to support mental well-being.

3. Respiratory support

Exposure to salt particles may help enhance respiratory function by promoting mucociliary clearance, the body’s natural mechanism for expelling mucus and trapped pathogens.

This explains why salt therapy is often used to help alleviate symptoms of respiratory conditions, including allergies, sinusitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Research published by KnE Life Sciences states, “Halotherapy improves mucociliary elimination, diminishes airway inflammation, and improves pulmonary function.” 

This may make salt therapy a promising alternative treatment for conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and sinusitis.

Does halotherapy have any risks?

Halotherapy is a form of alternative medicine that’s generally considered safe but may cause mild side effects, such as temporary dryness in the skin, throat, or nasal passages. 

This dryness is linked to salt’s moisture-absorbing properties, which can result in slight dehydration of the tissues it comes into contact with. 

Additionally, some individuals may experience a temporary increase in mucus production. While this may be concerning, it indicates that the salt effectively loosens phlegm and clears respiratory pathways, which helps reduce congestion over time.

Those with open wounds or abscesses may experience irritation in salt rooms and should avoid salt therapy until their skin has fully healed.

Furthermore, prolonged exposure to salt without proper hydration may lead to dehydration, potentially resulting in symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, or dizziness. This underscores the importance of staying hydrated before and after a halotherapy session.

While halotherapy is typically viewed as safe for most people, long-term studies are limited, and more research is needed to understand its impact on individuals with chronic or severe medical conditions.

Therefore, those with underlying health concerns or active infections should consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice before undergoing salt therapy. 

Key takeaways

Halotherapy is a non-invasive practice that uses salt exposure to help improve respiratory health, support skin conditions, and reduce stress. 

By exposing the body to finely dispersed salt particles, dry salt therapy aims to support overall well-being through its antimicrobial and mood-boosting properties. This makes it a promising complementary therapy for asthma, eczema, sinusitis, and depression.

Additionally, wet salt therapy techniques can be highly beneficial for supporting respiratory health, minimizing microbial skin issues, and promoting stress relief.

FAQ

1. Is halotherapy the same as salt therapy?

Yes, halotherapy and salt therapy are the same. In fact, the term halotherapy is derived from the Greek word halo, which means salt. 

Halotherapy refers to a range of therapeutic methods that involve salt exposure, including dry salt therapy in passive salt rooms and wet salt therapy, which can include saline rinses, salt baths, and sensory deprivation float tanks.

2. Who should not use halotherapy?

Halotherapy is typically safe for most people. However, individuals with severe asthma, chronic respiratory conditions, or active infections should consult a healthcare professional before participating in a session.

Additionally, those with open wounds should avoid salt therapy until they have healed, as salt can cause irritation and worsen symptoms.

3. What are the side effects of salt room therapy?

Side effects of salt room therapy are typically mild and may include temporary dryness of the skin, throat, or nasal passages due to salt's natural moisture-absorbing properties. Some individuals may also experience a temporary increase in mucus production.

In addition, individuals with sensitive skin may experience mild irritation, which typically subsides after a few sessions. 

4. How long should you stay in a salt therapy room?

Salt therapy sessions usually last 45 to 60 minutes, though beginners might start with 20 to 30 minutes to gradually acclimate to the environment. 

5. Can salt therapy help with anxiety?

Yes, salt therapy may help reduce anxiety by combining an aesthetically relaxing environment with exposure to negative ions, which supports stress relief and promotes emotional well-being.  

Sources

1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hbm.25429 

2. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/14/2104

3. https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-244X-13-29

4. https://kneopen.com/KnE-Life/article/view/17355/