Spring is such a beautiful time of year bringing with it a thawing of winter and the budding of new green life. It also means that allergy season is about to kick off. Although allergies can affect us all year round, springtime increases their prevalence. Whether you experience seasonal allergies or suffer all year long from environmental allergies, it may be time to try salt therapy for allergies.
The Relationship Between Salt and Allergies
The type of salt used in salt therapy treatment is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. The natural properties of the medical-grade salt dispersed by the halogenerator in a salt room, salt cave, or SALT Booth® help reduce inflammation and prevent bacteria from spreading.
Using salt therapy for allergies also helps flush irritants out of your system. When you inhale the micron-sized salt particles, they travel through the respiratory system and to your sinuses. Inhaling these particles helps clear blockages, reduce inflammation, and improve your ability to sleep through the night.
Several European health associations have determined that dry salt therapy for allergies is a certified treatment based on multiple long-term studies with allergy patients.
How Does a Salt Cave Help Allergies?
Natural salt therapy has been present in salt mines across Europe for hundreds of years. In the rest of the world, salt therapy is still relatively recent but has quickly gained popularity because of its many physical and mental health benefits.
The modern version of salt therapy uses a machine called a halogenerator to disperse salt particles into the air of a salt cave. The halogenerator crushes pure-grade sodium chloride into micron-sized particles, which promote health and well-being when inhaled. Any particles that land on exposed skin can help alleviate skin-related health issues.
*Salt therapy is an effective option for managing respiratory conditions such as sinusitis, rhinitis, asthma, bronchitis, and hay fever. In addition to alleviating pain and inflammation associated with allergies, salt therapy may also help boost your immune system and reduce the risk of developing infections.
How Often Should You Go To a Salt Room for Allergies?
Individuals with chronic issues can benefit from multiple weekly visits to a salt room. For specific conditions, such as allergies or asthma, the frequency may vary depending on the severity of symptoms.
Visiting a salt room for allergies between two and four times per week may be beneficial when symptoms are at their worst. Once you see the benefits of using salt therapy for asthma and allergies, you’ll likely want to maintain regular appointments for prevention.
Salt Therapy for Asthma and Allergies
Halotherapy is a great way to treat allergies naturally. The atmosphere in a salt cave and pure-grade sodium chloride dispersed by the halogenerator create a microclimate perfect for helping to relieve symptoms caused by allergies and asthma.
Is Salt Therapy Good for Allergies?
Salt therapy for allergies works best for naturally occurring allergens like mold, pets, pollen, dust, and pests that affect your respiratory or skin health. Other manufactured allergens such as latex, medications, jewelry, and topicals may not experience as much relief from regular salt cave visits.
Although allergy symptoms vary for each person, here are some of the most common symptoms:
- Runny nose or postnasal drip
- Sneezing
- Coughing or sore throat
- Itchy skin or hives
- Watery or itchy eyes
- Stuffy nose or nasal congestion
- Asthma attack
- Headache
- Sinus infections
- Fatigue
To develop a treatment plan, consult your doctor if you have allergies related to food, insect bites, or other manufactured allergens.
How Does a Salt Room Help Allergies?
Environmental substances inside and outside the home can trigger allergy symptoms. Visiting a salt room for allergies can help in the following five distinct ways:
- Flushes irritants and allergens from airways.
- Minimizes bacterial growth and multiplication.
- Reduces inflammation in the respiratory system.
- Promotes better sleep by breaking up mucous plugs in airways and sinuses.
- Relieves head and sinus discomfort.
Regularly partaking in salt therapy for allergies may help reduce your symptoms and minimize future irritation caused by allergens.
Is Salt Therapy Good for Sinuses?
Salt therapy helps decrease swelling and inflammation of the nasal mucosa (mucous membrane). The mucous membrane is a type of tissue that lines the nasal cavity. Inflammation of this membrane is called rhinitis. Seasonal allergies, the common cold, or exposure to smoke or second-hand smoke can trigger sinusitis (sinus infection).
The specific temperature maintained in salt room therapy allows dry salt particles to travel through the respiratory system and penetrate deeply into your sinuses. The micron-sized particles work to clear excess mucous and discharge while reducing inflammation in the airways. Inhaling this salty aerosol may reduce congestion and pain, allowing you to breathe easier.
Can Salt Therapy Help Asthma?
Salt therapy is a safe complementary treatment for respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis. Over a series of sessions, inhalation of dry salt aerosol will bring about the
improvement of mucociliary clearance and the decrease of bronchial inflammation, the decrease or elimination of pathogenic microorganisms, and a reduction of bronchial hyper-responsiveness. This translates into better lung function, fewer spasmodic attacks, and clearer air passages.
Breathe Deeply and Enjoy Life Again with Salt Allergy Treatment
The best part of choosing salt therapy for allergies is that you can go as frequently as daily with no known harmful effects. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs may temporarily relieve allergies, but symptoms are likely to return repeatedly. Halotherapy offers a natural way to address the discomfort of allergies while targeting the root causes of those symptoms.
If you’re suffering from allergies, find a salt cave near you, or contact us to learn how to use salt therapy for allergies from the comfort of your home.
Endnotes
Leo Tonkin, with a decade of deep expertise in salt therapy, initiated SALT Chamber, a leading entity in the domain of salt therapy products and decor. As the inaugural Chairman of the Salt Therapy Association and Chair of the Respiratory Wellness Initiative from the Global Wellness Institute, he has played a pivotal role in broadening the accessibility and recognition of salt therapy globally. His commitment to developing advanced technology and educating the public on the benefits of salt therapy has solidified his position as a key figure in the industry, enhancing its credibility and trustworthiness.
