Are you one of the thousands of people suffering from allergies, sinusitis, COPD, asthma, or chronic ENT problems? Has your healthcare provider ever recommended a NETI-pot or a normal saline solution to rinse out your nasal passages? Why is that? What is so special about saline? First, let’s look at what saline is. Saline is a solution of water and salt. Salt is a natural antibacterial. It is also a natural anti-inflammatory. Inflammation in the body takes place when your body senses an insult and dilates or opens up the blood vessels and lets intracellular fluid into the extracellular spaces. It does this to heal the area, or wash away whatever the insult is. So when we have inflammation in our sinuses or anywhere in our respiratory tract we use a saline solution and the salt draws out the extracellular fluids to reduce inflammation and kill any bacteria. Unfortunately, we cannot use a saline solution in our lungs to wash away mucus and bacteria.

    The good news is that the natural healing properties of salt are now being more widely recognized and applied to treat chronic and acute conditions affecting our respiratory tract. Salt mines have been used since Hippocrates. In 1843, a Polish doctor first discovered the environment inside salt mines had therapeutic effects on respiratory disease. In Eastern Europe many salt mines were used as medical resorts for patients with lung disease. Monks even used salt caves to heal their patients with respiratory issues. What made the salt cave so beneficial was the microclimate of dry aerosolized salt in the air. Unfortunately, not every one can have access to a salt mine! So, in the 1990s the first halogenerator was developed in St. Petersburg, Russia.  A halogenerator grinds up salt into very small dust sized particles and a fan blows the particles into the air. The particles are so fine they can reach the very small spaces deep inside the lungs. As salt reaches the lungs it is able to then stimulate the cilia (tiny hairs) in the respiratory tract to move mucus and bacteria up and out. Remember from before, it also acts as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial to kill bacteria deep inside the respiratory tract. Aerosolized salt is also good for skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne along with any respiratory condition such as COPD, smokers cough, sinusitis, seasonal allergies, bronchitis, sleep apnea, colds and flu, or simply to release stress and boost immune function.

     Some salt rooms use Dead Sea salt in their halogenerator. Dead Sea salt contains not only sodium, but also bromide, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Bromide and magnesium are excellent for cleansing and detoxifying the body. Magnesium alone is a mineral every cell and organ in the body must have in order to function properly. In times of stress, our bodies use more magnesium. Magnesium increases skin hydration and decreases inflammation.

 

     Salt lamps also emit high concentrations of negative ions that can boost the immune system naturally. The negative ions are believed to stimulate the body’s release of serotonin. This increases mood and mental clarity and promotes a feeling of calm. Unfortunately they do not emit the aerosolized salt that provides benefit to the respiratory tract and skin.

If you come by the Restorative Medical Center we have the ONLY Salt Room in town! 1 session is $35, 3 for $45 and 10 for $100! You can also relax and receive a massage for only $100. Where else can you get a massage in a salt room??