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Natural Awakenings Central Florida / Orlando

Can Salt Therapy Help?

Aug 31, 2021 09:31AM ● By Dr. Joseph Cannizzaro
Have you ever wondered about Salt Therapy? Here are answers to the most common questions.

What is a Salt Room?

A salt room is a special spa-like room with salt-coated walls and floor. Pharmaceutical-grade salt is pulverized into microscopic particles and pushed into the room by a halogenerator.  Patients passively breathe in the salt particles, which travel through the nasal passages into the lungs. This accelerates mucus clearance and improves lung function while killing harmful bacteria and soothing the respiratory system.

What do you do during a Salt Therapy session?

You sit back in zero-gravity chairs and either read or just unplug!  Many people find it so relaxing that they take a catnap during their session.  There are toys in the room for younger patients; the kids have a lot of fun playing with the salt, just like snow or sand at the beach.

Does Salt Therapy really work?

Yes!  Patients schedule salt therapy sessions to help with a myriad of health concerns and as a complementary treatment for many breathing and skin ailments.  Articles and podcasts on the value of salt rooms and a variety of salt therapies have appeared in Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and ABC News. The New England Journal of Medicine published a study in 2006 and found that halotherapy was an effective complementary treatment for cystic fibrosis.

Is Salt Therapy healthy?

Yes.  It is antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory to the body and has been documented to help ease symptoms of respiratory conditions (allergies, asthma) and skin conditions such as dermatitis (acne, eczema).  It is also inexpensive and very effective in preventing common comorbid conditions such as ear and sinus infections.

For allergy sufferers, salt therapy neutralizes pollutants like smoke, dander, dust, pollen and other allergens present in the airways.  The pulverized salt is naturally antibacterial, killing bacteria in the respiratory tract.  It reduces inflammatory tissue irritation and swelling in the lungs, opening the airways and increasing oxygen exchange.

For asthma sufferers, salt therapy reduces wheezing and coughing, which calms breathing, making life more comfortable and asthma more manageable.  This also prevents overuse of pharmaceutical inhalers, a practice that can cause bronchospasm and increase asthma severity.

For those who suffer from eczema, salt therapy calms the itchy rash and heals cracks, which restores the skin’s barrier against infectious agents and allergens.

Patients with COPD and emphysema have found relief in the salt room and typically schedule appointments year-round for maintenance.

Salt therapy increases the effectiveness of conventional treatments.  Cleansing the airways and decreasing inflammation helps medications work more effectively and reduces the need for them.

Is Salt Therapy safe?

Salt therapy is completely safe for patients of all ages—from newborns to geriatric patients.

It is a 100% drug-free treatment and has no side-effects.  However, we do recommend consulting your doctor about any health concerns before undergoing ANY new therapy.

How long does Salt Therapy take to work?

Patients report improvements in just one 45-minute session; however, three to ten sessions are recommended.

Does Salt Therapy raise blood pressure?

No, since the salt particles are so small, you are inhaling a very small amount of salt.  Salt therapy has a calming effect on the nervous system and could actually reduce symptoms of high blood pressure!  However, we do recommend consulting your doctor about any particular health concerns.

What do you wear in a Salt Room?

Wear comfortable, casual clothing.  Salt easily brushes off your clothing and you will be given disposable booties for your feet to help keep the room clean.

Is Salt Therapy safe during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Yes! HEPA air filters in the room capture and remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles, including viral particles, while activated carbon filters remove volatile organic compounds.  A UV light kills 98.8% of bacteria and viruses on surfaces.

 Joseph Cannizzaro, MD has been practicing pediatrics in Central Florida for over 40 years and is medical director of the salt therapy facility in his practice.  As a classically-trained primary care physician who practices integrative medicine, Dr. Cannizzaro believes that integrative medicine can bring conventional and complementary healing modalities together, creating a highly personalized and high-touch healing environment. Call The Salt Room® Longwood at 407-862-1163 to book a session or visit SaltRoomLongwood.com Call to book and mention Natural Awakenings to bring a friend for free!  (Must share same session.)

 






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