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.)
