Salt Benefits and our Salt Sauna

For more information about the benefits of Salt Therapies, "Salting Your Sugars" click here.

Salt therapy is an age-old healing experience for the body and soul, and is used today throughout Europe, Scandinavia and Russia. Traditionally, populations have traveled to seaside health resorts at locations with high salt content such as the Black Sea and Dead Sea. In the early 20th century, observing that salt mine workers had few respiratory problems, a host of “Speleotherapy” Sanatoriums were built near abandoned salt rock crystal mines. Patients with respiratory illnesses as well as those with skin problems were sent into the mines for 15-20 minutes on a daily basis for rest and mild exercise. The results were amazingly positive; the patients reported significant relief from their conditions. Today, throughout these countries, people go to clinics located in salt mines for treatments as well as general rejuvenation. In Russia, a salt-diffusing apparatus is approved as a medical device by the Russian Ministry of Health. Today, there is a wealth of research on salt therapy, much of it conducted in Russia. In 2004 an additional 15 operating Salt Rooms opened in Estonia, and additional research from these is forthcoming.

Now, this experience is available to you. In La Casa’s salt sauna, we have simulated a natural salt cave microclimate. We have created a curative breathing environment that is saturated with dry sodium chloride (natural salt). Natural salt has a considerable level of negative charge of its particles. The inner surfaces of human airways have a slight positive charge. Thus, negatively charged particles of the salt are allowed to move into the lumen of the respiratory tract. The heat in the salt sauna releases the negative ions captured within the pure salt blocks that line the walls, carrying the ions deep into the lungs. In the lungs, tiny chambers (alveolus) fortify oxygen with the negative ions which is then absorbed by the bloodstream to deliver the cleansing and purifying effect to every organ of the body.

Why is exposure to salt therapeutic (for even those who are healthy)?

• Salt therapy is a great way to for your body to take in minerals. Your body absorbs the magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, and iodine given off by the salt crystals in a manner that is completely natural.
• Salt is a natural air ionizer; it releases “vitamins of the air” (negative ions) that create a fresh, clean, bacteria-free environment. Do you remember how great you felt the last time you walked on a beach? This sense of well-being comes from breathing in a surfeit of negatively ionized air. Humans respond most positively to a ratio of 2 negative ions to 1 positive ion, but such a ratio is rare at best. Yosemite Falls has a negative ion count of over 100,000 per cubic centimeter. Fresh, country air has a negative ion count of around 2,000 to 4,000 per cubic centimeter. Los Angeles, on the other hand, has a negative ion count of around 100 per cubic centimeter. Throughout the country, most of us are constantly bombarded by positive ions that are emitted in sealed hi-rise buildings, heating and air conditioning, and from our computers and televisions. The therapeutic effect of negative ions is: anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, regulating the mineral metabolism of the body and cleaning the respiratory tract.
• Salt has a cleansing and rejuvenative effect on the skin. It aids in clearing up skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. But it is great, too, as an anti-aging therapy because of its restorative properties to the skin.

The Research

Specific research demonstrates that patients with asthma, chronic obstructive bronchitis and cystic fibrosis show a reduction in pathogenic microorganisms (the bad guys) and, simultaneously, have an increase in alveolar macrophages (the good guys). There is a reduction of IgE levels after salt therapy in patients with asthma.

Specific effects of salt therapy are:

• Mucolytic (assist in the elimination of excess mucus)
• Antibacteriologic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Immunomodulating (regulate the immune system)

Salt therapy has been used to relieve the symptoms of the following conditions:

• chronic bronchitis
• breathlessness, chest tightness
• pneumonia after acute stage
• bronchiectatic disease
• coughs (particularly at night or after exercise)
• wheezing
• smoker's cough (including secondary smoke)
• cough with viscous sputum discharging with difficulties
• dry, paroxysmal cough with distant rates
• dry rales (mostly with low tone) changing its localization during auscultation
• excess mucus
• colds and influenza
• sinusitis
• rhinitis and respiratory allergies
• allergies to industrial and household pollutants
• frequent acute disorders of respiratory tract
• respiratory infections
• rhinosinusopathy
• tonsillitis
• pharyngitis
• multi-chemical sensitivity syndrome
• eczema, psoriasis