Ever notice how Victorian novels always depict a sickly character spending a week at the seaside and making a miraculous recovery? Or maybe you’ve found yourself feeling a little bit better when you make a trip to the beach? There might be some science behind the idea that breathing salty air is good for us. Known as halotherapy, this practice has led to the popularity of salt caves or salt rooms built specifically to offer an environment where the air is infused with mineral-rich salt that goes into your body when you breathe it in.
Research in recent years has pointed to the possibility that halotherapy can:
- Improve lung function
- Clear mucus from airways
- Maximize airflow and capacity
And when you breathe better, you tend to see faster recovery times from sickness, reduced feelings of stress, and overall improved quality of life. However, though early research is encouraging, it’s still not conclusive—and there are no official, clinically recommended guidelines for halotherapy yet.
So, what does this mean? If you’re curious about halotherapy, here’s what you should know:
Does halotherapy work?
Most halotherapy research has looked at conditions like asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, and sinusitis. Because research is still inconclusive, halotherapy shouldn’t be considered a reliable treatment option on its own, but it could boost improvement when it’s used with other treatment options. You also might find breathing salty air is refreshing and simply makes you feel better!
Should I try it?
We all want to breathe more easily. But especially if you have respiratory conditions or mild allergies, or if you’re prone to frequent colds or dry-air irritation, some salt aerosol might feel good on your respiratory system. Generally, anyone seeking to relax, de-stress, or sleep better will also feel better after halotherapy, especially because salt caves offer dim lighting and a quiet environment that lets you focus on deep breathing.
Can I try a Himalayan salt lamp at home?
Most research points to professional salt rooms and caves as most likely to have any kind of measurable effect. That’s because they’re more likely to have consistent salt concentration in the air with a controlled particle size—salt particles need to be small enough to reach the lungs (or else they’ll get stuck in your nose) but not so small you’ll exhale them right away. Although salt lamps claim to purify air, they don’t produce any meaningful amount of salt aerosol.
