![]() ![]() This may be referred to as “wet” salt therapy as opposed to halotherapy which is “dry” salt therapy. Nebulized hypertonic saline has been shown (in well done randomized clinical trials) to improve pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms as well as reduce pulmonary exacerbation rate in individuals with cystic fibrosis. In this disorder, thick tenacious secretions obstruct the lower airway and sinuses and provide an environment for chronic infection. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder characterized by dehydration of the respiratory epithelial surface, resulting in impaired mucociliary clearance. The air in a halotherapy chamber is also filtered to remove contaminants and the temperature and humidity are well controlled.Īs a pulmonologist, I initially became familiar with halotherapy through my care of individuals with Cystic Fibrosis. The small particle size is felt to be important to allow penetration deep into the lungs, since larger particles will simply be deposited in the nose, throat or large airways. This was the start of modern Halotherapy, which has been utilized for several decades throughout Eastern Europe and has begun to expand into many other countries including the United States and Canada. In the mid-1900’s the Russians began working on a technology to replicate the dry salt particles in the air and developed the first halogenerator, a device that grinds pure sodium chloride into precise micron sized particles and disperses the dry salt into a climate controlled room or chamber. Soon people with various conditions were spending time in these salt mines. The dry salt was discovered to be super absorbent, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. ![]() As the workers were mining the salt in these climate-enriched chambers, dry salt particles would be inhaled into the respiratory system. While the potential benefits and therapeutic nature of salt has been known for centuries, it was not until the early 1800’s that the underground salt mines throughout Eastern Europe were noted to benefit various respiratory conditions. The word Halotherapy comes from the Greek word “halos” meaning salt.
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