There are several ways to enjoy the health benefits of pure mineral salts, one of which is the speleotherapy (halotherapy) or salt therapy.
During the 1800s, a Polish physician discovered that breathing the air inside salt mines cured respiratory issues. Since then people have sought out healing “salt caves” for their numerous health benefits.
Salt therapy
Speleotherapy (also known as Halotherapy) is a natural therapy that uses an environment (salt caves) saturated with dry sodium chloride aerosol for the treatment of respiratory conditions, such as coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, sinusitis and bronchitis, to name a few. It is essentially a treatment of ailments using the air in underground caves and mines. Such air is typically rich in natural salt microns and ions, which have been found to effectively reduce the symptoms of asthma, allergies, and other breathing issues.
The dry sodium chloride aerosol is responsible for the curative properties of the salt caves, amplified by the comfortable temperature, humidity and the hypo-bacterial and allergen-free air environment.
Besides respiratory issues, speleotherapy can also improve skin conditions such as psoriasis, rashes, eczema, and acne. Pure mineral salts have moisturizing properties which support the skin’s water balance and barrier function. But it doesn't stop there – speleotherapy helps combat a myriad of other symptoms, including:
- Depression and anxiety
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Allergic rhinopathy or hay fever
- Ear infections
- Smoker’s cough
- Viral infections
- Common colds
- Chronic ear-nose-throat illnesses
In addition, salt naturally produces negative ions, which have been known to reduce stress, headaches, lethargy and depression. Moreover, negative ions can increase your energy, mental alertness and overall sense of well-being.
Polluted indoor air
The American Lung Association reported that “more than four in 10 Americans – nearly 138.5 million people – live in counties where ozone or particle pollution levels make the air unhealthy to breathe.” Likewise, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stressed that “the level of air pollutants indoors may be anywhere from two to five times greater than outdoors.” These statements are further supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), which asserted that "breathing in particle pollution can increase the risk of lung cancer."
While there have been high consumer demands for healthier indoor air, many of the man-made air purifiers don't manage to improve indoor air quality. In fact, industrial ionizers contribute to more particle pollution by producing and releasing considerable levels of ozone into the environment, which can cause respiratory illnesses. As a result, many ionizers require changing the filters regularly, which require high maintenance costs. (Related: Did you know that indoor air pollution can be extremely dangerous to your health?)
You may visit as many salt caves and mines as you can, but your home remains exposed to polluted air. Luckily, you can bring the health benefits of the salt caves into your home through Himalayan salt lamps.
First off, salt lamps make a beautiful addition to any room. But they are most notably known for their air-purifying properties. Salt lamps attract moisture from the air to the lamp surface. As the lamp heats up, water immediately evaporates, which then produces negative ions. The negative ions are then released into the environment, similar to being in a salt cave.
Negative ions are electrically charged particles, and in addition to their beneficial effects on our respiratory and immune systems, they help remove airborne contaminates. Pollen, dust, dirt, allergens and other contaminates in the air all carry a positive charge, and that is how they can be suspended in the air. The negative ions neutralize these positive ions so they can no longer be airborne and removed from the air we're breathing.
Head to Environ.News today to find out more ways of reducing air pollution inside your home.
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