Salt Room at Ocean Elements Salt Spa and Float Center in Ocean City, MD. (Photo: Sharon Schultz)

Everyone inevitably deals with some level of stress as they go about their life. Stress may be work-related, or family-related, or perhaps it’s just a prickly feeling of unease after a busy day. But instead, picture your frazzled self in a room with a tranquil, coastal setting, low lighting that’s easy on the eyes, soothing white noise conducive to meditation, and comfortable chairs suitable for swinging, rocking, reclining, or just being still. The floor is covered with a fine, pink substance, giving it a beachy feel, like sand, and you wiggle your toes. You succumb, giving yourself up to pure relaxation letting the salt work its healing magic … Welcome to the salt spa!

The Salt Therapy Association (STA) defines Halotherapy as “a dry salt therapy that utilizes a halogenerator to grind and crush 99.99% Pure Grade Sodium Chloride into micronized particles that are dispersed into a salt room, salt cave, or salt chamber via a dry salt aerosol that works to aid respiratory concerns and skin conditions.”

But how does it work, exactly? According to the STA, dry salt has super absorbing properties. As you breathe, the salt acts like a sponge soaking up foreign irritants in the respiratory system that have the potential to become health concerns. It works like an antibacterial agent, cleaning the respiratory tract by dissolving bacteria and germs that may become lodged there. Inhaling dry salt particles is also helpful in reducing inflammation in the respiratory tract, thus keeping air passages open promoting a higher oxygen intake, more energy, and a stronger immune system.

The STA does advise that, although there have been numerous studies around the world on the benefits of dry salt therapy; first, the FDA has not weighed in either way, and second, halotherapy is not intended to replace medication, or diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. An appropriate medical doctor should always be consulted whenever a medical condition is in question, and before beginning any treatment.

Salt therapy is an experience lasting from 10 to 45 minutes depending on guest preference. When you go, wear light-colored clothing that fits loosely. If it is a skin condition that needs resolution, you may want to leave that area exposed. It’s all right if the airborne salt granules make direct contact with your skin. The dry salt is easily brushed off. Currently, there aren’t any known harmful side effects from halotherapy. In fact, the opposite is true if judged by the number of common ailments served by this natural treatment. How often you go for treatment depends wholly on the results that you’re looking for. Consistency trumps irregularity and less is not more.

It is generally known that an overabundance of salt in one’s diet can lead to high blood pressure, a serious medical condition. How then can salt therapy stave off other contributing factors such as anxiety and stress? 

Processed table salt is absorbed into the body’s digestive tract with the food we eat. The salt air dispersed in the salt caves is inhaled directly into the lungs and respiratory system. Existing research on halotherapy involves using 99.99% pure Sodium Chloride in the halogenerator. Unlike table salt, the Sodium Chloride is not chemically processed with additives or caking agents. Extracted from land and sea, debris and contaminants are removed from the salt, but nothing is added. The salt remains in its natural state, minus the trash. Himalayan Pink Salt or Dead Sea Salt may be found on the floors and walls of salt caves by design.

The STA reports that halotherapy is becoming a popular remedy for relieving anxiety, stress and fatigue. A healthy body has the natural ability to rejuvenate both mentally and physically during sleep. If sleep is disrupted by personal or environmental changes, then so is the body’s ability to heal itself. The natural balance shifts and loss of sleep, anxiety and stress dominate. 

Salt spas, chambers, caves, etc., are meant to be exclusively conducive to the complete relaxation of mind and body effortlessly and simultaneously. A person is isolated in a stress-free environment, either individually, with a partner, or friends, without outside distractions. Once settled, the body begins to relax and breathe deeply, inhaling the micro salt crystals deep into airways and into the nervous system, relaxing muscles, calming thoughts. Micronized salt particles attached to exposed skin is said to reduce hypersensitivity created by stress. The anti-inflammatory properties found in Sodium Chloride are noted for reducing harmful toxins in the body. 

Floating Pod at Ocean Elements Salt Spa and Float Center in Ocean City, MD. (Photo: Sharon Schultz)

Halotherapy is a holistic approach that has been especially successful in providing relief naturally to patients suffering from respiratory ailments. Allergies, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and COPD sufferers all benefit from reduced inflammation and better lung function after consistent dry salt treatments. When inhaled, the salty aerosol destroys mucus and opens airways, improving lung function and reducing respiratory distress.

STA studies have found that dry salt therapy has had positive results in treating common skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Dry salt particles on exposed skin stimulate cell growth and balance skin pH reducing inflammation. Inhaled salt will reduce bacteria in the respiratory tract promoting overall health and reducing risk of recurrence. Inhaled Sodium Chloride particles are said to bring immediate relief to sufferers of the common cold, sinus and ear infections, coughs, and flu as the inhaled crystals naturally absorb bodily fluids that are blocking passages, creating inflammation and havoc. 

Besides salt rooms, many spas offer other related services. Detoxifying infrared saunas are designed to achieve an intense sweat. Infrared penetrates deeper than standard steam saunas. Rest stations or relaxation lounges promote sound healing by marrying pure tones with calming music thereby creating a vibro-acoustic therapy to encourage healthy cell stimulation. Health spas will incorporate a variety of massage packages in conjunction with salt room privileges. Some also provide hair and nail salons.

Lastly, is the futuristic-like floatation therapy, an increasingly popular piece of the salt spa platform that’s been around for more than a half century. Some salt spas now offer float center services. Billed as a luxurious escape from everyday humdrums, this is not a dry salt therapy. Rather, this healing experience involves climbing into a spacious, egg-shaped cocoon filled with several inches of water warmed to body temperature, and with 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt thrown in for an effortless float. To ensure the occupant’s health and safety, the sterile salt water is filtered through a micron filtration system between each float session, then the tank is thoroughly sanitized with UV lights and ozone. 

The goal of this therapy is to be securely enclosed in the pod, floating freely as if in zero gravity. Any evidence of the outside world is removed for the duration of the float, as are any physical constraints. You float effortlessly, allowing your body and your mind to rest and heal without interruption. For the next hour you remain in control of your environment, choosing calm music and soft light or profound silence and deep meditation in restful darkness. 

  Floating is said to create a sense of peace while stimulating your endorphin and dopamine levels. People float to relieve stress, eliminate pain, heal injuries, manage PTSD , and the list goes on. The consensus among fans of floatation therapy is that it is the most amazing form of relaxation they ever experienced. 

There are many Salt Spas and Float Centers in the Annapolis Metro area that offer a variety of wellness services besides the salt caves and float pods. Massages, facials, infra-red lights, sauna, meditation, and reiki are just some of the options that may be added to your salt cave therapy sessions. Generally, most halotherapy sessions last 45 minutes at an average cost of $45.00, just a dollar per minute. Here are nearby salt caves that offer halotherapy and other wellness amenities.

For additional information about halotherapy, visit: www.SaltTherapyAssociation.org.Sharon is a freelance photojournalist and a proud “Bay” Boomer from Anne Arundel County. Contact Sharon via email at [email protected].

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Sharon is a writer/photographer and a proud “Bay” Boomer from Anne Arundel County and can be contacted at [email protected]