Do you struggle with seasonal allergies or hay fever? Have you been diagnosed with a chronic respiratory condition like asthma?
Whether your respiratory symptoms are intermittent or occur more frequently, salt therapy (also known as halotherapy) is a highly effective treatment option to consider.
Read on to learn more about halotherapy. You’ll also find out how a halotherapy machine can improve symptoms of conditions like allergies, asthma, and hay fever.
What Is Halotherapy?
The term “halotherapy” comes from the Greek word “halo,” which means salt. Whether you call it halotherapy, salt therapy, or salt air therapy, this is an alternative treatment that’s most often recommended to those who struggle with poor respiratory health.
Halotherapy involves breathing in tiny salt particles with the goal of improving one’s breathing and lung function. It also offers other health benefits, including improved skin, a stronger immune system, and increased relaxation.
Types of Halotherapy
There are two main types of halotherapy: passive halotherapy and active halotherapy.
Active Halotherapy
Active halotherapy involves sitting in a room with a machine known as a halogenerator or salt air machine. Salt is added to this machine, and the equipment breaks it down into tiny particles. These particles then circulate around the room, and while you breathe them in.
Passive Halotherapy
Passive halotherapy does not involve a halogenerator. Instead, you sit in a room that is filled with a variety of salts (Himalayan salt is one of the most popular options). This type of room looks more like a traditional salt cave, but it also features controlled temperatures and humidity.
Benefits of Halotherapy for Allergies and Hay Fever
Over 50 million people in the United States struggle with allergies each year. Of this 50 million, roughly 18 million struggle with hay fever (also known as allergic rhinitis or nasal allergies).
Hay fever is characterized by symptoms like a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing, as well as red or watery eyes, coughing, and itchy skin. Sinus pressure and pain are common, too.
Salt room therapy or salt air therapy at home can be a game-changer for people who struggle with various allergies, especially nasal allergies. The following are some of the specific benefits this treatment offers:
- Decreases inflammation in the airways, which reduces stuffiness and congestion
- Reduces bacterial growth, which can complicate or exacerbate allergy symptoms
- Breaks up mucus plugs, which allows for easier breathing and better airflow during sleep
- Absorbs irritants and allergens, which lowers the immune response and reduces symptoms
- Reduces discomfort and pain, including sinus headaches caused by congestion
Halotherapy can be used for relief during allergy season, but it can also be used year-round as a maintenance tool to reduce the severity of symptoms during peak allergy season.
Benefits of Halotherapy for Asthma
Using a home salt therapy machine can also be beneficial to those who struggle with asthma. Asthma is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, as well as increased mucus production. Both of these issues result in difficulty breathing.
Asthma can interfere with daily activities, and it may even lead to life-threatening attacks in those with more severe cases. Symptoms of asthma include breathing difficulties, chest pain, wheezing, and coughing.
Halotherapy can be a useful treatment and management option for those who struggle with asthma. For example, this study shows that it can offer statistically significant benefits to those with mild asthma symptoms.
The benefits of halotherapy for asthma likely have to do with its anti-inflammatory benefits. Because it allows for better airflow through the respiratory passages, it can help to combat the inflammation and narrowing that contribute to asthma attacks.
Why Use an At-Home Salt Air Generator?
Halotherapy often takes place in a spa. However, now, you don’t have to spend exorbitant fees or travel a long distance to enjoy the benefits of halotherapy.
With the help of a specially designed salt machine for home use, you can set up a portable salt room in any room of your home.
The great thing about using a halogenerator or salt machine for home halotherapy sessions is that it’s much easier for you to be consistent. When you remove barriers of cost and travel from the equation, you’ll find that you are more likely to stick with your halotherapy sessions long-term.
Because the results of halotherapy are cumulative, you need to schedule regular, frequent sessions to see the best outcomes. Home salt therapy with a personal halogenerator allows you to do this without requiring major time commitments or expenses related to traveling to and from the spa.
How to Use a Halotherapy Machine
Not only are halotherapy machines useful for a variety of respiratory conditions, but they’re also easy to incorporate into your everyday wellness routines.
If you want to create a portable salt cave in your own home (whether you set up the halotherapy machine in your room or in your infrared sauna), all you have to do is insert a saline cartridge, turn on the machine, then sit back and relax.
For optimal results from your halotherapy sessions, aim for at least 3-4 sessions per week. Consistently using it this often will help you to see results and start feeling better faster. Each saline cartridge lasts about 20-25 minutes, so you don’t have to sit through a very long session before you start making progress, either.
If you wish, you can set up your halotherapy machine in your infrared or traditional sauna, too. This provides immune-boosting and relaxation benefits from the heat of the sauna, plus improved respiratory health from the salty being sprayed into the air. It’s a win-win!
To improve and enhance the experience/benefits, try using a Halotherapy device in an at-home sauna.
Experience Halotherapy Today
Now that you know more about halotherapy and what it can do for allergies, asthma, and hay fever, are you interested in trying it out?
Be sure to follow the steps outlined above so you can get the most out of your halotherapy sessions.
Check out our halogenerator salt therapy machine today, too, to see what it can do for you and your respiratory symptoms.
