Himalayan Salt Sauna Benefits
Perhaps the fastest growing trend in wellness center and health club design is the inclusion of salt therapy rooms and salt saunas. While salt therapy is relatively new to the American health and wellness industry, it is a long standing and well-trusted practice across Europe and Asia.
Salt therapy (better known as speleotherapy) can be traced back as early as Medieval Times in some countries with the first recorded discovery of speleotherapy occurring in Poland in 1843. Since then, it’s proven respiratory, skin, and allergy benefits have led to increased popularity among mainstream treatment centers as well as health and wellness enthusiasts.
Traditional Dry Saunas + Himalayan Salt
Newly developed Himalayan Salt Saunas combine the proven benefits of both traditional speleotherapy and dry saunas to create a truly unique experience. One of the most notable benefits of a salt sauna is the affect it has on the respiratory system. The lining of our airways have a slight positive charge while salt has a significant negative charge. The attraction between these opposite charges allows the beneficial ions from salt to be carried deep into the lungs, eventually becoming absorbed into the bloodstream. One of the many benefits of this exchange is an anti-inflammatory effect on airways in the lungs. Salt saunas can help eliminate excess mucus and help those suffering from colds, the flu, and in some cases, even COPD and asthma. In addition, natural salts such as sea salt have a cleansing and purifying quality that promote good health.
In addition to entering the body through the respiratory system, salt is also absorbed through the skin. The warmth of a sauna opens the pores of the skin, allowing easy absorption of many of the approximately 80 beneficial minerals present in salt. Many adults who suffer from acne use salt saunas or a home variation of speleotherapy in the treatment of their condition. While it is simply one component of a comprehensive treatment, those who regularly visit salt saunas see an improvement in skin breakouts.
Regular use of salt saunas has also proven to be invaluable with relieving the symptoms of Eczema. Salt sauna sessions increase blood flow in the skin and, much like in the lining of the lungs, works to reduce inflammation, redness, swelling, itching, and drying. While it is not a replacement for appropriate medical care, halotherapy can greatly reduce the frequency and severity of Eczema flare-ups.
Today there are few manufacturers providing true Himalayan Salt therapy solutions with traditional saunas, the largest being Am-Finn Sauna & Steam based out of Idaho.
With the number of architects and club owners embracing this new form of sauna increasing steadily, salt saunas can now be found in numerous resorts, spas, and health centers here in the United States and abroad. It is safe to say that salt saunas are here to stay and will only continue to increase in popularity among American health enthusiasts much like we have seen with traditional saunas and steam rooms in the past several decades.
Speleotherapy, as experienced in salt saunas, has been a part of the human experience for thousands of years. For generations we’ve known that after a session in a salt sauna, we feel like new people. While a single session can return an incredible feeling of renewal, the true long-lasting health benefits of salt sauna therapy is unlocked with regular use. Those who have used salt saunas on a regular basis can testify to the health benefits of regular and frequent sessions. Salt saunas can benefit many parts of the body and solve common complaints, such as allergies and acne. Offering salt saunas to your clientele provides them with access to an incredibly effective homeopathic treatment option (with the potential to result in reduced doctor visits and medication) while increasing your frequency of return customers.
The Benefits of Himalayan Salt in a Sauna
RESPIRATORY BENEFITS
One of the most notable benefits of a salt sauna is the affect it has on the respiratory system. The lining of our airways have a slight positive charge while salt has a significant negative charge. The attraction between these opposite charges allows the beneficial ions from salt to be carried deep into the lungs, eventually becoming absorbed into the bloodstream. One of the many benefits of this exchange is an anti-inflammatory effect on airways in the lungs. Salt saunas can help eliminate excess mucus and help those suffering from colds, the flu, and in some cases, even COPD and asthma. In addition, natural salts such as sea salt have a cleansing and purifying quality that promote good health.
Salt saunas and various forms of salt therapy can help with other respiratory problems as well, such as seasonal allergies. The inhalation of salt helps break up excess mucus often caused by allergies and promotes restoration of the pH balance in the lungs and sinuses. This reduces inflammation which in turn helps prevent allergic reactions to common irritants that bother those with seasonal allergies.
SKIN BENEFITS
In addition to entering the body through the respiratory system, salt is also absorbed through the skin. The warmth of a sauna opens the pores of the skin, allowing easy absorption of many of the approximately 80 beneficial minerals present in salt. Many adults who suffer from acne use salt saunas or a home variation of halotherapy in the treatment of their condition. While it is simply one component of a comprehensive treatment, those who regularly visit salt saunas see an improvement in skin breakouts.
As far as skin health goes, regular use of salt saunas has also proven to be invaluable with relieving the symptoms of Eczema. Salt sauna sessions increase blood flow in the skin and, much like in the lining of the lungs, works to reduce inflammation, redness, swelling, itching, and drying. While it is not a replacement for appropriate medical care, halotherapy can greatly reduce the frequency and severity of Eczema flare-ups.
Now more than ever before Americans are beginning to think twice about what we are putting in our bodies. We are reading labels, doing research, and becoming more aware of the consequences of chemicals and aluminum-based compounds. Many are beginning to recognize the benefit and effectiveness of all natural, homeopathic alternative care. This shift in thinking has had a positive influence on the alternative care industry and businesses interested in offering alternative health options, such as speleotherapy/halotherapy, to their customers. While the vast health benefits of traditional saunas are well known, salt saunas have the added advantage of even further health benefits than traditional dry saunas. With frequent, regular visits, clients can see and feel the advantages of using this service and in some cases, they may find that over-the-counter acne, sinus, headache and allergy medications may no longer be necessary.