Breathing in salt to combat respiratory ailments is one of the latest alternative therapies. But does it really work

Alternative and comple mentary medicine therapies have gained tremendous popularity thanks to the wide range of choices that they offer. One such therapy that has recently become a fad in the city , is halotherapy , though abroad, this has been around for over a decade. Something as simple as breathing in pure salt, claims not just to relieve problems that are related to your lungs but is also said to make a person feel calm and refreshed.

THE PROCEDURE

Explaining about the treatment, Jamsheed Mehta, a salt therapy professional says, There are air-conditioned treatment rooms with purified air where halogenerators pump in pure dry salt and the patients simply inhale the salt-enriched air. Just by exposing their skin, lungs and bronchi to this, the inflammation in the lungs reduces and it is cleansed. Salt is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory , it loosens mucus and helps one to breathe better. After each session the air in the treatment rooms is replaced with fresh air that is pumped in.

HALOTHERAPY COULD HELP IN...

Salt therapies claim to reduce symptoms of asthma, sinusitis, allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, cough and cystic fibrosis. It is also known to lessen a patient's need for inhalers and antibiotics. Patients have also found that after a few sessions of the therapy , breathing becomes easier and problems of sneezing, coughing and shortness of breath are alleviated. This therapy also claims to increase your resistance to respiratory tract diseases.

DOES IT REALLY WORK

How much does inhaling salt help and also, could it be harmful Dr Vijay D'Silva, medical director at a hospital says, There is no evidence to support the claim that salt therapy is good for asthma. Sitting in a salt room does no good, nor any harm. Infact, inhalation of salt solution could induce an asthma attack. Dr Aijaz Ashai, fitness consultant and physiotherapist states, Since it is natural, it is not so harmful.However, what is important is that the humidity and temperature in salt caves or treatment rooms should be optimum -around 30% humidity for better absorption. In one session that lasts 45 to 60 minutes, one breathes 1,100 times thereby reducing the inflammation of lungs and opening up the airways enabling oxygen to reach each corner of your lungs.

OTHER FORMS OF THIS THERAPY

Method one

This is done by filling a room or salt cave with large bricks of salt and then patients sit in it. This method is not considered as effective because the absorption is minimal in that short time. And also, the air does not have the right sized particles of salt that a dry aerosol technology can give.

Method two

The wet salt therapy uses a technique that involves evaporation of a salt solution into the air that the patients breathe in. This is akin to spending a few days on the beach breathing in salty air.This, however, does not let the salt reach the deepest parts of our lungs and sinuses and even days of this will not be equal to the benefits of the dry aerosol technique.

Method three

The dry salt aerosol technique uses a machine (halogenerator), which atomises or grinds pure salt to a super fine dry powder. This form is absorbed best after inhalation, by the deepest part of the lungs.

DID YOU KNOW

Salt therapy was discovered in 1843. It was found that workers at salt mines did not suffer from respiratory problems that others did. The salt they breathed in had a positive effect on their airways.In 1989, Russia began this therapy and by 2008 it picked up in other countries.

PROPERTIES OF SALT

It acts like a cleanser.

Salt is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

It helps loosen excess mucus and speeds up mucociliary transport.

It also helps to remove air borne pollen.

BDST: 1650 HRS, DEC-01, 2015
Edited by:  Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor