Comparison of Salt Therapy Methods

In the mid-19th century, a Polish doctor named Felix Botchkowski noticed that respiratory diseases were rare among workers in salt mines (while the opposite was true for coal miners, for example). In 1843, he wrote a book about the beneficial effects of air with a high salt content. His student, M. Poljakowski, established the Veliczka spa near Krakow, which is still in operation today and offers treatments.

These facilities are often referred to as 'salt caves', and they are known for their health benefits. Today, numerous salt sanatoriums operate across Europe (in Austria, Poland, Romania, Russia, and other countries).

Speleotherapy (from the Greek speleos=cave) or cave therapy uses the salt crystal-rich air of underground salt mines to treat respiratory diseases. The method has been used since the early 19th century in Europe’s old salt mines.

What is Salt Therapy?

The Essence and Origin of Salt Therapy (Halotherapy)

Halotherapy is a natural and gentle treatment that can alleviate or eliminate symptoms of many respiratory diseases. Salt particles adhere to the mucous membranes of the airways, exerting mucolytic and anti-inflammatory effects, improving the condition of the mucous membrane.

In natural salt caves, the salt concentration in the air is higher than in usual environments. These caves have been known for their healing effects for centuries, and modern salt therapy is based on this.

Natural salt air therapy is not only effective in treating respiratory diseases but can also be beneficial for skin problems like eczema and psoriasis.

Dry Salt Therapy and Wet Salt Therapy

Halotherapy has two main types: dry and wet salt therapy.

Dry salt therapy involves grinding salt into particles sized 1-5 microns or ultrasonically nebulizing dissolved salt in water, then creating a "salt fog" with a fan that mimics the microclimate of salt caves. These fine salt particles can be deeply inhaled and exert beneficial effects upon entering the airways.

Wet salt therapy is based on the application of salt dissolved in water. It is used, for example, as baths that help alleviate skin problems and promote general relaxation. Rinsing or washing with salt solution can assist in cleaning the nasal and oral mucosa as well as the throat. Gargling may help maintain oral health.

Applications of Salt Therapy

Treatment of Upper Respiratory Diseases with Salt Air Therapy

Salt air is excellently suited not only for treating upper but also lower respiratory diseases such as colds, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma, and cough.

Salt therapy effectively reduces symptoms of respiratory diseases and helps prevent their development. Its benefits have been demonstrated in both upper and lower airways, making it effective in treating chronic lung diseases as well. Salt particles adhere to the bronchial mucosa, exerting anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects that help cleanse the lungs and regenerate the mucosa.

Salt therapy plays an important role not only in symptom relief but also in disease prevention. Therefore, it is recommended even in healthy states.

Cave Therapy

Cave or speleotherapy is now recognized as an effective and clinically supported treatment.

The downside of cave salt therapy is that few have a nearby accessible location. Favorable effects manifest only with treatment courses (spending prolonged time for consecutive days in salt-rich air). Few people can afford to travel there and spend weeks in a salt cave.

Therefore, attempts are made with methods that make the enjoyment of salt therapy accessible and cheaper. Let’s review the most well-known ones.

Artificial Salt Rooms, Also Known as Halochambers

In modern salt chambers, a device called a halo generator produces fine salt crystals (under 5 microns) and blows them into the room. The walls, often covered with rock salt, serve mainly as decoration and contribute little to the effect. Maintaining the appropriate microclimate in such rooms can significantly promote general well-being and a healthy lifestyle.

Salt rooms without halo generators have walls simply covered with salt bricks. The salt concentration in these rooms is lower than in those with generators, as salt crystals do not naturally detach from salt bricks. This means much longer duration is required in salt brick rooms compared to those with generators.

The average hourly rate is 1,000–2,000 HUF per person. At least 10–15 hours in salt air therapy are needed to notice benefits. The greater the gap between sessions, the less effective the therapy. It is best to attend on consecutive days rather than once a month. Monthly salt room visits are ineffective for health.

Advantages (real halochambers):

• Easy to use
• Short, yet intense therapy
• Professionally supervised and effective
• Certain chambers allow exercise, helping deeper penetration of salt crystals into airways.

Disadvantages:

• Expensive: 1,000–3,000 HUF per treatment, with an average of 6–12 treatments required to achieve benefits.
• Additional travel expenses to reach the nearest halochamber.
• You most likely have to share the chamber with others.
• If you attend passive salt rooms containing only salt bricks, the effect is considerably lower.

Salt Inhalers or Salt Pipes and Upper Respiratory Diseases

Portable plastic (or sometimes ceramic) devices filled with rock salt, fitting in the palm. Shaking the device causes small salt pieces to break off. These particles are large (8-10 microns) and therefore cannot reach deep into the lungs. Salt pipes are suitable only for treating upper airways (oral cavity, nasal cavity, pharynx, throat). They can be useful in treating certain ENT issues.

Advantages:

• Small and portable devices
• Inexpensive, costing a few thousand forints

Disadvantages:

• Salt crystals larger than 8 microns, so they do not reach the lower airways and are deposited in the pharynx. Effective in inflammations of the oral cavity, pharynx, and possibly sinuses.
• Not suitable for treating acute and chronic respiratory diseases.
• Difficult to use for children over 5 and some adults due to breathing technique required.
• Salt concentration may be too high for salt-sensitive individuals if the device is shaken before every inhalation, especially ceramic salt inhalators that produce many salt crystals upon shaking.

Salt Lamps

Lamps made from salt crystals. The heat from the bulb inside causes salt crystals to break off. If kept continuously lit and sitting a few centimeters away for a few hours daily, there might be some effect. If just placed in the room and turned on for a few minutes every few days, it will have zero health benefits. Recommended more for meditation and creating a pleasant atmosphere than for health purposes.

Advantages:

• Aesthetic, provides light and mood, makes a good impression on people
• Emits some salt crystals without needing to be replenished when kept warm continuously

Disadvantages:

• Does not provide enough salt crystals for meaningful health benefits.

Salin, Salin Plus, Salin S2, Rosalina Salt Therapy Devices

This family of salt therapy devices includes smaller (Salin and Rosalina) and larger (Salin Plus) devices. Inside, there is a salt-soaked filter. A small fan blows salt crystals from the filter into the room air. This is a "dry" technology, emitting "salt dust" into the air. It does not alter room humidity. This is disadvantageous in centrally heated apartments with already dry air, which causes respiratory complaints.

According to manufacturer data, on the first day, 0.2 grams/day of salt is released into the air, and over the next 10 days only 0.1 g/day. As salt output decreases, therapeutic effect diminishes.

To understand why this happens, perform a simple experiment. Put a teaspoon of salt in your open palm and blow on it once. Quite a bit of salt will blow away. Blow again! Almost none remains on your hand. This somewhat exaggerates but illustrates how the salt cartridge works.

The manufacturer recommends filter replacement every 5 months, meaning you need 2.5 filters a year. The otherwise inexpensive device shows its "true colors" here, as the salt cartridge is priced steeply and effective therapy requires spending a lot on replacements.

WARNING! The Salin S2 device is marketed as a salt therapy device but has nothing to do with salt therapy! It is simply an air purifier that draws in room air and blows it out through a salty filter. It does not actively emit salt, and its effect on respiratory symptom treatment is far less than that of devices actively producing salt air.

Advantages:

• Suitable for home use, operates without active user intervention
• Medically proven effect as long as salt remains in the filter, with no known side effects
• Suitable as adjunct treatment for chronic respiratory illnesses and for preventing flare-ups
• Allows treatment sessions lasting several hours
• Salin/Rosalina device prices are reasonable, generally between 13,000–19,000 HUF.

Disadvantages:

• "Dry" technology, does not increase humidity, less effective in already dry air apartments
• Salin Plus costs approach 30,000 HUF.
• Factory filter replacement recommended every 5 months, about 2.5 filters per year.
• Filters cost about 4,500 HUF each; annual filter cost adds approx. 10,000 HUF beyond device price.
• Salin Plus filter costs 9,000 HUF, adding about 22,000 HUF annually.
• Salt concentration of the emitted air is uneven; initially high then rapidly decreases, reducing therapeutic effect.
• Filter sensitive to humidity: moisture causes salt crystals to clump, preventing device from blowing them out. Filter condition cannot be checked, so usage effectiveness is uncertain.
• Fan is somewhat noisy.

SaltDome Salt Therapy Device

The SaltDome salt therapy device is designed for home use. It operates differently from the previously mentioned devices and most resembles professional halochambers in function. An ultrasonic nebulizer creates salt aerosol from salt solution; the salt particles are smaller than 5 microns, reaching deep into the lungs, making it suitable for lower respiratory issues too.

The SaltDome device is not a humidifier but produces minimal (a few milliliters) water vapor. This slight humidity increase significantly enhances effect, crucial in homes with dry air due to district heating, underfloor heating, or air circulation. Dry air dries out respiratory mucosa and causes coughing; dried mucosa also facilitates pathogens' colonization.

The SaltDome "packages" salt particles in water vapor, greatly enhancing effects.

Persistent humidity increase may worsen coughing in asthmatics and COPD patients. If this occurs, set the device to low humidity output and shorter operating time (1-3 hours instead of 6).

Another benefit of SaltDome is that there is NO SALT CARTRIDGE, so no hidden costs! You can use natural, additive-free rock salt. I consider Parajdi salt the best since Himalayan salt is reportedly adulterated (red dye added to sea salt to make it pink).

Fill the device's tank with water and dissolve the suggested amount of salt in it. A measuring scoop is included! Though the quantity seems small, it is sufficient for therapeutic effect.

Its fan is nearly silent, disturbing only very light sleepers. It provides consistent salt concentration until the salt solution runs out, then stops and can be refilled.

Ideal for use during sleep at night. It can be set for 1, 3, 6 hours or continuous operation. It does not affect humidity level significantly; salt does not settle on furniture or damage electronic devices.

Advantages:

• Excellent for prevention (colds, flu, asthma attacks, respiratory allergies, etc.)
• Can complement medical therapy in COPD, pneumonia, asthma, cystic fibrosis, etc.
• No salt cartridge! Operates with natural, additive-free rock salt such as Himalayan or Parajdi salt—half a kilogram lasts for years!
• Safe for infants, children, adults, elderly, and even pets
• Up to 6 hours of operation during sleep
• Provides stable salt concentration without fluctuations or decreases

Disadvantages:

• Handling the liquid salt solution is slightly more cumbersome
• Asthmatics and COPD patients may experience triggered cough with prolonged use due to increased humidity; shorter sessions recommended
• Requires regular refilling; one tank lasts 5-7 days, but water should be replaced or refilled more often
• Salt solution kills many pathogens, but the tank should be cleaned regularly as a precaution

Product Recommendation: SaltDome Salt Therapy Device

If you want to generate beneficial salt air in the comfort of your home, choose the Saltdome ultrasonic salt therapy device. Read customer reviews to learn about user experiences!

Buy now! →

Summary: The Essence of Salt Therapy

Visiting salt caves or salt rooms should ideally be done in courses, consecutively 10–15 times. This has real health effects. A course can cost 10,000–15,000 HUF per person; for a family, this can be 50,000–60,000 HUF plus travel expenses. For the price of a family course, you can purchase several salt therapy devices. Moreover, you use your own device whenever you want, with no time restrictions.

The salt pipe devices can be useful in some cases but are not suitable for prevention. Their large salt particle size and limited usage duration (only a few breaths) are disadvantages. It is unrealistic to sit for hours holding the salt pipe. Recommended usage is 15–60 minutes of "piping." Salt pipes are better used for pharynx, oral cavity, or sinus inflammations as a supplement to medical therapy.

The salt lamp can be a nice decorative item but little more. If continuously lit (warmed) and you stay within 1 meter for a few hours, its effect is slightly above zero. However, it is correct not to expect significant health benefits from salt lamps.

Against Salin and Salin Plus devices speaks their business model. Device purchase seems inexpensive, but salt cartridges must be replaced several times a year, incurring annual costs higher than the device price. Thus, effective use means regularly buying expensive cartridges.

The technology's weakness is uneven salt concentration emission: fresh filters provide initially high levels that quickly drop, losing therapeutic effect.

A special mention for the Salin S2 air purifier is necessary. Many online shops market it as a salt therapy device, which approaches customer deception (since it is just an air purifier without therapeutic effects). Do not buy it if you have respiratory symptoms or allergies.

SaltDome Salt Therapy Device provides consistent salt emission, needing only a level measuring scoop of salt per tank of salt solution. Without salt cartridges, there are no additional "hidden fees". It operates with natural, additive-free rock salt—e.g., Himalayan or Parajdi.

Since the device has a water tank, it requires more care. Occasionally refill it; when full, handle carefully. Do not leave water inside when not in use to prolong device life.

Its consistent salt emission and possibility for continuous or prolonged operation make it excellent for nighttime use during sleep.

Ideal for prevention of colds, flu, respiratory allergies, asthma attacks. Useful complementary therapy for chronic illnesses such as COPD, pneumonia, asthma and allergy attacks, cystic fibrosis, etc.

My Opinion on the Beneficial Effects of Salt Therapy

If you decide to enjoy the benefits of salt therapy, in my opinion, the SaltDome salt therapy device is the best choice because

• it operates quietly, not disturbing restful sleep
• provides even salt quantity in the air (important for therapeutic effect)
• minimally increases room humidity, which is advantageous
• ideal for prevention
• supports disease treatment
• has no hidden costs; no expensive replacement salt cartridges
• operation is inexpensive and simple in the long term