Dry or Wet Salt Therapy: Which Is Better?
Interest in health preservation and natural remedies is increasing. As a result, salt therapy (known as halotherapy) is gaining more attention as an alternative treatment for various respiratory issues. Halotherapy exists in two main forms: wet and dry salt therapy, both utilizing the unique properties of salt to help alleviate respiratory diseases, improve skin condition, and generally enhance well-being. In this article, I review the application and effects of wet and dry salt therapy. I discuss the principles behind different salt therapy methods and examine the factors to decide which form might be best for you. I assure you that salt therapy is not merely a wellness trend but a rediscovery of a remedy known for millennia that harmoniously fits modern lifestyles.
How Does It Work?
Salt therapy is based on the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and toxin-removing properties of salt. Salt particles help cleanse the airways, reduce allergic reactions, alleviate symptoms of skin problems, and promote easier breathing and overall well-being.
Types of Salt Therapy
Wet salt therapy relies on the use of salt dissolved in water. The saline solution is used in various forms, such as
- salt baths, which help alleviate skin problems and promote overall relaxation;
- rinsing and lavage with saline solution, which can assist in cleaning the nasal and oral mucous membranes as well as the throat;
- gargling with saline, which can help maintain oral health.
These methods allow the saline solution to directly contact the body, enabling the beneficial effects of salt to be directly harnessed.
Dry salt therapy, or halotherapy, involves dispersing fine salt particles into the air and inhaling them. The use of salt caves, salt rooms, and halogenerators allows salt particles to penetrate deep into the airways and skin pores, supporting treatment of respiratory and skin conditions. Dry salt therapy is particularly effective in cleansing the deeper parts of the respiratory tract and relieving breathing difficulties.
There are two types of halogenerators:
- high-performance and fairly expensive devices used by hotels, wellness centers, and quality salt rooms to produce large volumes of salty air;
- low-performance, affordable devices designed specifically for daily home use. This group of devices is often colloquially referred to as “salt therapy devices” rather than halogenerators.
Dry or Wet Salt Therapy
Aspect | Wet Salt Therapy | Dry Salt Therapy |
Method of Application | Use of saline solution: baths, rinsing, gargling |
Inhalation of fine salt particles: salt caves, salt rooms, home salt therapy |
Main Benefits | Hydration, detoxification, anti-inflammatory effects | Deeper airway cleansing, antibacterial effects, release of negative ions (anti-allergy effect) |
Effect on Airways | Surface anti-inflammatory, expectorant effects | Penetrates deep into airways; anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-allergic effects |
Effect on Skin | Alleviates skin allergic problems (eczema, psoriasis, etc.) | Treats skin problems, normalizes skin pH level |
Recommended Uses | Skin problems, nasal-throat-oral health | Respiratory diseases: asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, cold, flu Respiratory allergies: hay fever, pollen allergy, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis |
Wet salt therapy is recommended mainly for wellness purposes.
Dry salt therapy is preferred for multiple reasons. For example:
- Deeper airway penetration: Fine salt particles used in dry salt therapy penetrate deep into the lower airways (in wet salt therapy, saline solutions basically do not enter the body). Therefore, dry salt therapy is more effective in treating respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, and upper respiratory allergies.
- Lower risk of droplet infection: Dry salt therapy uses little or no water, reducing the risk of spreading bacteria and viruses. This is especially advantageous in enclosed spaces, such as home salt therapy.
- Release of negative ions: Salt ionizes in the air during dry salt therapy, releasing negative ions. These improve air quality, neutralize pollutants and allergens, unlike wet salt therapy where this phenomenon does not occur.
- Easier home use: Dry salt therapy devices, such as the SaltDome ultrasonic salt therapy device, are easy to use at home. No need to cover room walls or have special large equipment.
Home Use of Salt Therapy
The dry form of home salt therapy is becoming increasingly popular as it better suits home needs and possibilities, and effective, affordable devices sized for home use are available. Salt therapy used to be accessible mostly in salt caves or seaside locations. Today, however, effective equipment for home salt therapy exists, such as the SaltDome ultrasonic salt therapy device.
Home Use of Wet Salt Therapy
Salt Baths: Dissolve a handful of salt from Parajd or Himalayan salt in warm bathwater. Salt baths can help treat skin problems, relax, and detoxify.
Saline Rinsing: Prepare saline (a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) to rinse nasal and oral cavities. Gargle or rinse with the solution. This can relieve sore throat and mucosal swelling, aid throat and nasal cleansing, and improve oral health.
Home Use of Dry Salt Therapy
Salt Lamps: Salt lamps have no noticeable health benefits. Salt crystals do not "jump out" from the salt block. However, they can contribute to creating a pleasant home atmosphere and thus support well-being. But it would be folly to expect any effect from a salt lamp standing in a corner for respiratory disease.
Salt Pipes: Salt pipes are small, portable devices containing pure salt. By inhaling air through the pipe, salt particles reach the oral cavity and throat. Disadvantages include difficulty for young children to use and inconvenience for extended breathing sessions. Important to note, salt particles from salt pipes are large and cannot reach the lower lung airways, thus having limited effect on middle and lower respiratory issues – for these, home halogenerators, i.e., salt therapy devices, are much more effective.
Halogenerator: Purchasing a halogenerator (salt therapy device) for home use allows you to create your own salt therapy room. These devices typically use ultrasonic nebulizers to disperse microscopic salt particles into the air, offering excellent effects when staying close to the device and even enabling effective salt therapy conditions in a small room.
Which Should I Choose?
Home salt therapy devices (salt pipes, Salin, Libairator) blow salt particles from a salt cartridge into the air. You inhale them into your airways. Salt is osmotically active, pulling water from mucous membrane cells. These devices therefore dry out the airways, which can worsen conditions.
The Saltdome device eliminates this flaw. Using an ultrasonic chamber, it produces very low humidity salty air from a saline solution. Water molecules accompany the salt particles emitted from the device, preventing mucous membranes from drying out. For this reason, in my opinion, the Saltdome is more effective than other devices.
Product Recommendation: SaltDome Salt Therapy Device
If you want to generate beneficial salty air in the comfort of your home, choose the Saltdome ultrasonic salt therapy device. Read user reviews to learn about the experiences of other users!