Halotherapy in the treatment of lung diseases
Halotherapy, better known as salt therapy, is gaining increasing attention as a potential adjunctive treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This therapy involves the inhalation of micronized salt particles, which have beneficial effects on respiratory health. The long-term effectiveness of halotherapy in patients with COPD is an area of growing interest; several studies indicate symptomatic relief and an overall improvement in quality of life.
Mechanism of action of halotherapy
The proposed mechanisms of halotherapy include anti-inflammatory, mucolytic, and immunomodulatory effects.
Inhalation of salt particles reduces airway inflammation, which can potentially lead to decreased airway resistance and improved lung function. This is particularly important for COPD patients, who often experience chronic inflammation as part of the disease process (Rashleigh et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2022).
Additionally, the salt particles may help thin and loosen mucus secretions, facilitating their clearance from the airways. This mucolytic effect can be especially beneficial for COPD patients who frequently suffer from increased mucus production and chronic productive cough (Alexescu et al., 2019).
Furthermore, halotherapy may enhance the respiratory system's immune response. Studies have shown that exposure to salty air increases the activity of alveolar macrophages, which play a key role in immune defense against pathogens (Vladeva, 2015).
By reducing the burden of pathogenic microorganisms and neutrophils in the lungs, halotherapy may help mitigate the frequency and severity of exacerbations, a common problem in COPD patients (Vladeva & Ovcharova, 2018).
Clinical evidence
Numerous clinical trials have evaluated the effects of halotherapy in patients with COPD.
For example, a systematic literature review found that halotherapy can lead to significant improvements in respiratory symptoms, including dyspnea and cough, as well as overall quality of life (Paulina et al., 2022). Patients reported feeling less short of breath and better able to participate in daily activities after halotherapy treatments.
Moreover, the therapy has been associated with reductions in anxiety and improvements in patients' psychological-emotional state, which is particularly important given the frequent psychological burden experienced by people with chronic respiratory diseases (Rochester & Holland, 2020).
In a randomized controlled trial, COPD patients who received halotherapy showed significant improvements in pulmonary function parameters such as forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) compared with the control group (Zhao et al., 2022).
These results indicate that halotherapy may have tangible effects on lung function.
Combining salt therapy with other treatments
Halotherapy is not intended to replace conventional COPD treatments such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids, but rather to complement them.
Pulmonary rehabilitation, which includes exercise training, education, and psychosocial support, has been proven to improve exercise capacity and quality of life in COPD patients (Wedzicha et al., 2017).
If you combine this with halotherapy, you may experience enhanced symptomatic relief and better emotional well-being, which could potentially lead to improved adherence to rehabilitation programs and overall treatment plans.
Recommendation
Long-term halotherapy (salt therapy) is potentially an effective adjunctive treatment for patients with COPD, offering benefits that go beyond respiratory function and include improved psychological well-being. Within a comprehensive COPD care concept, halotherapy can play a valuable role (click here to read more about COPD).
References
Zhang, C., Zhu, W., Meng, Q., Lian, N., Wu, J., Liu, B., … & Xu, Q. (2022). Halotherapy relieves chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by alleviating nlrp3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. Annals of Translational Medicine, 10(23), 1279-1279. https://doi.org/10.21037/atm-22-5632
Alexescu, T., Maierean, A. D., Budin, C., Dogaru, G., & Todea, D. A. (2019). Rehabilitation therapies in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Balneo Research Journal, 10(1), 37-44. https://doi.org/10.12680/balneo.2019.237
Vladeva, E. (2015). Halotherapy – an alternative method for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Heart – Lung (Varna), 21(1-2), 31. https://doi.org/10.14748/hl.v21i1-2.5050
Vladeva, E. and Ovcharova, L. P. (2018). Halotherapy – benefits and risks. Scripta Scientifica Salutis Publicae, 4(0), 22. https://doi.org/10.14748/sssp.v4i0.5010
Paulina, O., Więsyk, P., Spozowski, K., & Wójcik, P. (2022). Effectiveness of the salt therapy – current knowledge status. Journal of Education, Health and Sport, 13(1), 51-55. https://doi.org/10.12775/jehs.2023.13.01.007
Rochester, C. L. and Holland, A. E. (2020). Pulmonary rehabilitation and improved survival for patients with copd. Jama, 323(18), 1783. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.4436
Zhao, S., Zheng, L., Zhu, M., Shui, Y., Bao, X., & Zhao, J. (2022). Intensive intervention improves outcomes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: a medical consortium-based management. Canadian Respiratory Journal, 2022, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/6748330
Wedzicha, J. A., Calverley, P. M., Albert, R. K., Anzueto, A., Criner, G. J., Hurst, J. R., … & Krishnan, J. A. (2017). Prevention of copd exacerbations: a european respiratory society/american thoracic society guideline. European Respiratory Journal, 50(3), 1602265. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02265-2016
