Natural protection against the common cold

The nature of the common cold and upper respiratory infections

Before you learn in detail how salt therapy can help, it is important to understand what happens in your body during an upper respiratory infection.

Colds and similar illnesses are usually caused by viruses that attack the mucous membranes of your airways. Your body responds with increased mucus production and inflammation, which causes uncomfortable symptoms such as nasal congestion, sore throat, and coughing.

How salt therapy works

The microscopic salt particles inhaled during salt therapy help fight respiratory infections in several ways.

When salt particles reach the mucous membranes of your airways, a natural osmotic process begins. Salt draws water toward itself, which helps loosen and liquefy thick mucus. This makes it easier for the mucus to be cleared naturally, cleansing your airways and reducing discharge and nasal congestion.

Salt also has natural antibacterial and antiviral properties. The process is similar in principle to food preservation by salting: salt alters the osmotic conditions of the environment, which is unfavorable to pathogens. This helps reduce the severity and duration of the infection.

Salt therapy against the common cold?

Researchers at Semmelweis University made particularly interesting observations about the preventive effect of salt therapy. They studied school groups and found that children who received regular salt therapy became ill half as often as their peers. If they did catch an infection, their symptoms were milder and they recovered faster.

This means that if you start salt therapy 1–2 weeks before the cold season, you can significantly reduce your chance of getting sick. This may be especially important if you have children, as they often “bring home” viruses from kindergarten or school.

Practical application of the treatment

The effectiveness of salt therapy greatly depends on the duration and regularity of the treatment. For optimal results, several hours of treatment per day are needed. This may sound like a lot at first, but home salt therapy devices make it possible to receive treatment while you sleep.

Place the device on your bedside table or on a shelf above the bed, preferably within about one and a half meters (the farther away you place it, the less salt will reach you, and the effect may be reduced).

While you sleep you continuously inhale the beneficial salty air. The device operates quietly, so it does not disturb your sleep, and the amount of salt emitted is so low that it does not leave deposits on furniture or electronic devices.

Helps with an established respiratory infection too

If you have already caught a cold or another upper respiratory infection, salt therapy can still help. The inhaled salt particles begin working quickly: they dissolve mucus, reduce swelling of the mucous membranes, and assist in fighting pathogens. Many people notice easier breathing after only a few hours of use.

In the first days you may experience a temporary increase in mucus discharge and coughing. Don’t be alarmed — this is a natural reaction. It indicates that the salt has started to work and is helping your body get rid of accumulated mucus and pathogens.

Safety and contraindications

One of the biggest advantages of salt therapy is that it is completely natural and extremely safe. There are no known contraindications and you generally do not need to worry about side effects. Even people with high blood pressure or other chronic diseases can safely use it. Think of the seaside: people living there are constantly exposed to salty air, and it does not typically cause health problems.

Combining with other treatments

Salt therapy combines well with other natural remedies and doctor-prescribed medications. If you take vitamin C or other immune-boosting supplements, salt therapy can only enhance their effects. Drinking warm fluids and tea can also help.

Practical tips for effective use

For the most effective results, consider the following practical tips:

Start with shorter sessions of 1–3 hours for the first few uses so your body can get used to it. Later you can gradually increase the duration to 6–8 hours.

Always place the device on a horizontal, hard surface, and make sure the emitted salty air is directed toward you.

When preparing the salt solution, follow the prescribed amounts exactly. Using more salt does not increase the effect and can damage the device.

Clean the device regularly according to the user manual so it can operate at optimal efficiency.

What to expect long term?

With regular salt therapy you may find that you get upper respiratory infections less often over time. If you do get sick, symptoms are usually milder and you recover faster. This can be especially valuable if your work or studies do not allow for frequent sick days.

In addition to the natural cleansing of your airways, you may notice an overall improvement in well-being. Cleaner airways mean better oxygenation, which can increase your energy levels and improve sleep quality.

Salt therapy is a highly effective, natural method for preventing and treating upper respiratory infections. Its greatest advantage is that it is safe, free of side effects, and can now be comfortably used at home. Regular use not only relieves acute symptoms but can also strengthen your immune system over the long term, reducing the frequency of illnesses.

Remember that prevention is always easier than cure. If you start salt therapy as the cold season approaches, you can significantly reduce the chance of getting sick. And if you have already caught an infection, salt therapy can help speed recovery and relieve unpleasant symptoms.

The key is consistency and patience. Give yourself and the therapy time to exert their beneficial effects. The time invested will pay off in fewer illnesses and milder symptoms.

Mechanism of action of halotherapy

The proposed mechanisms of action for halotherapy include anti-inflammatory, mucus-dissolving, and immunomodulatory effects.

Inhaling salt particles reduces airway inflammation, which can potentially lead to decreased airway resistance and improved lung function. This is particularly important for patients with COPD, who often experience chronic inflammation due to the disease process (Rashleigh et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2022).

In addition, salt particles can help dilute mucus secretions, making them easier to remove from the airways. This mucolytic effect can be especially beneficial for COPD patients who often suffer from increased mucus production and chronic productive cough (Alexescu et al., 2019).

Halotherapy may also strengthen the respiratory immune response. Studies have shown that staying in 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 decrease the frequency and severity of exacerbations, a common problem in COPD patients (Vladeva & Ovcharova, 2018).

Clinical evidence

A number of clinical trials have evaluated the effects of halotherapy in COPD patients.

For example, a systematic literature review found that halotherapy can lead to significant improvements in respiratory symptoms, including breathlessness and cough, as well as improvements in 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.

Furthermore, the therapy has been associated with reduced anxiety and improved psychosocial-emotional well-being, which is particularly important given the common psychological burdens experienced by people with chronic respiratory diseases (Rochester & Holland, 2020).

In a randomized controlled trial, COPD patients who received halotherapy showed significant improvements in respiratory 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 can have a tangible impact 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 tolerance and quality of life in COPD patients (Wedzicha et al., 2017).

If you combine this with halotherapy, you may experience greater symptomatic relief and improved emotional well-being, which can potentially lead to better adherence to rehabilitation programs and overall treatment plans.

Recommendation

Long-term halotherapy (salt therapy) is a potentially effective adjunct treatment for COPD patients, offering benefits that extend beyond respiratory function and include improved psychological well-being. In the comprehensive care concept for COPD, 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