It’ s important to understand that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a lung and respiratory health issue facing the world ‘s population, and that dry salt therapy (aka halotherapy, ‘halo’ is Greek for salt) has been researched for the past few decades around the world with very positive results in relieving upper and lower respiratory conditions. In many countries, it is an approved therapeutic treatment covered by health providers.

Salt Therapy Association (STA) Founding Director Dr. Daniel Layish, MD, a 20-year veteran pulmonologist and Board Certified in Pulmonary Disease, recently said, “It is too early to tell what impact halotherapy may have with this strain of the coronavirus, however, this coronavirus does affect the respiratory and lung system and dry salt therapy has shown to provide symptomatic benefit such as in a clinical study we conducted that focused on patients with cystic fibrosis. While there is no need to be overly concerned at this time, being proactive and taking care of your respiratory system is becoming more important than ever before”. According to the STA, dry salt therapy is antimicrobial, which means it kills some microorganisms or stops their growth.

Halotherapy is provided by sitting in an environment where 99.99% pure grade sodium chloride is ground by a device called a halogenerator into micron-sized particles that are then dispersed into the salt room or salt therapy environment as a dry salt aerosol. This pure dry salt aerosol is then inhaled and penetrates deep into the respiratory system as well as the through the surface layers of the skin.

According to Dr. Layish, “While the pure grade sodium chloride is antibacterial, people should be aware of their surroundings and the CDC is a good resource of information, such as ensuring you are washing your hands and cleaning surfaces.”

Standards have been established for designing and building salt rooms. Some refer to them as a salt cave based on their decor, but the efficacy of halotherapy is derived from the halogenerator, not Himalayan salt decor or products. While salt therapy facilities clean between each session, properly designed and built salt rooms work with their HVAC system and purge the air between each salt session so that fresh, new dry salt air is introduced for their customers.

COVID-19 is new and there have been no studies produced to show that halotherapy will prevent or relieve its symptoms. However, given the current evidence that supports relieving symptoms of upper and lower respiratory conditions, halotherapy is safe.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT: SaltTherapy Association.org