Salt Therapy (halotherapy)
The ISR Pro is the world’s most efficient dry aerosol salt air machine and the first truly portable salt air machine. We’re excited to offer a Salt Therapy room for our clients.
What is Salt Therapy?
Halotherapy, or dry salt aerosol therapy, has evolved from the centuries old European salt caves, where people stayed for a week or more (and still do), to modern day salt rooms where sessions last 45 minutes.
The Infinity Salt Air Machine is the next step in the evolution, offering the effectiveness of a salt room session in a portable device you can use practically anywhere.
Pharmaceutical grade salt is ground to micron-sized particles and dispersed into the air. Clients simply relax in comfortable chairs and breathe in the cool, dry salt air. The tiny particles of salt are able to reach the deepest part of the lungs, sinuses, ears, and pores of the skin where they absorb and help to remove bacteria, virus, mold spores, pollen and inhaled pollutants. The salt aerosol also thins the mucus and speeds up the rate at which it is expelled from the lungs. The respiratory tract and skin is cleared, and inflammation is reduced thus benefiting the entire body.
FAQ’S
Where did salt therapy originate?
In the mid 1800’s, Polish physicians noticed that salt miners rarely suffered from respiratory diseases. Many asthma and allergy sufferers who hid out in the salt mines during the war, emerged breathing freely. From these observations, speleotherapy (salt cave therapy) was founded. Today the healthcare systems in many countries pay for people to spend several weeks per year in the salt mines in order to prevent, and heal respiratory and skin conditions. Athletes throughout the world incorporate salt therapy sessions in their training regimens and it increases oxygenation and endurance.
Throughout the world, we now find halotherapy rooms, built to recreate the salt cave environment. Special equipment called halogenerators grind and disperse salt aerosol into the air. One 45 minute halotherapy session is said to be the equivalent of three days in the salt caves. Many hospitals in Russia treat their respiratory patients in halotherapy rooms.
The Infinity Salt Air Machine (ISR PRO) is the next generation of dry salt therapy. We are finding that a 5-10 minute session is as beneficial now as the 45 minute session in a room with larger salt particles. The added bonus, is that it is compact and portable. You can have a session anytime, anywhere, at your convenience.
What conditions benefit from dry salt aerosol?
Allergies
• Anxiety
• Asthma
• Breathing difficulties
• Bronchitis
• Cold/Flu Prevention
• COPD
• Cystic fibrosis
• Ear infections
• Eczema
• Inhanced endurance and oxygenation
• Hay fever
• Psoriasis
• Rhinitis
• Sinusitis/sinus inflammation
• Smoker’s cough (must have quit 3 weeks prior in order to avoid third hand smoke)
• Snoring / sleep apnea
• Stress and fatigue
• Wheezing
How is the ISR Pro different from traditional salt room experiences?
Traditional salt rooms are larger and take more salt aerosol to fill to appropriate concentrations. Most of the time there is salt dust on the floor, chairs, clothes and you. The ISR Pro was designed to be used in smaller spaces, or in the open, but in close proximity to the machine. The salt aerosol produced is much finer and is able to reach deep into the lungs and sinuses quickly.This reduces the amount of time needed to achieve the same results.
With a personal, highly portable unit you are able to eliminate travel time to a salt room, and reduce the amount of time spent ‘salting’.
Is Salt Therapy safe for children?
There are no side effects to this treatment and it is safe for children and adults to use. Halotherapy involves no artificial elements, simply pure salt that acts as a natural disinfectant for clearer lungs and skin.
How many sessions are needed?
Many people notice some relief from the first session. However longer lasting results are found with multiple sessions. Depending on the condition, 8-20 sessions fairly close together may be needed. Once symptoms are reduced, the frequency of sessions will depend on the individual and the conditions they are experiencing.
Are there any side effects?
Typically there are none. Some individuals have experienced a slight throat tickle, which can be alleviated with gargling warm water after a session. In cases with an individual that is highly sensitive they can experience slight skin irritation or red patches; however, they usually go away after a few sessions.
If you experience increased coughing that means the salt therapy treatment is working. This is the body’s way of clearing mucus and toxic buildup. If there is a heavy mucus build up, coughing and sinus drainage may get worse with a lot of mucus being expelled between the 4th and 6th sessions as the body goes into a healing state. Clients generally report feeling much better after the 6th session.
Do you need to stop taking medications if receiving salt therapy?
No. You should continue your medications as directed by your doctor. Since salt therapy is all-natural it does not have any interactive effects with medications. Often, individuals who undergo salt therapy will find that they are less dependent on certain medication and that their symptoms are less frequent and less severe. Let you physician know that you are using dry salt aerosol therapy so that he/she can monitor any changes needed with your medications.
When should Salt Therapy be avoided?
Halotherapy has not been studied in depth in the US. My research of over 6 years with clients under a physician’s care, and studies of European research since the late 1800’s has not found contraindications except for a high percentage of large dusty salt aerosol particles in the 10 micron and greater range perhaps triggering asthma. We have also had cardiologists tell us that their patients have improved with salt therapy. Please note that you are not ingesting the salt and the amount of salt aerosolized with the ISR PRO is less than 1/8th teaspoon. Most of that goes into the air and the amount you inhale is miniscule. Of the amount you inhale most of that is trapped in the mucus and expelled with regular breathing, coughing, sneezing and blowing the nose.
As a precaution, the associations state that halotherapy is not recommended for individuals with the following conditions:
• Any kind of infectious disease. – Infections accompanied by fever (This recommendation was included for people going into a communal salt room. It should not be an issue at home. We have had several with the flu that recovered very quickly with salt therapy.)
• Acute respiratory disease
• Cardiac insufficiency
• COPD with 3rd stage of chronic lung insufficiency
• Coughing of blood/bleeding
• High blood pressure/hypertension in IIB stage
• Any form or stage of tuberculosis
• Intoxication
• Chronic kidney disease
• All internal diseases of decompensation
If you are unsure if salt therapy is appropriate for you, please contact your physician and ask him or her to investigate for you.
What kind of salt is used?
We use pharmaceutical grade salt because it dissolves into a gas and liquid. Clients with compromised lungs such as COPD have difficulty clearing their lungs, and we don’t want particles of finely ground minerals to become trapped in the scar tissue and possibly cause later issues.
Is there research to support Salt Therapy (halotherapy)?
Salt therapy has been researched and studied in both Russia and Eastern Europe. The first medical study on Cystic Fibrosis has been conducted in Florida with very positive effects. For a list of research articles please see The Salt Therapy Association’s website http://salttherapyassociation.org.