The term “salt therapy,” as used in this website, refers breathing air that is enriched with dry, micronized, pharmaceutical-grade salt in a room that is equipped with a special device and ventilation. Salt therapy alleviates many common respiratory and skin ailments, and is said to boost the immune system. Salt is hypobacterial, meaning it’s difficult for bacteria and viruses to survive once they come into contact with it. Micronized salt aids the respiratory system by reducing inflammation and changing the viscosity of mucus – thinning secretions and making them easier to eliminate. Many people with psoriasis, eczema and acne find that their symptoms improve with salt therapy.

People in salt rooms simply breathe naturally – there is no special inhalation technique. People who wish to address skin conditions will want to leave affected areas uncovered, so that the salt can settle on exposed skin. Under certain circumstances, it might be desirable to have a private salt therapy session.

Salt rooms can come in an endless array of sizes and styles, but the key factor is that these salt rooms are equipped with a device called a halogenerator, which so finely micronizes salt that it becomes nearly invisible. It’s these miniscule salt particles that help alleviate symptoms by penetrating deeply into the lungs and sinuses, and settling on pores and crevices of the skin. In adult salt rooms, people generally relax and recline and breathe normally while doing any number of things – listening to music, reading, meditating, or dozing. Children’s rooms usually include with toys, books and even arts and crafts equipment.

Halomed advises all salt room owners to use pharmaceutical grade salt because it is standardized to meet a certain chemical profile and requirements for purity. Also, it arrives with a very low moisture content. In the large body of research conducted on the use and efficacy of halotherapy, pharmaceutical grade salt is and has always been used. Other types of salt – sea salt and Himalayan salt, for example, are often promoted for their healing properties, but we are unaware of any scientific evidence that supports these claims. Halomed equipment is developed to work best with pharmaceutical grade salt.

Halotherapy is safe for children 12 months and older, and adults of all ages. It’s a mild yet effective natural form of wellness support and respiratory hygiene. Yet, those with severely altered lung/respiratory function, such as Stage IV chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or higher should not visit salt rooms without express approval and monitoring by their health care providers.

Yes, it is considered safe for children that are at least one year old and beyond.

No, you will not be consuming additional salt by way of halotherapy. After a salt therapy session, the only salt you might possibly ingest would be the tiny amount that settles on your mouth, at most, a few milligrams’ worth. Do not be surprised if you don’t really taste any salt on your lips. Generally, high levels of salt in the air are not required to provide benefits. A Halomed-equipped salt room owner has been provided with guidance on recommended dry salt aerosol concentrations to use during salt therapy sessions. We can gladly provide detailed information on how much salt is ingested during a typical salt therapy session.

For generally healthy people any side effects are uncommon and minor. They might include a tickling sensation in the throat. Those with very sensitive skin or eyes might temporarily feel irritation. People with serious, chronic disease should read the answer to the question above regarding the safety of salt therapy.

Salt therapy boosts wellness and supports respiratory hygiene. It brings relief to a broad range of people. Those with asthma, allergies, bronchitis, sinus infections and chronic sinus inflammation are among the most to report positive benefits. Parents of children with cystic fibrosis have reported improvements. People with psoriasis, eczema and acne have reported improvements. In addition, people suffering from stress and depression have reported a greater sense of wellbeing after receiving halotherapy.

A halogenerator is a device that produces dry salt aerosol and via a fan disperse it into salt rooms, where clients can relax while they take in the natural benefits of salt therapy. The purpose of a halogenerator is to replicate the hygienic and restorative atmosphere found in natural salt caves – or seacoast air on a dry, sunny day. Unlike equipment made by other manufacturers, however, Halomed halogenerators are equipped with an integrated sensor, which controls the level of salt in the air so that it remains consistent with the level set by the salt room operator at the onset of the session.

There’s no legal definition of what a salt room is, so anything could go by that name. Yet, a halogenerator and special ventilation are required to produce dry salt aerosol therapy, also commonly called salt therapy, or halotherapy (“hals” is Greek for salt). The salt on salt-covered walls and even in loose-salt floors is inert (chemically inactive). It is pleasant to look it, and thus serves an aesthetic purpose and improves the salt therapy experience. But salt therapy requires a halogenerator that produces micronized salt and effectively disperses it in the air so that you can inhale the salt, or let it settle on your skin, if you wish to address a skin condition.

Please, have a look around the entire Halomed NA website. We have basic information here on the equipment and salt room requirements for size, interior architecture, ventilation, heating and air conditioning. For more information, see the Contact Us page. We will be glad to provide additional, more detailed information.

Ventilation in a salt room has a dual purpose. The first is to provide fresh air for salt room visitors during sessions and to balance dispersion of dry salt aerosol. This type of ventilation is low and slow – and does not require rapid intake and exhaust. In public and commercial buildings, fresh-air exchange requirements are usually governed by local regulations.

After a halotherapy session, the salt room needs to be thoroughly exhausted and replaced with fresh air. This stage of ventilation requires rapid, powerful exhaust. Ventilation between sessions is important because this is when the old, "used," air and salt aerosol are removed. An exhaust fan with variable speed control will facilitate salt room exhaust.

A salt room has to be – to some degree – isolated from the building’s HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system. Heated and cooled air can flow into the salt room, but cannot recirculate throughout the building’s HVAC system. Thus, in a salt room there can be no intake returns, which would draw air out of the room and recirculate it. There are other options, such as an isolated system for heating and cooling in a room that will have exhaust ventilation operating at the same time and immediately after a salt therapy session. Halomed NA will be glad to consult with you further on this matter.

For large salt rooms, up to 425 SF, which require a full capacity halogenerator (the HaloSmart-01 or the HaloSpa-03), the halogenerator will be mounted outside the salt room, on an adjacent wall. The dry salt aerosol is conveyed into the salt room through a home that is cut in the wall and lined with 4” diameter PVC pipe. For salt room smaller than 100 SF, the HaloCompact and HaloSet are positioned inside the salt rooms. For salt rooms of all sizes, the dry salt aerosol sensor is strategically mounted inside the salt room.

Salt room walls can be coated or covered with any type of salt – halite, selwynite, sea or Himalayan salt. Salt blocks, salt tiles or salt-coated walls – or a combination of these features can be used.