The Healing Power of Salt

For centuries, salt has been used to promote health and healing. In ancient Greece and China, people meditated in salt caves and used saltwater steam to ease respiratory complaints. Since the mid-20th century, people in Eastern European countries have visited salt caves to help treat asthma and allergy symptoms.

Today, halotherapy (salt therapy) offers a natural way to address health issues such as breathing problems, allergies, joint and muscle aches, and skin conditions.

A modern salt cave

Spas and wellness centers such as Bodhi Salt Center in St. Matthews are simulating the restorative climate of salt caves and providing natural relief in a modern setting. Bodhi Salt Center offers Eastern European-style salt rooms designed to boost mental and physical well-being. Two salt rooms — one for adults where they can read, relax, or meditate, and one for children where they can play freely — encourage health and healing.

“We want people to be healthier and happier and live longer — to be able to live life to the fullest because they’re healthier,” says Bodhi Salt Center co-owner and co-founder Anna Shulgina.

It was Anna’s own health issue that sparked the idea for Bodhi Salt. Her first spring in Kentucky led to an extreme ragweed allergy and health problems for her and her young son. New to the area, she initially mistook their symptoms for the flu. When she couldn’t find quality alternative wellness services, she and co-founder Dasha Grankina decided to start their own center focused on salt therapy and its natural healing powers.

How it helps

Breathe easier: According to Dasha, inhaling micro salt particles in a salt room helps to clear the sinuses from harmful toxins and allergens, making it a valuable treatment option for respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and allergies.

“The small salt particles absorb and remove all the mucus, phlegm, allergens, and toxins, cleansing the lungs and sinuses, and with no side effects like you might experience with medications,” Dasha says.

Feel better: Combining salt therapy with red-light therapy (RLT) can be an especially effective treatment to reduce inflammation and chronic pain. RLT is a noninvasive treatment that uses red and near-infrared light to enhance cellular function and stimulate healing. This dual therapy can be particularly beneficial for those with muscle and joint pain, arthritis, sciatica, and fibromyalgia.

The combination of salt and RLT also stimulates collagen production and improves skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

Support mental health: Depression, anxiety, insomnia, ADD/ADHD, and neurological disorders such as migraines, TBI, and Alzheimer’s may be improved with salt therapy.

“Salt treatments reduce stress and promote relaxation and quality sleep by calming the sympathetic nervous system, which provides mental calmness and helps you regain focus,” Dasha says.

A typical red-light session is 15 minutes, and a salt room session is 45 minutes. Dasha recommends visiting every other day or three days in a row during the acute stage of your condition. As symptoms abate, you can cut back to twice a week, then once a week for maintenance.

“You cannot overdose on salt therapy,” Dasha says. “It’s a natural treatment, and it’s effective for many conditions. Salt therapy should be part of your routine.” all at Home of the Innocents. For those who need help with mobility, the pool offers different ways to enter the water.

Saltwater pool therapy

Much like salt rooms, saltwater pools provide a variety of health benefits and aid in the treatment of many of the same respiratory, skin, and musculoskeletal problems.

Specialized saltwater therapy pools like the one at Home of the Innocents Aquatic Therapy Center in Louisville are heated to 92 degrees for maximum therapeutic benefit. The saltwater provides buoyancy and support, making it ideal for physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises. The water offers gentle resistance while you exercise and swim, allowing you to build strength and flexibility with less pain. In addition, trace minerals found in saltwater such as magnesium can soothe sore muscles and promote faster healing.

Swimming in saltwater pools is also gentler on the skin, hair, and eyes, and the salt acts as a natural exfoliant and moisturizer.

The indoor therapy pool at Home of the Innocents is equipped with an aquatic wheelchair, a stretcher lift, a zero-depth entry ramp, and an exercise bench, making it fully accessible for individuals with disabilities. The pool is open to the public on a limited basis at a cost of $12.50 an hour, and reservations are required. Find out more on their website.

By Kym Voorhees Raque