In Eastern Europe, salt chambers have been used for therapeutic purposes for more than 200 years, while they are relatively new in the West. People with lung ailments used to frequently visit salt mines for their therapeutic effects in the past. For respiratory issues, the ancient Greeks also used salt therapy, or halotherapy.
In the United States, salt therapy is becoming more widely known and appreciated with the introduction of salt rooms in spas and other wellness businesses. Salt is known for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. While many people visit salt mines around the world to help rid themselves of respiratory ailments of all kinds including allergies, asthma, congestion and hay fever, others flock to salt rooms popping up in cities like New York, Orlando and London.
But you don’t have to travel far to reap the benefits of Himalayan salt. You can enjoy the health benefits by adding Himalayan salt to your diet, routine or home. Himalayan salt is available in numerous forms such as blocks, slabs, lamps, rocks, ground salt for culinary purposes, coarse salt for baths, or you can make your own Sole.
Benefits of salt inhalers
Modern salt inhalers combine the best of old world and modern technology. The small Himalayan salt rocks rest at the bottom of the inhaler. When you inhale, the natural moisture in the air absorbs the salt particles into the lungs. This will help to reduce inflammation in the lungs and can help with other conditions such as asthma, allergies, colds, congestion, hay fever and sinus congestion. Unlike traditional inhalers, this therapeutic technique offers no negative side effects.
• Salt is a natural expectorant and may help in reducing excess mucous.
• Reducing mucous, may eliminate night time coughing and post nasal drip, allowing you to sleep better.
• Himalayan salt contains 84 natural elements and minerals that are found in the human body.
• Salt inhalation therapy can reduce redness and swelling of nasal passages.
• Himalayan salt inhalers can reduce irritation and inflammation from pollutants and smoke.
• Salt is known for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. Using a salt inhaler can be used to cleanse the body of harmful organisms.
Place Himalayan rocks inside your ceramic inhaler, (don’t use plastic inhalers) according to the package directions. Place the inhaler mouth piece in your mouth. Breathe in normally through the mouth, and exhale through the nose. Do not add water, the inhaler is for dry therapy only. When you inhale with long slow deep breaths this will bring the salt ions to the lungs. Because the ions are so small they bypass the nasal filtering system we have and go directly into the lungs. The lungs then absorb the ions and bring them into the bloodstream. This will help to reduce inflammation and can also reduce pain in lungs from various conditions such as asthma, bronchitis or pneumonia.
Following the cleaning directions on your inhaler package, and remember inhalers should not be shared, they are recommended for one person only. Each family member should have their own inhaler.
Although many people have seen immediate and drastic results within a few days, in general the effects of using a Himalayan salt inhaler are more subtle than immediately dramatic, and are usually noticed with regular and consistent use.
How to refill your Himalayan salt inhaler
If you need to refill the salt in the inhaler, simply open the round plastic stopper and empty out the used salt and refill with the fresh coarse Himalayan crystal salt. Plug the stopper back in.
NOTE: NEVER refill your inhaler with anything other than Himalayan salt.