If you’re a sauna enthusiast, then you are no doubt well-versed in the benefits that sweat provides the body, including muscle relaxation, detoxing, and reducing stress levels.
And if you’ve ever visited a salt room, then you’ll know that this type of therapy offers those who have respiratory issues, like sinus infections and snoring, relief from their ailments. Salt therapy also helps to control skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
But are you aware that there is a burgeoning therapeutic treatment that combines these two services, which can help to enhance the benefits of both therapies?
What is a salt sauna? It’s a combination of a salt room and a sauna! We’ll explain it all below.
What Is A Salt Sauna?
Salt plays an important role in human health, and when we mean salt, we’re not talking about iodized table salt! When it comes to Himalayan salt, however, the benefits it brings to health seem to know no bounds.
Salt plays an important role in human health, and when we mean salt, we’re not talking about iodized table salt! When it comes to Himalayan salt, however, the benefits it brings to health seem to know no bounds.
Containing more than 80 elements and minerals that include iron, calcium, and potassium, which all aid in detoxification, Himalayan salt has uses that go far beyond adding it to your food for flavor.
You may have come across Himalayan salt lamps, or may even already have one. These are used to purify the air, which reduces the potential for physical stress and helps to improve your overall well-being.
The lamps work by absorbing moisture from the air and evaporating it, which stops mold from forming, and pollutants and allergens from multiplying. This is how they work to purify the air quality in your home, and why you’ll also find them in esoteric stores and spas.
Himalayan salt lamps also emit negative ions, which are molecules purported to help reduce stress, alleviate anxiety, and boost serotonin production. When you spend time in nature, like in the mountains or at the beach, you feel good because of the abundance of negative ions in the natural environment.
And this is why this salt therapy has been combined with sauna therapy into a salt sauna, which is a hot room that has been upgraded with Himalayan salt bricks, known as halotherapy.
So, if you like the idea of sweating out toxins while inhaling negative ions, read on to find out more.
Salt Sauna Benefits
Although you may not have come across a salt sauna before, they are becoming more and more popular at North American spas, with many upgrading their existing saunas to provide this new service.
This is because so many people rave about the benefits they feel after using a salt sauna. The anecdotal benefits that people have testified include:
1. Respiratory
Salt therapy has traditionally been used by those who have respiratory conditions, so it goes without saying that allergy and hay fever sufferers will get significant relief from using salt saunas. In addition, those who have ear, nose, and throat infections, or who suffer from asthma, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, sleep apnea, cystic fibrosis, COPD, colds, and/or breathlessness will all feel immediate benefits after a salt sauna session.
Salt therapy has traditionally been used by those who have respiratory conditions, so it goes without saying that allergy and hay fever sufferers will get significant relief from using salt saunas.
2. Anxiety
People benefit from the negative ions emitted from the combination of Himalayan salt and heat, which boosts muscle relaxation, as well as helps reduce stress from insomnia, and feelings of anxiety and depression, and seasonal affective disorder. The boost in serotonin levels that everyone receives from breathing in negative ions can also leave you feeling invigorated, calm, and maybe even happy after having a simple salt sauna session.
3. Immunity
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so keeping it healthy means that sweating regularly to eliminate toxins is an easy way to keep well being in check. Salt saunas also help to regulate the skin’s pH levels, which can increase the production of collagen, and lymph cells, which boosts the immune system.
This means that people who suffer from acne, rosacea, rashes, psoriasis, and eczema can all benefit, as well as those who have over-sensitive and inflammatory immune system conditions.
Salt Sauna Dangers
With so many benefits that have helped people after having a salt sauna session, is there anything that you should watch out for? Are there any side effects to watch out for?
Although it’s extremely rare, some people may be sensitive to Himalayan salt, and it’s reported that they will have eye irritation, mild headache and temporarily blocked airways.
However, these can be avoided if you start feeling any of these if you’re in a salt sauna. Simply leave and have some water, which will help with your hydration.
Also, you’re not meant to sit in a salt sauna for very long, which will help to avoid these side effects happening. By staying in a salt sauna for 20-40 minutes, you will feel the benefits without worrying about developing a bad reaction. And you can always step out of the sauna for a brief cold exposure (a cold plunge) which can really rejuvenate you.
Doing this on a regular basis will give the most benefits.
Conclusion
Choosing to have a salt sauna means that you will benefit from the many positive effects that halotherapy provides (though keep in mind, most of the studies of the benefits of halotherapy are very much early stage).
Regular salt sauna sessions will not only help to clear any skin ailments and respiratory issues you may have but the enhanced overall well-being you’ll feel from the negative ions will make the session well worth it for anyone.
That said, when it comes to the benefits of salt saunas, you should take the science with a grain of salt. Regardless, it’s a super relaxing experience!
