Halotherapy

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Halotherapy Learning Center

Salt therapy (halotherapy) for immunity improvement and respiratory health support

Prevention and treatment

Halotherapy, also known as dry salt inhalation therapy, is well documented for its ability to strengthen immunity of the respiratory system.¹The use of dry salt aerosol has long been proven in the treatment and relief of symptoms of respiratory viral infections; ear, nose and throat ailments; and upper and lower respiratory tract problems.²

Salt is hygroscopic – meaning that it attracts moisture from the environment. When micronized salt is inhaled, it attaches to the tissues that line the respiratory tract. This results in a decongestant effect because the salt draws water from the mucosal tissues into the air passages of the respiratory tract, thinning mucosal secretions and boosting rapid expectoration. It promotes the removal of bacteria and viruses, decreasing bacterial or viral load, which can help prevent or lessen the severity of disease. This matter is confirmed by studies that proved that after halotherapy sessions, bacteria were inhibited from attaching to mucosal cells.³

Salt inhalation therapy can be considered an important preventive tool in reducing the development of secondary bacterial infections, including pneumonia, which result from the initial infection caused by viral respiratory infections. This is important during viral epidemics in which large numbers of people experience secondary bacterial infections caused by viral epidemics that target the respiratory systems of their unfortunate hosts.

Halotherapy can be an especially useful wellness method for people with chronic bronchopulmonary diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, and cystic fibrosis. In the case of COPD and bronchial asthma, dry salt aerosol therapy safely and effectively clears the airways and lungs of Impurities, waste products and mucus.

Prof. A.V Chervinskaya, M.D., Ph.D., has for more than 30 years researched and developed the scientific and practical application of halotherapy. “Sodium chloride aerosol improves the fluidity of bronchial secretions, contributing to the normalization of mucociliary clearance, “ she notes, adding, “During halotherapy treatments, due to the action of salt aerosol, the drainage function of the respiratory tract improves: sputum separation is facilitated, its viscosity is reduced, and cough is relieved. Dry salt aerosol can both inhibit the growth of bacteria and, in other cases, kill bacteria that inhabit the microflora of the respiratory organs, improving microcirculation and supporting breathing comfort.” ^{4, 5}

Dr. Chervinskaya believes that all these benefits from the use of halotherapy on the human body can reduce the risk of serious complications and significantly accelerate rehabilitation from respiratory viral infections.

According to pulmonologist A.G. Malyavin, M.D., general secretary of the Russian Scientific Medical Society of Therapists, halotherapy offers two key benefits: In the context of contagious respiratory viruses, halotherapy offers not only effective preventive but also therapeutic measures for people with severe infections caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Unfortunately, for certain patients who have been successfully treated for ARDS, a numbers of them will be left with lingering, long-term chronic fatigue, brain fog and congestion. Dr. Malyavin credits halotherapy with providing relief for those left with these secondary complications of ARDS.

Professor Malyavin notes that in this situation, halotherapy – the inhalation of dry salt aerosol that occurs during salt therapy sessions – can be very useful. This natural method, as shown by earlier studies, favorably affects the severity of post-SARS patients, decreasing weakness and increasing effective mucociliary clearance.

Halotherapy is available in salt rooms equipped with halogenerators, devices that effectively micronize pharmaceutical grade salt and disperse dry salt aerosol at controlled levels in rooms with special ventilation. Halotherapy can also be delivered at home with halogenerators designed for use in smaller rooms.

Dry Salt Aerosol Works by

+ Acting as a gentle“brush”to effectively and safely clean the airways and lungs of Impurities, waste products and mucus

+ Improving microcirculation

+ Providing anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory benefits, and reducing swelling

+ Supporting breathing comfort

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_{¹Khan M.A., Chervinskaya A.V., Mikitchenko N.A. Dynamics of indicators of mucosal immunity, cytobacteriological and morphological and functional state of the oropharynx mucosa in frequently ill children under the influence of halotherapy (Part 1) // Allergology and Immunology in Pediatrics. - 2011. - No. 1 - p. 33-35.}

_{²Chervinskaya A.V. Dry sodium chloride aerosol against acute respiratory viral infections/Eur Respir J 2009; 34: Suppl. 53.}

_{³Chervinskaya A.V., Kvetnaya A.S., Korzhenevskaya T.B. The effect of dry fine-dispersed sodium chloride aerosol on the physiological properties of Streptococcus pneumonia, persistent on the mucous membrane of the laryngopharyngeal epithelium, in the experiment // Clinical and laboratory conference of specialists. - 2010. - No. 1 - p. 61-62}

_{⁴Alina V. Chervinskaya - pulmonologist, professor, MD, founder of controlled halotherapy method, professor of the department of physical and rehabilitation medicine with a course in psychology and pedagogy of the Central State Medical Academy of the Presidential Administration in Russian Federation.}

_{⁵Mucociliary clearance (mucociliary system, MCC) is a non-specific mechanism that provides local protection of the mucous membrane of the respiratory system from external influences, including infections.}

_{⁶Andrei G. Malyavin - pulmonologist, professor, MD, general secretary of the Russian Scientific Medical Society of Therapists, professor of the department of phthisiology and pulmonology of the medical faculty, deputy head of the science department of the Moscow State Medical University, General Director of the Center for Respiratory Medicine, Chief part time Pulmonologist of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District.}

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Disclaimer: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Canadian Medical Device Bureau of the Therapeutic Product Directorate (TPD) and Australian Therapeutic goods administration (TGA) have not evaluated statements of this text. Halogenerators are not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, in humans or animals.