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Are Salt Rooms Safe?

June 29, 2025

Salt rooms are therapeutic caverns furnished with salt décor and walls. This room is where dry salt therapy takes place. Dry salt therapy detoxifies your respiratory system, which helps to relieve congestion and inflammation, as well as combat skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

How Safe are Salt Rooms?

Salt rooms are completely natural and safe for adults, children, and even animals such as horses and dogs. It is often combined with other medical treatments and prescriptions but also works as a sole treatment for many conditions.

The salt selection process for dry salt therapy is also very rigorous. All of the salt used in salt rooms is 99.99% pure grade sodium chloride. Plus, the temperature and technology are both controlled to precision.

Understanding the Science Behind Salt Therapy

Salt therapy, also known as halotherapy, has been growing in popularity as a treatment for respiratory and skin conditions. However, scientific evidence to fully support its effectiveness remains limited. While small studies have shown potential benefits, they often lack the rigorous controls that larger clinical trials require.

A review of 151 studies on halotherapy highlighted this issue. Only one study qualified as a randomized controlled trial, which is the gold standard in medical research.

Participants in various studies reported symptom improvement, but experts caution that the effects could be influenced by external factors, such as the placebo effect or other treatments the participants may have been undergoing.

One major challenge in the research is the inconsistency in study design. For example, many studies don’t take into account whether participants were using other medications or the severity of their symptoms.

This makes it hard to draw definitive conclusions about whether salt therapy alone is responsible for improvements in health.

That said, there are potential benefits, particularly for respiratory conditions.

Inhaling fine salt particles may help thin mucus, making it easier for people with asthma, bronchitis, or COPD to breathe. However, it’s important to note that the controlled, allergen-free environment of salt rooms might also play a significant role in symptom relief, independent of the salt particles themselves.

The existing research suggests that while salt therapy could offer relief for certain conditions, the lack of robust scientific evidence means it should be used cautiously. Consult a healthcare provider before considering it as part of your treatment plan.

Is Dry Salt Therapy Safe For Children?

Salt rooms are completely safe for you and your family. It is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive treatment with no harmful side effects. We do recommend you consult your doctor before trying dry salt therapy.

It’s also suitable for children of any age, even as young as one month old. Children actually respond better and more quickly than adults to dry salt therapy.

Health Conditions Salt Therapy Might Benefit

Who Can Benefit from Salt Therapy?

Salt therapy is often recommended for a wide range of health issues, especially those related to the respiratory system and skin conditions. Understanding the specific conditions it might help can guide you in deciding whether it's the right option for you.

For people with asthma, salt therapy may offer some relief by reducing inflammation and thinning mucus in the airways. However, it’s important to note that salt therapy should not be seen as a replacement for traditional asthma treatments.

It's complementary at best, and patients should always continue their prescribed medication.

Those with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) might also experience temporary relief through salt therapy.

By helping to clear mucus from the lungs, halotherapy can make breathing a little easier, though long-term effectiveness remains unclear.

Bronchitis sufferers—whether acute or chronic—might find salt therapy useful in breaking down mucus and easing breathing. The inhalation of fine salt particles can reach deep into the bronchial system, helping to clear out the airways.

For people with respiratory allergies, the allergen-free environment of a salt room can provide significant relief. Salt therapy can help clear pollen, dust, and other allergens from the airways, reducing inflammation and irritation.

Salt therapy has also shown promise in treating skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Salt’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties may help soothe irritation and promote healing in the skin.

These benefits are particularly appealing for those who seek natural solutions for chronic skin issues.

Salt therapy can offer symptom relief for various conditions, especially when used alongside conventional treatments. However, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating it into your routine.

What Happens During A Dry Salt Therapy Session?

During a salt therapy session, you simply relax in an ambient salt room, where the temperature and humidity are controlled to provide the best experience for you. You can meditate or read, it’s up to you. All you have to do is breathe and relax. The halogenerator will do the rest.

Pure-grade sodium chloride is heated and then ground and crushed into very tiny microparticles. It is sent back out into the salt room, where it’s inhaled into the lungs, bronchi, and is absorbed by the skin. When an individual completes their session, they often feel refreshed and energized.

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Types of Salt Therapy (Active vs Passive Rooms)

Understanding Active vs. Passive Salt Rooms

When choosing salt therapy, it’s crucial to understand the difference between active and passive salt rooms. These two approaches offer distinct experiences, and knowing what sets them apart can help you make the best choice for your specific needs.

Active Salt Rooms involve a machine called a halogenerator. This machine breaks salt into fine particles and disperses them into the air, allowing participants to inhale the salt during their session.

These rooms are specifically designed for therapeutic benefits, particularly for respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD, because the salt particles continuously circulate, reaching deep into the lungs.

On the other hand, Passive Salt Rooms are more about relaxation than therapy. These rooms are filled with large amounts of salt, such as Himalayan or Dead Sea salt, but they don’t use machines to distribute salt particles into the air.

While passive rooms can be calming and meditative, they don’t offer the same level of therapeutic benefit as active rooms for respiratory conditions, since the salt remains static in the room.

Which is Better? If you're looking to address respiratory issues, active salt rooms are your best option. Passive rooms may be great for stress relief and relaxation, but they won’t deliver the concentrated therapeutic benefits that active rooms can provide.

Are There Any Side Effects Of Dry Salt Therapy?

As stated, there are no nasty side effects that come with dry salt therapy. When your session is over, you may notice a slight taste of salt on your lips and tongue. But don’t worry, this is totally natural and isn’t harmful at all.

And, a slight cough or a runny nose is possible, as well as some coughing. However, this is simply a sign that salt therapy is working to remove the mucus and toxins from your body.

Isn’t Salt Bad For You?

While there are concerns about sodium levels and salt intake, there is nothing to fear with dry salt therapy. In fact, there are a lot of benefits to this treatment. When inhaled, the amount of micro salt particles entering your respiratory system is extremely low, so it doesn’t change your body’s saline levels.

Even then, the concentration of pharmaceutical-grade salt that you breathe in during salt therapy is very low (less than a teaspoon).Because of salt’s natural anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory properties, and its ability to clear passageways and break down mucous, it has only healing effects when taken into the body this way.

To learn more about starting a new salt therapy business, or adding salt therapy to your existing business or at home, please contact us today.

Risks and Precautions

Is Salt Therapy Safe for Everyone?

Although salt therapy is generally regarded as safe, it is not without its risks, especially for certain individuals. It’s crucial to understand who should approach salt therapy with caution and be aware of any potential side effects.

People with hyperthyroidism should consult a doctor before undergoing salt therapy. Too much exposure to salt could potentially affect thyroid function, which may complicate existing thyroid conditions.

Similarly, individuals with high blood pressure (hypertension) should proceed cautiously, as even small amounts of salt exposure could pose a risk for those sensitive to sodium intake.

Those with severe respiratory conditions such as tuberculosis or people dealing with active infections should avoid salt rooms. Salt therapy could aggravate these conditions, potentially leading to adverse reactions like bronchoconstriction.

For people with serious heart conditions, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before trying salt therapy. The therapy could interfere with certain heart conditions, especially if the body’s sodium balance is affected, even in small amounts.

Some users may experience side effects such as increased coughing as the salt particles loosen mucus in the airways. While this is generally harmless and part of the therapeutic process, it can be uncomfortable.

In rare cases, individuals have reported minor skin irritation or eye irritation, such as conjunctivitis, due to the salt particles.

Salt therapy is not universally safe for everyone. It’s essential to consult a healthcare provider before beginning treatment, especially for individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

Who Should Not Use a Salt Room?

While generally safe, salt therapy may not be suitable for everyone. Pregnant women, individuals with severe respiratory issues (like tuberculosis), those with open wounds, and people with contagious diseases should consult a doctor or avoid salt rooms altogether to prevent complications or spreading illness.

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Leo M. Tonkin
Salt Chamber CEO

Leo Tonkin, with a decade of deep expertise in salt therapy, initiated SALT Chamber, a leading entity in the domain of salt therapy products and decor. As the inaugural Chairman of the Salt Therapy Association and Chair of the Respiratory Wellness Initiative from the Global Wellness Institute, he has played a pivotal role in broadening the accessibility and recognition of salt therapy globally. His commitment to developing advanced technology and educating the public on the benefits of salt therapy has solidified his position as a key figure in the industry, enhancing its credibility and trustworthiness.

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