Salt therapy (also known as Halotherapy) is growing in popularity all across the globe as more and more people experience the benefits of this totally natural treatment for respiratory and skin conditions. You could be mistaken for thinking that salt therapy is a newly discovered treatment but the truth of the matter is, salt therapy has been used for centuries to treat these conditions.
It is reported that salt therapy can be traced as far back as 400bc in the Grecian Age with Hippocrates who is often referred to as “The Father of Medicine” and who practised a therapeutic approach based on “the healing power of nature” recommending salt inhalation as an effective treatment for respiratory illness.
If we move on to the 19th century and in 1843, Polish physician Felix Boczkowski, carried out a study on men working in the salt mines at Wielicka. His thoughts were confirmed that these men had much fewer respiratory and skin problems than other people who were not exposed to the inhalation of salt dust. As a result of these findings, a halotherapy therapeutic spa was set up in Poland.
During the Second World War, salt mines were used as bomb shelters in Germany and it was noted that people sheltering there had significant improvement with any respiratory problems.
The natural conditions of the salt mines were replicated in the 1950’s by physicians in Eastern Europe along with engineers leading to salt therapy as we know it today. Countless salt therapy rooms are in operation across Europe and Russia with many of them located in hospitals allowing patients to benefit from the therapy within a healthcare setting.
