The importance of salt has been known since forever. Salt has played a vital role in human life, both biologically and historically, making it one of the most important substances used by people across time.
In the human body, salt is essential for survival. Without adequate salt, basic functions such as heartbeat, muscle contraction, and maintaining blood pressure would fail. Salt also helps the body absorb nutrients and maintain proper hydration.
Because of its importance, salt was often referred to as ‘white gold’. Entire trade routes were built around its transport, connecting regions and encouraging cultural exchange.
Salt has also influenced economies and politics. In ancient Rome, soldiers were sometimes paid in salt, which is where the word ‘salary’ originates. In medieval times, the phrase ‘sitting above the salt’ referred to a person’s social status at the dining table. At formal meals in great halls, salt was placed in a large, ornate salt cellar, positioned near the middle of the table. Guests seated above the salt, closer to the lord or host, were people of high status. Those seated below the salt were of lower rank.
SO WHAT HAS THIS GOT TO DO WITH THE NEW BODYWISE SALT THERAPY ROOM?
Salt has been used for therapeutic purposes for thousands of years. Across cultures and medical traditions, salt has played a role in promoting physical health, supporting mental well-being, and enhancing hygiene. Since Hippocrates became the father of medicine, doctors have encouraged the ill to ‘take the sea air’ as salt’s natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce airway irritation and improve breathing.
Technically this is called halotherapy inspired by natural salt caves. It involves inhaling microscopic salt particles to help manage conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, allergies, and sinus congestion. Research on those working in salt mines in Poland show significantly improved respiratory health.
Salt is also widely used in skin care and wound healing. Salt can soothe skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne by reducing inflammation. In addition, salt plays an important role in muscle and nerve function.
As such, for anybody in the wellbeing sector, having access to halotherapy, such as the new salt therapy room at Bodywise.
HELLO SALT THERAPY
So how does the halotherapy at Bodywise work. It’s really simple. The salt therapy room on the first floor is a rather wonderful environment that is rather like sitting in comfy chairs on a desert island beach (but made of salt). There are 6 chairs so you might find yourself sitting with other people, but if you want the place to yourself, or just for you and a friend, you can always check whether anybody else has booked. Basically you sit in a chair for 45 minutes in a salty environment whilst salty air is pumped in above you.
Dress code is really down to your sense of purpose. If you’re using the room for respiratory relief and don’t need to expose your skin to the salt you can keep your kit on. If you’re there to ameliorate skin problems the more affected skin you can expose, the better – obviously with a sense of decorum if others are sharing the space with you.
So, does salt therapy actually work?
A HUSBAND AND WIFE’S TALE
At time of writing this, in the depths of a cold, wet, dark January, my wife and I had just returned from visiting the grandchildren in Chicago. Exposure to grandkids = bugs and viruses. Two flights of 9 hours either way (via Reykjavik) = viruses and bugs. We came home with snotty noses coughing and spluttering our way through the days. It wasn’t the flu, just some low grade nuisance in the respiratory tract. What better time to try Salt Room Therapy? Fingers crossed it would work.
The therapy room itself is a lovely environment in which to spend 45 minutes. It’s a slightly weird combination on feeling you’re on a desert island where the beach is salt crystals and you’re surrounded by bamboo and looking out to sea. Rather than deck chairs there are nice comfy armchairs. The fact I chose to wear a vest and rolled my tracksuit trousers up to above my knee made me look like something out of a Blackpool seaside postcard – all I needed was the knotted hanky.
We both sat opposite the vent high-up in the wall through which salt laden air was sprayed. Whilst invisible, within two minutes it was immediately noticeable – all you had to do was lick your lips for a very pleasant salty sensation. And so it went on. We talked but you could easily close your eyes and catch a few zeds. If you go by yourself you might like to take your phone to listen to a podcast as the light is a bit dim for reading. Also wear something casual or take something to change into if you’re going anywhere important afterwards as the salt tends to crystallise on your clothing.
So did it change our life on the spot? Quite simply, no.
But, as the day progressed it definitely started to work. We were both breathing more easily and felt our lungs and sinuses were much clearer. That night we both had our best night’s sleep in weeks. I naturally cough a bit when I get up in the morning and when I did I could still taste the salt, which must have gone deep into my lungs. Overall in the days since we have both felt much more our pre-virus selves.
So Salt Therapy definitely gets our vote, and we’re not the only ones. We happened to bump into Barbara Lofts who many Bodywise members will know from her time as a Personal Trainer there. Barbara is asthmatic and has had several sessions in the Salt room which she says she has found very therapeutic.
My next plan is to try it when hay fever time comes around in the hope it might just help that too.
To read more about Salt Therapy at Bodywise, or to book a session, see Salt Therapy at Bodywise.
By Al Campbell, The Bodywise Member and Author