Healing inside a room of salt

The Dead Sea is a unique environment; it is far below sea level and so much saltier than the ocean that fish and other aquatic life forms cannot live in it.

by Pavel Gershkovich — 

Imagine a room covered from floor to ceiling in salt from the Dead Sea. Imagine breathing the fine salt mist in the air. Now, imagine your lungs taking a really deep breath and saying, “ahhh.”

In ancient times, people traveled great distances to the Dead Sea of Israel for relief from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, eczema, psoriasis, acne, arthritis pain and other ailments. The Dead Sea is a unique environment; it is far below sea level and so much saltier than the ocean that fish and other aquatic life forms cannot live in it. Hence the name, Dead Sea.

The rich salt content acts as a disinfectant and removes harmful particles from the skin. Dead Sea salt is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. It kills harmful bacteria in the lungs, clears mucus buildup and opens air passages.

The mineral content of the Dead Sea is also much more saturated than that of ocean water with sodium, potassium and magnesium, all of which have been proven to help detoxify the body, stimulate blood circulation, and relieve tension and muscle aches, as well as skin problems like eczema, psoriasis and acne.

In more recent times, it was noticed that salt-mine workers had a remarkably lower incidence of respiratory conditions than those who were regularly exposed to air saturated with saline dust. Creating salt rooms, chalets or caves bring the healing effects of the Dead Sea closer to home.

Salt rooms are made with salt from the Dead Sea to replicate the healing experience. Very fine particles of salt are sprayed into the air. When inhaled, the particles are embedded deeply in the lower lungs, where many respiratory problems lie. The smell of a salt room is somewhat like ocean air. The fine salt mist charges the air with negative ions, much like what one experiences at the ocean. Sessions run about 45 minutes.

Once in the system, the salt absorbs bacteria and clears out mucus that would otherwise block the airways. It is completely safe and has been used for decades to treat colds and flu, allergy, asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, sinus infection, sinusitis, rhinitis, hay fever and emphysema. When the fine particles land on the skin surface, they naturally disinfect it and begin to heal eczema and other skin conditions.

Salt therapy has been proven effective in multiple clinical trials. Research published in 2006 in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that salt inhalation from a nebulizer was a highly effective treatment for cystic fibrosis after observations among surfers led to clinical trials. Doctors report that cystic fibrosis patients experience less shortness of breath, less coughing and decreased sinus pressure. Salt rooms are very common in Europe and the Middle East. They are just making their way to America; so far, there are eight.

Pavel Gershkovich, C.H.P., C.R.P., is the director of Arizona Leech Therapy and Salt Chalet Arizona in Scottsdale, Ariz. www.arizonaleechtherapy.com, www.saltchaletarizona.com and 480-621-6041.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 30, Number 1, Feb/Mar 2011.