Home Magazine
Salt caves are the new "it" wellness trend. The question is whether it is here to stay or is a fly by night fad.
I tried it the other day. Reflexology was added so I had really nice experience. I might have been hard pressed to just sit there for 45 minutes, but sometimes that is exactly what you must force yourself to do, all in the name of wellness.
Dry salt air is more powerful than moist air and the negatively charged ions in the salt improve overall health and mood. Air charged with negative ions suppresses serotonin within the body, thereby lifting our mood and relaxing us. Science has shown that the detoxifying qualities in Himalayan salt caves help with everything from allergies and asthma to autoimmune issues. The 84 minerals identified in this specific salt are bio identical to your body. Also called halotherapy, which means salt is ground to microscopic particles and blown into the air via a generator. Breathing it in affects everything in our body systemically ~ the lymphatic, respiratory, nervous and immune systems. The really cool thing is, there is a synergy between the minerals and your system specifically.
For centuries people have made the pilgrimage to these caves after discovering their health properties. A physician in Poland opened a salt clinic 150 years ago! We Americans always seem to be behind the curve.
The natural pink, peach to orange color tells us it is full of minerals and iron. It makes for a beautiful accent and the back lit bricks positively glow!
Salt rooms can be built in a matter of hours, for in home use, or completely custom for the spa and wellness industry.
Just sitting in a salt cave is beneficial enough, but why stop there? You can incorporate a massage like I did, a yoga class, singing bowls or meditation. It is a great way too help the time go by.
The cave I was in had zero gravity chairs to keep your body at a perfect pitch. Blankets were provided. The temperature was comfortable, set at about 70 degrees but it was cozier under the weight of the blanket. When I came out of the cave I felt good and noticed a slight salt taste on my lips. I had the impression I was going to be filmy but it was not the case.
It remains to be seen whether we will see demand for salt blocks in a residential setting.
Would you consider a salt wall in your home? Perhaps I'll start with a salt lamp and see where it leads me!