What is a halochamber. Halochamber: indications and contraindications

The question of what is halotherapy arises in patients who are little familiar with innovative methods in the field of medicine. The procedure is recommended both for the treatment of a number of diseases, and for preventive purposes. In its basic basis, it is the use of the possibilities of a beneficial effect on the body of a special microclimate established in salt caves, only for halotherapy it is created artificially.

Advantages and differences from speleotherapy

Many people know about the benefits of salt caves. As the speleological clinics opened, the demand for such a service constantly increased, but the possibilities of natural unique formations were limited.

This is the reason for the emergence of a new direction of scientific research, focused on the construction of caves with a microclimate similar to salt mines, but created artificially.

In our country, the first halochamber, in which patients are given the opportunity to breathe useful salt ions, appeared in 1984. The name fully reflects the principle underlying the methodology (in Greek, “salt” sounds like “hals”).

Salt rooms have walls finished with special materials that create an imitation of natural caves. There are options with wall decoration with blocks of pressed sea salt. Inside, complete isolation from external noise stimuli is provided.

Before each regular session, devices that purify the air from pathogenic microorganisms are turned on. A constant temperature and humidity regime is maintained. While the halotherapy session continues, soothing soft music plays.

The halogenator atomizes salt particles with a maximum size of 5 microns, thereby creating a fine aerosol. If table salt is taken, it is often enriched with magnesium and potassium salts.

Health and sanatorium centers use sea salt, in the structural formula of which ions are represented:

  • calcium;
  • iodine;
  • magnesium;
  • sodium;
  • chlorine.

Considering the differences between halotherapy and speleotherapy, it is noted that artificially created conditions have significant advantages. First of all, they are expressed in the fact that there is no need to arrange long trips to places where salt mines operate. In this regard, the negative consequences caused by the inevitable acclimatization disappear.

Since a halotherapy session of one hour is equivalent in efficiency to six hours of being in a salt cave, we are talking about significant time savings. Another advantage of the artificial microclimate is the absence of age restrictions and the lower cost of the treatment course.

Meanwhile, the quality of the halochamber is not inferior to the famous predecessors - salt caves. It is advisable to study the indications and contraindications of halotherapy in order to make the right decision about the possibility of such treatment.


The mechanism of action of halotherapy has been studied in detail in the areas of treatment of respiratory, pulmonary, and skin pathologies. It has been proven that this technique is a powerful preventive tool that prevents chronic diseases. Small doses of salt are safe for the body if used strictly according to indications.

If they still get sick, then without complications and usually recover faster. This is due to the fact that the salt aerosol, having a highly dispersed structure, has an immunomodulatory effect.

Strengthening the immune system objectively has a beneficial effect on the entire body. Patients show increased resistance to stress external influences. It is important to prevent the occurrence of chronic diseases.

The beneficial effect of the atmosphere of halorooms is used to eliminate skin problems, which contributes to the manifestation of a cosmetic effect. The skin becomes elastic, smooth, looks healthy, the grayish tint disappears, velvety returns. At the same time, the condition of the hair improves.

In pediatrics, halotherapy is increasingly used for adenoids, which are hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil.

Salt inhalation sessions are included in the treatment complex, having a positive effect on the developing inflammatory process. This makes it possible to reduce the number medications reducing the risk of side effects.


Great importance acquires halotherapy for children and adults as a preventive measure to prevent respiratory infections. At the same time, bronchial hygiene plays a special role in settlements with a developed industrial sector.

The indications of halotherapy are not exhausted by this direction, since they are characterized by diversity:

  • treatment of inflammatory processes in the chronic stage, including frontal sinusitis, sinusitis;
  • elimination of predisposition to allergies;
  • strengthening immunity;
  • elimination of skin problems (psoriasis, acne, eczema, purulent wounds, dermatitis);
  • leveling of psycho-emotional stress;
  • treatment of cardiovascular pathologies.

A course of halotherapy is prescribed for patients suffering from instability in indications blood pressure. Benefits .

Contraindications

When contacting specialized clinics where halochambers are available, patients must be given information about possible contraindications for the procedure:

  • intolerance to saline aerosol;
  • chronic kidney disease;
  • malignant neoplasms;
  • active stage of tuberculosis;
  • mental disorders;
  • flu;
  • a number of venereal diseases;
  • bleeding;
  • rhinovirus infection;
  • bronchial asthma;
  • suppuration as a consequence of some diseases.

Restriction to the use of halotherapy is alcohol and drug addiction.


Not all people have the opportunity to visit the halochambers to complete the full course in medical or resort medical institutions. This is due to the fact that usually a minimum of 10 sessions are scheduled, for which you need to find time.

It is not surprising that the search for an answer to the question of how halotherapy is carried out at home and what needs to be provided to ensure the safety of procedures begins.

First of all, analyze contraindications and start practicing treatment sessions only with full confidence that the procedures will not harm the body. It is advisable to seek advice from a doctor.

Organized halotherapy at home with a salt lamp. This device is coated with salt crystals, which, after switching on, are affected by a light bulb with thermal rays. As a result, the air begins to be saturated with salt ions. What are salt lamps, and how to choose a device.

A whole separate room will be equipped in a country cottage, and then home halotherapy will be no less effective than in clinics. But such re-equipment will require significant financial costs and the invitation of highly qualified specialists.

The question of whether halotherapy is contraindicated or not during pregnancy is decided individually. In general, in the absence of direct risks, inhalation of salt microparticles has a beneficial preventive, stimulating, healing effect.

There is healing of wounds, inflammatory foci, oxygen supply is normalized internal organs.

If the pregnancy is proceeding normally, the doctor, subject to strict control over well-being, can recommend halotherapy sessions to raise vitality, cure pathologies respiratory system or fix skin problems.

Even with a generally good state of health, severe toxicosis, increased anxiety, which increases in a confined space, becomes an obstacle to visiting the halochamber.

Availability of halotherapy sessions


Since the arrangement of halorooms is not technically difficult, you can find a similar service in cities. The average price of halotherapy depends on the number of sessions scheduled. The minimum is 10 procedures, which, according to indications, are repeated every other day or daily.

A full course is usually carried out every six months. This period is considered optimal for providing prevention from recurrence of the common cold. The cost of one halotherapy session varies from 100 to 700 rubles for an adult. Usually there is a system of discounts for children, pensioners and other preferential categories.

Efficiency

It is advisable to analyze the feedback on halotherapy from patients in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the technique.

Among the numerous information coming from people who underwent sessions after the doctor's permission, there are practically no negative assessments. Everyone notes the amazing atmosphere in the halochamber, getting pleasant emotions, and subsequently a noticeable improvement in well-being.

Positive feedback is left by parents whose children have undergone these procedures. For some, recurrences of colds have almost disappeared, for others, problems with adenoids are gradually receding. After completing the first course of halotherapy, almost everyone plans to repeat the salt procedures in six months.

What is thalassotherapy and what are its health benefits?

Be healthy!

In both winter and summer, modern city dwellers spend most of their lives in poorly ventilated spaces. Even going out into the street, it is quite difficult to “sip” fresh air in the stone jungle. The high level of air pollution in our cities leads to the emergence and development of an increasing number of various diseases. The methods of treatment that exist today are divided into medication - healing with the help of pharmacological preparations, and non-drug - helping in some other way. We will consider one of these methods, which has come to us from time immemorial. This article will be devoted to answering the question: "Speleotherapy - what is it and who can it help?"

Special treatment method

The word "speleotherapy" is formed from two roots of such Greek words as " spelaion"- cave and " therapeia" - treatment. That is, in order to cure a person, both natural grottoes and caves are used, as well as potash, salt and metal mines created and developed by people. At first glance, it may seem rather strange that the sick are placed in a dungeon, because it is cold and scary there. But a similar impression is formed by those who have not tried this method of treatment on themselves and do not have detailed information about speleotherapy - what it is and how it is carried out.

Characteristics of healing caves

The healing effect of dungeons has been known for more than two millennia, but only in the last 20-40 years has it been actively studied and widely used. The special microclimate of natural and artificial mines used for treatment is characterized by stable temperature values ​​and a high level of ionization, the almost complete absence of pathogenic microorganisms and allergens, dry and clean air saturated with mineral salt ions. It is important to note that speleotherapy for children is possible, since this method of treatment has not revealed any side effects.

History of occurrence

The researchers of this therapeutic method treatments agree that it arose more than two thousand years ago. Even the priests of ancient Greece recommended that patients with asthma attacks and coughing visit salt caves, and Israeli healers worked and treated in such dungeons. In the chronicles of ancient India, there are references to the fact that it was in salt grottoes and caves that warriors rested and recuperated after battles. As time goes by so simple and effective method healing was forgotten.

To the question of speleotherapy - what is it, and how does the air of salt dungeons affect human body, scientists turned in the middle of the XX century. German doctors were the first to show interest in this issue, followed by Polish, Austrian, and Czech doctors. Special speleological clinics and clinics were created that successfully helped patients with chronic bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory diseases.

A few decades later, official medicine recognized that speleotherapy is effective method treatment. For people with diseases of the respiratory and nervous system, skin diseases, rooms began to be created in which the atmosphere of caves was artificially recreated and filled with salt aerosols. This direction was called halotherapy, since speleotherapy is possible only in natural conditions.

Where can you find caves?

After the patients different countries received the first concepts of speleotherapy - what it is and how effective its methods are, as well as with the advent of new scientific data, different kind clinics, hospitals and hospitals have been established in many countries. So, in Austria, technogenic radon adits in Bad Gastein were used, and in Poland, the Wieliczka salt mines.

In modern Russia, this method of treatment is used in sanatoriums and hospitals created in the Perm, Tyumen and Sverdlovsk regions, the Krasnodar Territory, as well as in the Moscow region.

There are also speleotherapeutic resorts, such as the Soligorsk salt mines in Belarus, the Kyrgyz Chon-Guz, the Duzdag caves in Azerbaijan.

How it works?

It should be noted that speleotherapy is a rather specific and unusual way of treatment for us, in which the main influencing factor is the special microclimate and air of underground caves. The peculiarity of this method is that in order to obtain the result, it is necessary to be underground for quite a long time.

Research scientists have shown that the caves really have a special microclimate:

1. The air is saturated with negative ions and mineral salts.

2. The constancy of the gas and ionic composition of air.

3. Practical complete absence allergens, dust of pathogenic microorganisms, due to which:

  • the number of damaging normal cells and causing inflammatory processes is reduced;
  • the number of T-lymphocytes responsible for the recognition and destruction of foreign agents increases;
  • phagocytic activity of cells is enhanced;
  • the content of immunoglobulins is normalized.

4. Low relative humidity of the ambient air.

5. Stable and not subject to sudden changes in temperature and pressure.

6. A slight increase in background radiation, especially near karst formations.

7. Somewhat elevated carbon dioxide content.

For each of the caves used for healing, these characteristics have different and unique meanings.

Specific and non-specific effects

Thanks to all of the above factors, cave air helps to improve and normalize protein and carbohydrate metabolism in the body, cleanses the respiratory system of harmful substances, tar and dust, helps to thin and remove sputum. All these are specific effects, but besides them, there are also so-called non-specific ones.

Such influences include:

  • gravitational and electromagnetic fields;
  • acoustic vibrations;
  • special mental state.

It is the specific and non-specific effects of the "cave" treatment that lead to an overall positive result. Unfortunately, the speleotherapy offered today in a polyclinic or health center cannot be compared with the impact of real underground clinics.

In what cases does it help?

Today, in the arsenal of speleotherapy there are many methods of treating a variety of diseases. Depending on the nature and course of diseases, doctors select climatic factors, the concentration of various salts and the individual time spent in the cave. However, along with many advantages, speleotherapy has contraindications and is not suitable for everyone.

This method of treatment is indicated for diseases such as:

  • various types of bronchial asthma;
  • chronic bronchitis and pneumonia;
  • hay fever;
  • I and II-A stages;
  • (sleep disorders, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome);
  • chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract:

Sinusitis,

Laryngitis,

adenoiditis,

Tonsillitis,

Pharyngitis;

  • atopic dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis without exacerbation;
  • drug and food allergies.

In addition, to restore immunity after illnesses and surgical interventions on the respiratory system.

Contraindications

Like most therapeutic methods, in addition to the advantages, speleotherapy has contraindications. These include:

1. Mental disorders and diseases.

2. Any disease in the acute phase.

3 . Tumors and oncological diseases.

4. Severe forms of hypertension and bronchial asthma.

5. Diseases of the circulatory system and hematopoietic organs.

6. Active form of tuberculosis.

7. Pregnancy.

Before planning treatment with speleotherapeutic methods, be sure to consult with your doctor.

Can children?

Children from the age of two can also be in salt caves and mines. Just remember that until the age of five, a child must be accompanied by one of the parents. Until the age of 10, babies can only receive daily sessions of treatments lasting about 1.5-2 hours. Children over 10 years old can also be prescribed night sessions of speleotherapy, lasting up to 9 hours.

Is speleotherapy effective for children? Feedback from parents, in most cases, is positive. The children not only went to the caves with pleasure, but their health improved noticeably. In some cases, there was a long-term improvement and even a complete absence of allergic reactions after returning to the familiar environment.

However, among those parents whose children have been treated with speleotherapy, there are those who believe that it did not help or had a slight positive effect. Basically, these are those whose children showed a slight deterioration in the condition at the very beginning of treatment and to whom the doctors gave a “breather” so that the body could rest and get used to it. In fact, there is nothing to worry about, since the respiratory system reacts to external influences in a similar way.

It is clear that treatment in the caves is not a panacea for everything, but it has helped to improve and restore the health of many people. Of course, if there are financial opportunities and a special room, you can own house make an artificial salt cave. But it is worth noting that speleotherapy at home is not as effective as in natural, and besides, you need to know exactly how long the exposure should take place and whether all this will help with your disease.

"Treatment with salt" - this is how the term "halotherapy" is translated from Greek. It means a session of staying in a special room, the air of which is saturated with particles of salt. Their size is very small: only 1-5 microns. This allows the particles to create a unique microclimate and penetrate deep into the respiratory organs, providing an antibacterial effect. The room where halotherapy takes place is so heavily saturated with salt that it is clearly felt by the taste buds: for this, it is enough to stretch your lips with a tube and pull the air towards you.

Salt is made up of sodium and chlorine. A similar composition in many fluids in the human body. So, sodium and chlorine are present in tears, blood and urine. This is a strong argument in favor of the naturalness of halotherapy.

Where and how is halotherapy performed?

Sessions are held in the so-called halochambers (speleochambers). In the people they are better known as salt caves or rooms. Previously, they could be found mainly in sanatoriums, but recently they have become widespread in many large cities. The room has a small size and a special microclimate. It is characterized by a constant temperature, low humidity, the absence of pathogenic microflora and fluctuations in atmospheric pressure.

The artificially recreated microclimate is as close as possible to the air of natural salt caves that are underground. To do this, the floor, walls and ceiling in such rooms are lined with special blocks or other salt-containing materials. However, they are more of a decorative value. The task of such salt treatment is to provide buffer moisture. The moisture that a person emits during the procedure is absorbed by the salt, thereby maintaining the optimal humidity in the room. After the session ventilation system removes accumulated moisture.

The heart of any halochamber is a salt generator. It is he who produces the healing sodium chloride. Home salt lamps work on a similar principle. Using a halogenerator, you can vary the amount of useful ions in the room air.


Before visiting the salt room for the first time, experts advise asking the administrator if there is a halogenerator in it. There are cases when, during the construction of a cave, its owners save on the main thing, creating only an entourage - a floor and walls made of salt. The latter, by the way, is also only a cheap imitation. Rooms without a halogenerator have nothing to do with medicine, and there will be no benefit from visiting them.

In a salt cave, it is customary to create a special interior that sets you up for maximum relaxation and excludes the feeling of being in a medical institution. It is usually dominated by subdued light - an important condition for relaxation. Soft rocking chairs, deck chairs, TV or pleasant music contribute to the comfort of visitors.

For small children, a salt sandbox is often installed in the room.

The mechanism of the procedure is simple: a person simply takes a comfortable position in a chair and enjoys a relaxing atmosphere. It is not necessary to undress, since salt affects the body through the respiratory system. Many visitors to the salt rooms fall asleep during the procedure, which is not forbidden by experts.

The duration of a halotherapy session varies and depends on:

  • features and course of the disease;
  • patient's age;
  • related pathologies.

Typically, the duration of the procedure for adults is 40-60 minutes, and for children - no more than half an hour. Experts believe that one session in the salt room replaces three days at sea.

The treatment course of halotherapy includes 10-25 daily sessions. For preventive purposes, procedures are prescribed twice every 7-10 days. If necessary, the course is repeated after 6-8 months.

Indications

Halotherapy has established itself as an effective non-drug method of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of many diseases of the respiratory system. Before the session, it is desirable to consult a specialist - a pulmonologist or an ENT specialist.

Halotherapy is primarily indicated for the following pathologies:

  • chronic bronchitis;
  • bronchial asthma;
  • bronchiectasis;
  • vasomotor and allergic rhinosinusitis;
  • chronic pharyngitis.

Halotherapy sessions have a beneficial effect on skin diseases such as psoriasis, acne, atonic dermatitis, eczema in the stabilization stage, hypersecretion sebaceous glands.

Halotherapy sessions help to strengthen immune system both in children and adults.

WITH preventive purpose a visit to the salt room is recommended for people who have had influenza, SARS, pneumonia. The salt cave is also effective for children who are often exposed to colds, which is confirmed by the reviews of many parents. Halotherapy is also very useful for coughs associated with smoking.

Contraindications

Halotherapy has contraindications that must be taken into account so as not to aggravate the problem. The procedure should be abandoned if:

  • individual intolerance to salt;
  • any disease in the acute stage;
  • malignant neoplasm;
  • infectious disease;
  • bleeding of any origin and localization;
  • pregnancy at any time;
  • mental pathologies of varying severity.

In St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Samara, there are halochambers (other names are salt caves, speleological chambers). This method of treatment is called speleotherapy (or halotherapy). This non-drug treatment diseases of a person by his stay in a room that recreates the conditions of the microclimate of natural caves.

From the history

The first halochamber was designed by the Soviet health resort physician Pavel Petrovich Gorbenko, who in 1976 opened a speleotherapy hospital in the village of Solotvino. And already in the 90s, Russian medicine introduced halochambers into the practice of improving people's health.

How does a salt cave work

The benefits of a salt cave are due to maintaining the desired level of indicators: humidity, temperature, pressure, ionic composition of oxygen. Allergens and bacteria are absent in the sterile air of salt caves.

The main component of the halochamber that produces a healing effect is a dry aerosol - microscopic salt particles sprayed in the air. For artificial salt caves, sodium salts or potassium chloride are used. Aerosol particles penetrate the respiratory organs due to their small size (from 1 to 5 microns).

The procedure is as follows:

  1. You enter the salt room, where unobtrusive music plays and subdued light comes out.
  2. Sit on a sun lounger and relax.

From the control room to the wellness room, the halogenerator delivers dry aerosol through ventilation. The air passes through the salt blocks and is filtered. This is how the human body adapts to the peculiarities of the microclimate of the salt cave: the organs restructure their activities. With a calm inhalation of salt particles, the activity of inflammatory and infectious processes in the respiratory tract decreases. Simultaneously, the immune system is stimulated. The duration of 1 treatment session is 40 minutes. for adults and 30 min. for kids.

Indications for the salt cave

Before signing up for a course of treatment in a salt cave, find out for what indications it is prescribed:

  • all pulmonary and bronchial diseases;
  • allergy;
  • skin diseases (including inflammatory processes);
  • diseases of the cardiovascular system;
  • psychological conditions (depression, fatigue, tension);
  • endocrine pathologies;
  • rehabilitation period after acute respiratory infections, influenza.

The indications for children undergoing salt cave treatment are the same as for adults. In pediatrics, the procedure is prescribed in the presence of any ENT disease in a child. Speleotherapy is also recommended for the rehabilitation of young patients with skin diseases, sleep disorders, stressful conditions, to strengthen the immune system and bronchial asthma. Children who have reached 1 year of age can undergo treatment with a salt cave.

Salt cave contraindications

There are contraindications to visiting the salt cave. The main ones are:

  • acute forms of diseases;
  • infections;
  • severe stages of disease diabetes, heart failure);
  • serious mental disorders;
  • oncopathology (especially malignant);
  • diseases of the circulatory system;
  • metabolic disorders;
  • the presence of abscesses, bleeding wounds and ulcers;
  • severe addiction (alcoholism, drug addiction);
  • haloaerosol intolerance.

Contraindications during pregnancy, prohibiting visiting the salt cave, are discussed with the attending physician. With caution, women should take speleotherapy during lactation. Sometimes experts prescribe a salt cave to expectant mothers as a remedy for toxicosis. But the decision to visit the halochamber is made by a doctor who takes into account the state of health of the pregnant woman.

Contraindications for children are the same as for adults. For any pathologies in the development of systems and organs in a child, a pediatrician's consultation is required before visiting the halochamber.

Salt cave benefits

Doctors say that one session of speleotherapy is equivalent to a four-day stay on the sea coast in terms of its healing effect. Let's figure out what the health benefits of a salt cave are and what the healing effect is due to.

Improves overall well-being

Patients note that staying in a salt cave eliminates the feeling of fatigue and anxiety, raises the overall tone of the body. Negative ions present in the air of the halochamber stimulate metabolic processes in tissues and increase the body's resistance to stress. Positive impact on nervous system has a relaxing atmosphere of a salt cave.

Increases immunity

The procedure increases the activity of the immune system. Salt aerosol activates local immunity of the respiratory tract, has an anti-inflammatory effect, and strengthens general immunity. Increases the body's resistance to external pathogenic factors.

Reduces the manifestations of diseases

The main task of the salt cave is to help the patient in the fight against the disease, reducing the degree of manifestation. While in a salt cave, contact with allergens and toxic substances from the outside world is interrupted. This speeds up the recovery of body systems.

Increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood

The therapeutic effect of the salt cave improves the functioning of the circulatory system. As a result, the hemoglobin content rises. Symptoms associated with low levels of iron-containing protein go away.

The benefits of a salt cave for children are higher than for adults. The child's body is being formed, so it is possible to prevent pathogenic changes.

  • The salt room has a positive effect on the child's central nervous system: hyperactive and excitable kids will calm down and relax.
  • The immunomodulatory, bacteriostatic and anti-edematous effect of salt spray is useful for diseases of the nasopharynx in a child.
  • For teenagers, staying in a salt cave will relieve psychological stress, relieve obsessive states.
  • Often manifested in children during puberty. With this diagnosis, it is recommended to undergo a course of treatment in a halochamber.

Halotherapy refers to an artificially recreated climatotherapy, similar in parameters to the microclimate treatment of salt caves. The range of indications for such procedures is very wide, but we should not forget about contraindications.

Brief historical outline

The beginning of the development of this method of treatment and prevention can be considered the end of the 70s of the XX century, when in Transcarpathia, in the Ukrainian SSR, under the guidance of Professor P.P. Gorbatenko, a hospital for the treatment of allergic patients was created in the rock salt massif.

The first halochamber appeared at the end of the 20th century in the USSR. It was designed in Leningrad in 1984 under the direction of DMN Gorbenko P.P. engineer Slesarenko VF, they also introduced the term "halotherapy".

Effects of halotherapy

The healing properties of this non-drug method of influencing the body are due to the special characteristics of the air: saturation with sodium salts, constant indicators of temperature and humidity.

The small size of negatively charged particles of sodium chloride allows the aerosol to penetrate into all parts of the respiratory tract and settle on their walls. This property helps to achieve long-term remission in patients with obstructive respiratory system syndrome by drawing fluid from edematous tissues and thinning bronchial secretions.

Speleological chambers make climatotherapy more accessible and increase the effectiveness of the treatment of various pathologies, including the use of this physical factor in children. Age restrictions for halotherapy is not, however, in the first months of life, this type of treatment is prescribed only for certain indications.

Indications

Given the main therapeutic effects of halotherapy, indications for this type of exposure look like this:

  1. Chronic nonspecific lung diseases in a sluggish form with frequent exacerbations and unstable remission (chronic obstructive bronchitis, bronchial asthma, chronic pneumonia, bronchiectasis, emphysema, chronic abscess).
  2. Residual effects of pneumonia and bronchitis.
  3. allergic phenomena.
  4. Cystic fibrosis, anomalies in the development of the bronchopulmonary system.
  5. Rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, rhinosinusitis.
  6. Occupational diseases of the respiratory system, pneumoconiosis.
  7. Psoriasis in remission.
  8. Allergic dermatitis, neurodermatitis.
  9. Acne.
  10. Seborrhea.
  11. Eczema.
  12. Frequent colds.
  13. Psycho-emotional instability.
  14. Vegetovascular dystonia.
  15. Increased levels of stress in the patient's environment.


Contraindications

Like any physical treatment factor, halotherapy has a number of contraindications. These include:

  • acute illnesses with fever;
  • exacerbation of chronic pathologies;
  • kidney disease;
  • tendency to bleeding, blood diseases;
  • recent lung diseases such as tuberculosis, abscess, emphysema with residual effects;
  • diffuse pneumosclerosis;
  • individual intolerance to the therapeutic factor;
  • toxicosis of pregnant women;
  • claustrophobia;
  • malignant neoplasms;
  • mental illness;
  • severe cachexia.

Methodology for carrying out procedures

Treatment is carried out in specially equipped speleological chambers in four modes (depending on the salt concentration in the air). The selection of patients is carried out by a doctor, taking into account the required intensity of exposure.

The halochamber consists of two adjacent rooms with good sound insulation and lack of natural light.

In the room reserved for treatment, comfortable sun loungers or armchairs are installed in which patients are in the most comfortable position. The light should be soft, the lining of the walls, ceiling and floor with salt blocks is not required. In some cases, in order to reduce financial costs, they are limited to salt sand or even the supply of air saturated with fine sodium salts. To create additional relaxation and psychological comfort, it is recommended to combine halotherapy with music therapy (special music is selected for sessions that specifically affects the central nervous system), geolandscape therapy (room decoration with lighting effects and specific landscapes) and psychotherapy.

Due to the saturation of the air with salt, a bacteriostatic effect is exerted, and the number of bacteria in the halochamber during the procedure is significantly lower than the established threshold level of contamination for sterile air.


At home

Halotherapy sessions can be carried out at home. To achieve this goal, there are 3 possibilities:

  • Salt lamps. Of course, the effectiveness of such a lamp cannot be compared with a salt cave, but it has a positive effect on the body: it strengthens the immune system, has an anti-allergic effect, improves the functioning of the respiratory system, calms the nerves and helps fight stress. Besides, appearance lamps will complement and diversify the interior.
  • Portable devices for halotherapy. It should be borne in mind that these procedures are characterized by dry spraying of sodium salts, and some devices offered on the service market operate in wet mode. Such devices do not have a therapeutic effect similar to speleotherapy.
  • Modern equipment allows you to equip the halochamber at home and, subject to the recommendations of a doctor and safety precautions, conduct speleotherapy sessions without leaving home.

It should be taken into account the emerging difficulties associated with the passage of treatment in natural conditions (in hospitals with natural salt mines), the impossibility of a wide coverage of the population, the risk of acclimatization reactions (due to changing climatic conditions). Therefore, the artificial reconstruction of air characteristics outside the resort areas increases the possibility of conducting climatotherapy for a large number of people of different ages who need it without the need to change their place of residence.

TVC channel, DoctorI program on the topic “What is a salt cave and halotherapy”

Information video "Halotherapy - indications"