Halotherapy
Halotherapy, derived from the Greek halos, meaning "salt", is a form of alternative medicine which makes use of salt. Numerous forms of halotherapy have been known of and used for millennia. One finds the first mentions of spa resorts in Poland in records dating from the twelfth century. They relate to bathing in mineral waters.[1] Locations exist in the United States and Canada that attempt to reproduce the atmospheric salt concentrations found in Polish halotherapy spas.[2]
Medical health experts have said that halotherapy is an unproven treatment that lacks scientific credibility.[3] Methodological limitations call into question studies that showed improvement in symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease following halotherapy.[4]
Inhalation of hypertonic saline can stimulate bronchoconstriction, which may be used in the diagnosis or evaluation of asthma symptoms.[5]
Forms
There are several forms of halotherapy:[1]
- Saline solution inhalations
- Dry salt aerosol inhalations
- Irrigation and lavage
- Saline and brine baths
- Taking the waters (crenotherapy)
See also
Look up halotherapy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
References
- 1 2 Kamińska, Katarzyna (2014). Halotherapy. Sulejówek: Salsano Haloterapia Polska. p. Transl. Caryl Swift. ISBN 978-83-937819-1-1.
- ↑ Melnick, Meredith. "Halotherapy: Is Salt Treatment for Real". TIME.
- ↑ Shah, R.,; Greenberger, P. (2012). "Unproved and controversial methods and theories in allergy-immunology". Allergy and Asthma Proceedings. 33 (Supplement 1): 100–102. doi:10.2500/aap.2012.33.3562. PMID 22794702.
- ↑ Rashleigh, Rachel; Smith, Sheree (February 21, 2014). "A review of halotherapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease". International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. doi:10.2147/COPD.S57511.
- ↑ Borges, MC; Ferraz, E. "Protective effect of bronchial challenge with hypertonic saline on nocturnal asthma". Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research. doi:10.1590/S0100-879X2008000300006.
External links
- Salt therapy is finding new fans, but doctors remain skeptical - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- Salt Therapies - Skeptoid