Our conversations are a lesson in fluidity. Every conversation is a topic allowing us to travel across the globe while remaining in our city. We meet every Friday to give and receive our perspective on the topic of the moment. The topics can change repeatedly and unexpectedly. As many topics, there are as many opinions. We are a core group of three with a greater number of participants on any given Friday morning.
This Friday the talking point was salt. We find its presence ordinary, something we see every day and are familiar with a plethora of usages. However, this four letter deceptively simple word has historical significance and an interesting, and rich history. In fact, through history, the usage of this crystalline natural mineral element was considered a symbol of friendship, wisdom, good health, and money. Wars were fought over it, causing the rise and fall of countries, salt has influenced agriculture as a seasoning and preservative, and a long history in in the making of products from dyes to paper. Unfortunately, salt has come under an attack as a substance blamed for digestive health conditions. We are in distress over the use of table salt, yet, even the healthiest person will admit, a pinch of salt improves the taste of food. However, Salt is an essential nutrient, the body cannot manufacture, and taken in a correct dosage will produce positive effects. The trend to breathe in misty salt vapors (tiny salt particles) for respiratory health benefits has increased greatly.
In the U.S.A. and Canada, there are almost 300 Salt Rooms or Salt Caves, at spas, resorts, and standalone facilities, a huge jump from 12 in 2012, practicing Dry Salt Therapy or Halotherapy. Recreating an environment of the salt caves where Eastern Europeans and Russians practice dry salt treatment in the past. Monks would grind salt rocks against each other and have individuals inhale the salt dust, reducing the time of recovery for respiratory problems. A 174 years ago Dr. Feliks Boczkowski, noted that the Wieliczka (Poland) salt miners did not suffer from respiratory problems as others. Today, referred to as Halotherapy with the use of a Halogenerator developed In Odessa Russia in 1985. The Halogenerator crushes Dry Salt in the air in an aerosol form, pumping atomized salt particles into the air of the room. The lungs are cleansed of allergens, toxins, and foreign substances. U.S. Doctors state” there isn’t enough evidence to support the claims and are concerned patients will replace halotherapy with their medications.” According to the Salt Therapy Association, there are two types of rooms – Passive Salt Room and Active Salt Room- providing salt therapy in a manmade environment.
Both rooms are artificial replicates of a large underground chamber, the walls are stacked with pink Himalayan salt blocks and floors made of loose pink Himalayan salt crystals, the size of coarse salt, from the Punjab region of Pakistan. The room provides a relaxing spa environment with comfortable reclining gravitational chairs, the ceiling has faux stalactites and twinkly lights and with soft music. Participants are to wear loose comfortable clothing (shorts and t-shirts). The salon will supply booties or socks to cover your feet. A passive and active salt room provides a salt crystal that naturally produces a negative ion that reduces stress and headaches. The difference between the rooms is an Active Salt Room has a halogenerator that blow dry aerosol of salt into enclosed room-offering Halotherapy.
In the Chicago land you can find Active salt rooms and caves offering halotherapy.
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