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Salt cave that 'treats asthma'
Sophie Goodchild, Health Editor17.03.09
A London clinic has become the first in Britain to offer asthma and allergy sufferers salt therapy.
Patients will be treated at a "salt cave" in a former church in Wandsworth.
The therapy is being piloted by the Allergy and Asthma Drug Free Treatment Centre and is already widely used in countries including Poland, which has 200 clinics.
Experts including Asthma UK are backing the treatment, called Halotherapy, which is expected to become available on the NHS.
One in three people in London have an allergy and one out of 13 have asthma. Treatments include steroids but these can cause side-effects such as a sore mouth, or can affect hormone levels.
Salt therapy claims to work by clearing the airways of mucus and reducing inflammation triggered by allergies to dust, pollen or pollution.
Sufferers sit in a chamber which has its own micro-climate and is coated with salt. Particles of dry rock salt are ground up by a special machine and circulated around the chamber.
These particles, invisible to the naked eye, penetrate deep into the respiratory system. Minerals including potassium and magnesium are said to help reduce inflammation and clean out mucus blocking the airways.
Those who have tried the treatment include four-year-old Toby Johnson from south-west London, who was diagnosed with asthma last year.
His mother Hannah, 36, said that sessions at the salt cave, which uses salt imported from Lithuania, have helped his breathing.
She said: "Toby was constantly ill and on antibiotics so the doctor put him on a Ventolin inhaler and a heavy dose of steroids. Then I heard about salt therapy through his nursery.
"It's really improved his breathing and means he takes less drugs at night."
Experts have already found that asthmatics can breathe easier if they are sent down salt mines.
The popularity of salt treatment was inspired by 19th century findings that Polish salt miners had fewer pulmonary problems than other people. Then, in the Nineties, scientists started to explore recreating similar conditions above ground.
A Finnish study found that sufferers' lungs were less likely to show allergic "hyper-responsiveness" to their environment.
It concluded that a salt chamber could prove a useful addition to conventional medicine. Allergy expert Dr Robert Boyle from Imperial College said saline - a solution of salt and water - was already used in treating cystic fibrosis patients. He said: "Concentrated or hypertonic saline is used for children with cystic fibrosis to thin mucus. When it's inhaled, it helps to thin the secretions."
But Asthma UK said the evidence was inconclusive about the benefits of salt therapy for asthma. A spokeswoman for the charity said: "There is evidence that it can have a benefit but we just don't know enough about it. We would advise people to continue taking their normal prescribed medicine."
The treatment costs £35 for an hour and patients are advised to have between 10 and 20 sessions depending on the severity of their condition.
Reader views (4)
Please find further information on http://www.saltcave.co.uk.
- Denes Gal, Wandsworth
I was introduced to salt therapy by my Hungarian fencing coach, Laszlo Jakab. About four years ago after suffering a heavy winter cold followed by the usual persistent cough Laszlo presented me with a Cisca Saltpipe. This is a little ceramic "inhaler" which contains salt crystals which one breathes through thus taking in air laden with microcrystals of salt. This was hugely successful and my cough was cleared up in a matter of a few days. At the time I also suffered from severe summer hay fever. Previously I had been given steroid inhalers and nose sprays and my GP had me down on the list of asthma sufferers. After using the salt pipe I can now completely control hay fever symtoms during the summer months and no longer need prescription medication for allergies. I have recommended the Cisca salt pipe to many friends and family members. Everyone who has used one has been delighted with the benefits.
- Carole Seheult, Durham, UK
I got infection in my nose when I 's young. ENT ordered treatment with antibiotics. I moved to Finland 1988. When I saw doctor in public hospital. I got asthma test and the doctor concluded that it's just allergy and asthma. The doctor gave me asthma treatment and when I became serious sick. The doctor refused me antibiotics advised clean my nose with salt water. I cleaned with salt water, it got worse. I saw many doctors in public and private hospitals. When I travelled in USA 1997. I got antibiotics from ENT in Stanford hospital in California. I got nose operation in Finland but the doctor did not prescript antibiotics although I often requested. After some years I got serious sick again I saw doctors in Sweden and Germany and others but the Finnish doctor requested other doctors advised me clean with salt water
I moved to Norway 2001 I saw doctors and ENT, the Finnish requested the same. I tried salt water, it got worse. When I studied in London 2003 and 2005 got so serious sick I got to emergency in London I got some antibiotics. I returned Norway, the Finnish doctor requested Norwegian hospital not give antibiotics but allergy and mental examination. I changed ENT doctor and got x ray with evidence serious infection in my nose I got antibiotic from a foreign doctor in Norway. Many Norwegian doctors saw x ray and gave some antibiotics but later because the Finnish doctor requested they just gave allergy medicine, propaganda fool govt. I m sick but I can't get medicine
- Patrict, Norway
I have experienced this wonderful treatment at the clinic in Earlsfield. I had previously gone to my doctor feeling short of breath. Even after one treatment I could feel the benefits walking down the road the next day. As an osteopath I am recommending this treatment to my patients who suffer with asthma and have also passed the research to my doctor. It is also a very relaxing treatment. I am sure that many more clinics will open up in due course.
- Irene Phillips, Worcester Park, Surrey
