Can Salt Therapy (Halotherapy) Prevent the Coronavirus, Flu or the Common Cold?

With all the buzz in the media about the spread of the Coronavirus, we’ve been asked a lot lately whether Pura Vida Body & Mind Spa’s Salt Room (Halotherapy) can prevent becoming infected.  Well, the short answer is no, but it’s not really that simple. Let me explain.

Salt Is an Antibacterial

While salt is widely known to be a natural antibacterial, that doesn’t mean that breathing it in during a Halotherapy session can kill all the germs you are exposed to. This is because, by the time you feel sick, the infection is usually already in your bloodstream. Also, keep in mind that the illness acquired from a virus is not caused by bacteria at all, but is caused by the virus itself.  This is why doctors do not and should not prescribe antibiotics for viral infections.

How Halotherapy Can Help

While we have no scientific evidence that Halotherapy can prevent you from becoming ill, we do know how it will benefit you both before and after your fall sick.  The dry salt naturally absorbs allergens, toxins and foreign substances in sinuses, lungs and throughout your respiratory tract. Therefore, having Halotherapy on a regular basis may work to keep you healthier by cleansing your system and even killing some of the germs that have not found their way into your bloodstream yet. 

Additionally, salt is a natural anti-inflammatory. Most of the time, when you fall ill with a cold or flu, your nasal passages, sinuses and respiratory tract will become inflamed. Continual coughing and nose blowing often makes the inflammation even worse. During the Halotherapy session, you breath in the salt which helps to reduce the inflammation making it easier to breath and helps move the mucus out. Thus, even after you’re sick, the cold or flu symptoms your experiencing are often not as severe with Halotherapy. Because you feel less sick and are able to sleep better, most of our Salt Room guests report shorter duration of illness. 

How to Prevent Becoming Infected by the Coronavirus (or any flu virus)

Preventing flu-borne illness really isn’t rocket science and should already be things you know but a quick review probably isn’t a bad idea given all the media attention this flu season. Here’s what the CDC says to do:  

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
• CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
• Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. 
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• If you must travel, the CDC has specific guidance for travelers.