Salt Cave Therapy?

Ostrom

Hoping some of you good folk can clarify this -

A unit recently opened in a shopping centre closeby offering 'salt cave climatherapy' - treatment for asthma, bronchitis, seasonal allergies and other respiratory ailments. Proprietor seems to have American medical credentials displayed (uses the title 'Dr' but with M.D. rather than M.B. BcH etc, which, as I understand is the format of Irish medical degrees?)

Anyway, I'm a little curious and tried investigating. I couldn't find many papers on pubmed or medline, aside from the one cited below* from a trial of 124 with a control group of 15 (all of whom showed improvement). I'm not a medic, so I dont know how reputable the journal in question is, and cant seem to find citation indices.

Have any of you come across this before?

*Chervinskaya, AV., 1995. Halotherapy for treatment of respiratory diseases, Journal of Aerosol Medicine, 8(3):221-32

Alun

Never heard of it before, but the only thing I can imagine is that the atmosphere in salt mines / caves is extremely dry, which is why some salt mines are 'branching out' by building archival and storage facilities into disused sections of their mines. Maybe there's something in that for respiratory disease sufferers, I don't know. (IANAD)

JuliusCaesar

The effect of salt chamber treatment on bronchial hyperresponsiveness in asthmatics.
Allergy. 61(5):605-610, May 2006.
Hedman, J. 1; Hugg, T. 2; Sandell, J. 2; Haahtela, T. 3

BMJ 2006;333:267 (29 July)Learning from the Russians
B Hirsh (opinion piece)

Cochrane on Communism: the influence of ideology on the search for evidence*
Martin McKee,2007, International Journal of Epidemiology full text available
cites Hirsh, above, "Much of what has been written about Soviet medicine is characterized by a generosity of spirit,30 with a willingness to concede that some of the unconventional treatments observed may work, perhaps drawing on some knowledge that is not available in the west. This is understandable. As a guest, one does not want to criticize one's hosts and, given the strong belief that people have in seemingly bizarre treatments, observers may be tempted to think that there is something in them. A recent example was the approving description by a British doctor of the benefits of sitting in a salt cave bathed in soothing coloured lights.31 That treatment was administered to disadvantaged Russian children with the aim of reducing their risk of catching colds." (Fascinating article on Soviet science, actually)

Dr Galen

like a giant room sized saline neb?

Alexandr

Hello everyone!
Never thought I would find any post about those chambers in Ireland.
Efla can you plz tell were such a chamber was built, what shoping center?

Leo Demidov

Alexandr wrote: »

Hello everyone!
Never thought I would find any post about those chambers in Ireland.
Efla can you plz tell were such a chamber was built, what shoping center?

There seems to be about 6 of these salt therapy centres in ireland now, but can anyone vouch for their effectiveness, especially regarding hayfever and asthma. The blurb sounds good and i do believe that salt has some healing properties but i wonder how long lasting the effects would be. If it works, it would be worth anything but at 30 euro a pop it'd want to work.

Our local one does a deal where you can bring your kid for free (technically your kid brings you for free as you must accompany them for their appointment) They also do a deal where you book 10 sessions for little over 200 euro and in any event your first session is free. Am booked in for Friday morning so I will let ye know how it goes. I may need to be further convinced to part with cash going forward.

If anyone has any experience or info, please share.

Ihaveanopinion

efla wrote: »

Proprietor seems to have American medical credentials displayed (uses the title 'Dr' but with M.D. rather than M.B. BcH etc, which, as I understand is the format of Irish medical degrees?)

MD could mean an American medical degree but is kind of meaningless in Ireland unless he is on the Register of the Irish Medical Council (http://www.medicalcouncil.ie) - assuming he/she wishes to practice as a medical doctor in Ireland.

Leo Demidov

I've been in twice now, no instant cure but I'm willing to give it a lash.

sarah sinnott

just see a salt cave has opened in Athenry Co. Galway if this if of any use to you...

Frank Spencer

Just in case anybody is interested.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056244887

finglas12

efla I am curious why you are so interested in this guys medical credentials, when it is a complimentary treatment and not a medical one.Are you interested in having the treatment, if so why not just ring up and ask.

And for the record, my friend went to it and found it great for her asthma,she went back to her own doctor after doing some sessions and he reduced her meds. She had been on steroids and two inhalers.

mf690

tried 2 different of these salt caves ,1 in wexford and 1 in maynooth , did nothing for me waste of money.

finglas12

It has worked very well for a few of my friends, but they were warned they had to follow directions. Serveral per week for 10 sessions. Sinus has completely cleared for one and a very bad cough for my friends daughter gone. But its like everything. Things work for some and not for others. Two doctors can perscribe the same medicine for two people with the same complaint and it will work for one and not the other.

Isn't that just life..lol