Halotherapy and Balneotherapy are two complex sounding terms for two very simple holistic remedies. And when the two meet, it’s one powerful detox tool that anyone can afford to indulge in!

Halotherapy – Salt Therapy

Halotherapy, derived from the Greek halos, meaning “salt”, is simply a therapy which makes use of salt. Numerous forms of halotherapy have been known of and used from millennia. Salt therapy has been around since the earliest of times, with the first records of salt spas being mentioned in Poland dating from the twelfth century.

There are several forms of halotherapy, including:

– Saline solution inhalations

– Dry salt aerosol inhalations

– Irrigation and lavage

– Saline and brine baths

The last use – saline and brine baths is where balneotherapy comes it!

Balneotherapy – Bath Therapy

Balneotherapy, derived from the Latin “balneum”, for “bath”, is the treatment of disease by bathing. While it is considered distinct from hydrotherapy, there are some overlaps in practice and in underlying principles.

There are several forms of balneotherapy, including:

– Water massage

– Moving through water

– Soaking in water

The origins of therapy through bathing can be traced back to remote antiquity. Romans were firm believers in the virtues of bathing.

Halotherapy + Balneotherapy = A Salt Bath Detox!

So powerful is the simple solution of salt in water, that the therapeutic application is one of the world’s oldest health solutions that is still recommended by doctors today. The basic premise of a salt bath detox is to infuse your skin with the trace elements of the minerals found in salt.

Natural sea salt derives over 80 essential trace nutrients from the mineral treasure trove present in sea water. These natural minerals are valuable for healthy functioning of the body. The nutritional wealth of sea salt includes vital minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bromide, chloride, iron, copper, and zinc among other beneficial elements.

5 Benefits of Detoxing with a Salt Bath

1. Soothing Stiff, Sore & Aching Muscles

Studies show that sea salt can help regulate electrolytes in your body, ensuring proper functioning of the muscles, nerves and enzymes. The natural traces of magnesium in salt is also known to be critical in the proper use of calcium, which serves as a main conductor of the electric impulses in your body.

Magnesium also plays a number of roles in the body including regulating the activity of over 325 enzymes, reducing inflammation, helping muscle and nerve function and helping to prevent artery hardening.

A deep soak in sea salt will work wonders in helping get blood flowing to sore muscles, thus relieving stiffness and achiness.

2. Detoxification & Cleansing

Toxins are in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the medications we take and in the water we drink. Our toxic burden is a result of the toxins we are exposed to and our body’s ability to naturally detox. The more toxins we are exposed to, the harder the body has to work at eliminating these toxins.

In detoxification circles, your skin is known as the third kidney, and toxins are excreted through sweating. A detox bath is a powerful way to assist your body in eliminating toxins as well as absorbing the minerals and nutrients that are in the water.

Sea salt can be absorbed in skin when it’s dissolved into microscopic particles. When all of the minerals are in a readily available form, one of the first things to happen is the salt minerals act as a sort of laxative for all the cells in your body. The cells are able to offload the buildup of toxins, leaving your skin healthy and fresh and rejuvenated. Instant detoxification!

3. Improving Circulation

The elements in natural, mineral rich salt are available in such tiny microscopic particles that they can be easily absorbed by human skin cells and metabolized. When salt is dissolved into water, the elements are absorbed in their ionic form into your cells. As a result, it deeply cleans the pores – purifying and disinfecting them – and stimulates the skin’s surface circulation.

The mineral content in salt has long been appreciated for its rejuvenating effects on the skin. Bathing in a in sea salt solution helps in keeping the skin moisturized and revitalized. Exfoliation with sea salts especially helps to remove dead skin particles, tone up the skin tissues, encourage peripheral blood circulation, and helps in overall skin renewal.

4. Promoting Sound, Restful Sleep

The magnesium found in salt helps to produce serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of calm and relaxation. Therefore sea salt baths have a calming and soporific effect, helping in inducing profound, rejuvenating sleep.

In addition, salt naturally produces negative ions, which produces the “clarity effect” that people love from Halotherapy treatments. Negative ions have been shown to reduce stress, headaches, lethargy and depression, and negative ions can dramatically increase your overall sense of well-being.

The result of bathing in salt and absorbing it’s rich mineral content is naturally improved sleep, concentration, and relaxed muscles.

5. Remineralizing the Body

Every one of the ten trillion cells in your body contains thousands of enzymes. Your health is dependent upon having every cell pulling its weight in the task of working together with all the other cells. For the cells to work efficiently, all of their enzymes must be functioning well. The majority of these enzymes require minerals in small amounts – minerals are basically essential for enzymes to function, and a salt bath helps to restore the mineral content in your body.

In addition, many chronic problems and diseases are largely the result of overly acidic bodies.

Normally, the body’s metabolism maintains a pH balance in all tissues close to neutral (7.0). Certain organs are naturally more acidic, like the heart with a pH of 6.8, whereas other areas, such as the blood, are more alkaline (7.35-7.45). It is common to become overly acidic due to an over-consumption of toxic food and drink. Stress also plays a major role, further reducing the body’s capacity to maintain the proper pH for each organ tissue.

Humans need trace minerals and ionized minerals from plant sources to replenish the mineral salts lost from excessive acidity and poor nutrition over several years. Remineralizing through a salt bath helps to restore your bodies pH balance, and maintain the health of your cells.

Have you tried a salt bath? Are you interested in trying one? Don’t forget to click the icon below for your chance to win some a 7 Pound Bucket of Redmond Bath Salts!