Salt therapy and asthma: what does the research say?

Salt therapy has long been popular among people with asthma. Many report that breathing feels easier in a salt room or next to a salt generator. But what do we know about this scientifically? In this article we honestly summarise what studies show, what you can realistically expect, and how to safely combine a salt climate with your asthma medication.

Why do people think salt might help?

In asthma, the bronchi are inflamed and often narrowed by thick mucus. The theory behind salt therapy is that fine inhaled salt particles dissolve on the moist surface of the airways and temporarily make the fluid layer covering the lining saltier. This can draw water to the surface and help loosen mucus and cough it up. A more concentrated saline inhalation that doctors prescribe in certain conditions works on a similar principle.

What do the studies show?

• Cochrane review: analysing studies of salt mine therapy (speleotherapy) in children with asthma, it found only three studies involving a total of 124 children, and no reliable conclusion about effectiveness could be drawn from them.
• A 2017 Israeli pilot study compared a real salt room with a salt-free "placebo" room in children with mild asthma. Airway hyper-responsiveness improved moderately in the salt therapy group, but the authors stressed that larger studies are needed.
• More recent literature reviews also concluded that the few small studies show encouraging signs, but the results are not convincing.

In short: salt therapy for asthma is promising but not proven. It cannot replace medical treatment; at most it can complement it by supporting the person's wellbeing.

Realistic expectations

People with asthma who use a salt climate often report that:

• their airways feel cleaner and "refreshed",
• they can cough up phlegm more easily,
• time spent in the salt climate is calm and relaxing.

These are individual experiences, and not everyone has them. What is certain is that salt therapy does not cure asthma and does not replace the preventer inhaler. Stopping medication because of salt therapy can be dangerous.

Safe use for people with asthma

1. Talk to your doctor first, especially if it is for your child.
2. Continue your prescribed medication unchanged.
3. Keep your fast-acting inhaler at hand during the session too.
4. Only use it when your condition is stable: not during a flare-up, an attack, a fever or an acute infection.
5. Start with shorter sessions, and watch how you react.
6. Stop immediately if coughing, wheezing or chest tightness occurs. In sensitive airways, salt can rarely trigger bronchial narrowing.

All year round, in every season

Asthma symptoms can change with the seasons: pollen in spring and summer, ragweed and infections in autumn, cold dry air and smog in winter. Those who have good experiences with a salt climate can use a home salt generator regularly all year round, even on holiday, since the family device is portable. Read about season-specific tips in our allergy season calendar and our winter guide.

For children

Childhood asthma is the most common chronic childhood illness. A significant share of salt therapy studies were also done with children. If your child has asthma, always discuss salt therapy with their paediatrician or paediatric lung specialist. You will find practical tips in our article for children.

For a general overview of asthma symptoms, types and treatment, read this article.

This article is for general information only and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. AREC salt generators are not medical devices and do not replace the medical treatment of asthma.