St. Louis Salt Room

And if you'd really like to get familiar with the development of Halotherapy, here are more specifics:

1. Main Completed Research Projects

2. Scientific Rationale for Halotherapy

3. Institutions Involved in Research Projects

4. Negative Ions - Medical Studies

Salt Room Therapy Medical Support

Main Completed Research Projects

1. A series of experiments to study the physical properties of aerodispersing systems were done. In particular, research on the dynamics of distribution of dry salt aerosol in rooms. Major factors affecting the lifetime of dry salt aerosol were identified. The specific features of generation and distribution of respirable fraction of dry salt aerosol in limited quantities were assessed. The electrical characteristics of various aerosol environments were tested. The dependence of the dynamics of dry salt aerosol on temperature and moisture characteristics of an environment was discovered. These and some other experiments and researches laid down the basis for the development of the behavioral algorithm of salt aerosol inside the rooms and the developing of a new generation of technical tools for controlled halotherapy.
Jointly with St. Petersburg State Medical University named after Acad. I. Pavlov and St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation.

2.The mechanisms for therapeutic and preemptive impact of controlled halotherapy were defined in terms of a comprehensive assessment of the impact of sodium chloride dry fine aerosol on defense mechanisms in respiratory tract. Clinical and pathogenic rationale of the influence of sodium chloride aerosol dry fine on bronchial patency was produced.
Jointly with St. Petersburg State Medical University named after Acad. I. Pavlov, Institute of Pulmonology, FMBA of Russia (Moscow), Institute of Childhood Infections, FMBA of Russia, Clinical Hospital № 122 named after L. Sokolov, FMBA of Russia.

3. The impact of sodium chloride dry fine aerosol on the properties of microorganisms and physiological properties of the epithelium in the experiment was examined.
Jointly with the Institute for Childhood Infections, FMBA of Russia, Clinical Hospital № 122 named after L. Sokolov, FMBA of Russia.

4. A differential approach and methodological basis for the prescription of various concentrations of sodium chloride dry salt aerosol, depending on clinical and functional parameters was developed. Recommendations and contraindications, some particulars for the application of the method application for rehabilitation and prevention purposes were elaborated.
Jointly with St. Petersburg State Medical University named after Acad. I. Pavlov, Institute of Pulmonology, FMBA of Russia (Moscow), Clinical Hospital № 122 named after L. Sokolov, FMBA of Russia, Military Medical Academy named after S. Kirov.

5. Clinical efficiency of the method with the use of placebo-control for the patients with major forms of acute and chronic bronchopulmonary system was tested. The data on the efficiency of controlled halotherapy in overall treatment of patients with bronchial asthma, COPD, who receive basic medical therapy in accordance with the requirements of the modern international regulations, were received. The effect of the developed method with the patients with bronchial asthma was studied, in terms of pathogenic variant and severity. The possibility of applying the method for the patients with cystic fibrosis was assessed.
Jointly with St. Petersburg State Medical University named after Acad. I. Pavlov, Institute of Pulmonology, FMBA of Russia (Moscow), Clinical Hospital № 122 named after L. Sokolov, FMBA of Russia, Military Medical Academy named after S. Kirov.

6. Based on a comprehensive clinical testing and in-depth study of epidemiological indicators a preventive effect of controlled halotherapy was proved.
Jointly with the Clinical Hospital № 122 named after L. Sokolov, FMBA of Russia, Institute of Childhood Infections, FMBA of Russia, the Russian Scientific Center for Restorative Medicine and Balneology of Studies, Proctor & Gambles’ European and East European Directorate for Science (USA).

7. The impact mechanisms and clinical efficiency of controlled halotherapy for pathology of upper respiratory tract was examined. The modes of dry salt aerosol concentration were developed.
Jointly with St. Petersburg State Medical University named after Acad. I. Pavlov, Institute of Pulmonology, FMBA of Russia (Moscow), Institute of Childhood Infections, FMBA of Russia, Clinical Hospital № 122 named after L. Sokolov, FMBA of Russia.

8. Clinical efficiency was examined, and some recommendations and contraindications were produced for the application of controlled halotherapy in pediatric practice. The prescription modes for dry salt aerosol concentrations, duration of treatment for various diseases for kids were developed.
Jointly with the Clinical Hospital № 122 named after L. Sokolov, FMBA of Russia, the Russian Scientific Center for Restorative Medicine and Balneology Studies, Scientific Center of Children's Health, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.

9. The efficiency of a controlled halotherapy in kids's and educational institutions was examined. The modes of dry salt aerosol concentrations and patterns of use were developed.
Jointly with the Russian Scientific Center for Restorative Medicine and Balneology of HealthCare Authority of Russia.

10. The efficiency of the application of controlled halotherapy for aged people and comorbidity was tested. The modes of aerosol concentrations and patterns of use of the method in overall treatment were developed.
Jointly with the National Institute of Advanced Medical of the Defense Ministry of Russia, Clinical Hospital № 122 named after L. Sokolov, FMBA of Russia, Scientific Centre of Cardiovascular Surgery named after A. Bakulev, RAMS.

11. The efficiency of the application of controlled halotherapy for professional lung diseases was examined. The developed method was laid down the organization of preventive and recovery treatment for the patients with toxic-chemical bronchitis.
Jointly with the Clinical Hospital № 122 named after L. Sokolov, FMBA of Russia, Institute of Postgraduate Professional Education FMBTS named after A. Burnazyan, FMBA of Russia (Moscow).

12. The efficiency of controlled halotherapy in rehabilitation therapy of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clinical, functional parameters and measures of health-related quality of life (HRQL) by SF-16 and LCQ (10 items) were estimated after rehabilitation therapy procedures and in 3 months. Application of halotherapy, using dry sodium chloride aerosol, on the background of the rehabilitation therapy in patients with COPD rendered to positive effect.
Jointly with Dep. of Balneology and Physical Medicine Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, UMK (Poland).

Scientific Rationale for Halotherapy

The research on the development and rationale of the action mechanisms and clinical efficacy of halotherapy has been carried out from the end of 80s until present in collaboration with leading scientific institutions of Russia.

During 1991-1995, I together with my colleagues in the Russian Research Institute of Pulmonology (Moscow) and St. Petersburg State Medical University named after I.P. Pavlov have performed a series of researches on testing the mechanisms of fine dry salt aerosol effect, and the ways of application of halo-aerosol technology for the patients of pulmonology clinic. The outcomes of our work have been summed up in “The Guidelines for the Application of Medical Technology of Halotherapy for Overall Treatment and Rehabilitation of Respiratory Diseases”, edited by the Academician Alexander G. Chuchalin and approved by the Ministry of Health of Russian Federation. Thus, the method of controlled halotherapy has become officially acknowledged and accepted, and authorized for use in medical practice at any medical institution in Russia.

Since 1994, the coordination of the research is being provided by the Clinical Research Respiratory Center established in St. Petersburg (Russia) within the Clinical Hospital №122 of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency of Russia. Certain summarized results of these studies were included in my Doctor of Medical Sciences Theses “Halo-aerosol Therapy in Overall Treatment and Prevention of Respiratory Diseases” (2001).

In 1991-1995 in Russia and Ukraine halotherapy was applied mainly in the field of pulmonology. Since 1995, halotherapy is being widely used in physical therapy, spa medicine, pediatrics, rehabilitation of patients with bronchopulmonary diseases, and otorhinolaryngology.

These researches have led to a conclusion of the possibility of halotherapy application for respiratory hygiene (i.e. airways clearance). Therefore, since 2006 halotherapy started to spread in spa industry, where it was named HaloSPA^®.

In recent years, the coordination of a series of research projects on halotherapy is also carried out by the Institute of Respiratory Hygiene and Halotherapy established in Budapest (Hungary). This Institute is engaged in informational support for the technologies used in the rehabilitation of the respiratory system, develops guidelines, organizes training seminars, provides consultations on the organization of medical and health services with the use of halotherapy and other methods of respiratory care.

During the development stage of halotherapy, 11 theses of Ph.D. were completed. The novelty of the solutions is protected by patents (11 patents for the methods of treatment approaches and devices). Over 200 scientific papers on the subject relevant to the research have been published. Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russian Federation approved 10 guidelines and manuals for physicians.

We have successfully presented an innovative controlled halotherapy technology repeatedly at scientific forums and congresses of the Russian Respiratory Society; of the Russian Society of Pediatricians; of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in Florence (1993), Berlin (1997), Munich (2006), Glasgow (2004), Vienna (2009); of the International Society of Medical Hydrology, Balneology, and Climatology (ISMH) in Istanbul (2006), Porto (2008), Paris (2010), Granada (2012); of the International Society ‘Interasma’ in Jerusalem (1996), Poznan (2005); at International Congress “Russian Biotechnology” (1993) in the USA; of the Polish Association of Balneology and Physical Medicine Krynica (2005), Polanica-Zdroj (2007), Lodz (2008), Naleczow (2011); at leading Russian and international exhibitions of medical and health equipment in Moscow, St. Petersburg, other Russian cities, Richmond, Hannover, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Bologna, and others.

Institutions Involved in Research Projects

Scientific Research Institute of Pulmonology (St. Petersburg)

St. Petersburg State Medical University named after Acad. I. Pavlov

Institute of Pulmonology of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA), Russia (Moscow)

Institute of Childhood Infections FMBA of Russia (St. Petersburg)

Clinical Hospital №122 named after L. Sokolov of FMBA of Russia (St. Petersburg)

Military Medical Academy named after S. Kirov (St. Petersburg)

St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation

Russian Scientific Center for Restorative Medicine and Balneology of Health Care Authority of Russia (Moscow)

Institute of Continuing Professional Education FMBTS named after A. Burnazyan FMBA of Russia (Moscow)

Child Health Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (Moscow)

State Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education of the Defense Ministry of Russia (Moscow)

Scientific Center of Cardiovascular Surgery named after A. Bakulev of Russian Academy of Medical Science (Moscow)

Republican Palanga Rehabilitation Hospital (Lithuania)

Republican Hospital "Red Cross" (Lithuania)

Dept. of Balneology and Physical Medicine Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, UMK (Poland)

Steven Novella, MD, writes about Halotherapy without doing his homework

Steven Novella, MD, who is a well-known critic of all things natural and a disciple of pharmacopoeia, has written a baseless, negative article about Halotherapy that is full of misinformation.  I actually understand some of his confusion, as the term 'Halotherapy' has been misused by some who utilize salt in therapies that have nothing in common with genuine Halotherapy, thus harming the industry.  But mainly it is clear that he did not thoroughly research his subject before publishing his rhetoric.  Novella first makes it clear that he thinks all spas are useless, and then finally tells his readers that salt rooms are nonsense.  He obviously did not take care to learn that Halotherapy was discovered by a team of Russian pulmonologists and engineers in the late 1980s, and was painstakingly developed using advanced scientific methods, and studied with thousands of participants, resulting in countless pages of research involving the complete spectrum of major respiratory and skin ailments.  By the mid 1990s this research concluded that Halotherapy was highly successful (85% for many conditions on average) and provided long-term remissions ranging from 3 to 12 months in duration.  But Novella nevertheless insists that Salt Room owners have nothing credible to back up their claims, and then he provides an example using the least studied condition, Cystic Fibrosis, with a statement that illustrates his own general lack of familiarity with that condition.  He also says Salt Rooms use the term 'science' simply for marketing purposes.  But the science of Halotherapy is straightforward and pure and, unlike more complex science which can be unstable and prone to change and error, the basics of Halotherapy are irrefutable, at least for the hundreds of years since man started working in salt mines.  But having said that, I think people who use genuine Halotherapy are believers simply because it just plain works.   I hope Steven Novella will have the integrity to rescind his article, which probably has and will inevitably frighten people from this greatly effective therapy.  It is truly a shame when a doctor's actions prevent one from improving health.