The material was prepared with the assistance and informative support by Olha Lemko, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor at the Medical Faculty of Uzhgorod National University, who has valuable experience in the scientific substantiation of speleotherapy and its practical use for treatment of patients with bronchopulmonary diseases in the conditions of Solotvino salt mines (Transcarpathia, Ukraine)”.
Since I have treated asthma for many years, I try to find ways of treating it that go further than only using inhalers and medications. For this reason, I started looking into speleotherapy, where patients are taken deep underground into salt mines to receive treatment. To begin with, I thought it was hard to believe.
What connection is there between breathing in a cave and fighting against asthma? The colder, stable atmosphere and high concentration of salt in the air proved to be the reason why. Most patients experience easier breathing, notice less inflammation, and even experience fewer asthma attacks. It’s been common to observe those who used bronchodilators regularly improve significantly after they do their sessions inside the earth.
This procedure isn’t a one-stop solution, and it still requires regular treatment, yet something is changing for the better that scientists are now able to measure. Because of this, I decided to try the therapy and convey what I learned to you.
What Is Speleotherapy? An Ancient Remedy in Modern Times
In the beginning, I was unsure about speleotherapy. I base my practice on evidence, but the idea of Chinese medicine appealed to me. To help soothe asthma, speleotherapy means entering salt mines and spending time below ground. In the beginning, what she was saying seemed hard to believe.
Still, I decided to investigate the research after seeing that many asthma patients are not fully helped by appropriate drugs. My results were not what I expected. In these salt mines, you get to breathe clean, mineralized air that is completely free from things that can irritate your nose or lungs. What if this approach could support someone who lives in an environment full of triggers?
Inhaling the fine salt can reduce swelling and help clear mucus from the lungs. Even then, I am not saying to stop using regular asthma treatments, but speleotherapy has earned my notice. At times, the solution to our problems can be found in the minerals and elements of the Earth, not in a lab.
How Underground Mines Create a Healing Microclimate
As soon as I started my underground salt mine adventure, I could tell the air there was different. It was not as hot, quite dry, and felt extremely pure. That’s when I saw why patients with asthma can feel a difference when they come here.
It is because of the salt in the mines that the air becomes pure and safe for miners to work in. The lungs can finally heal since temperatures, humidity, along with pollen, mold and pollution, are no longer changed. Several sessions in a salt mine have made patients breathe easier. Allergy-safe environments are found in comfortable places, in addition to being safe from irritants.
Salt floating in the air may calm irritation in the airways and assist in removing mucus. I was a bit tentative to start, yet the outcomes were hard for me to resist. This happens because of the principles of environmental science. Some people find that it does help their asthma.
Real-Life Benefits: What Asthma Patients Are Saying
I have listened to many people with asthma, yet the ones who have visited underground salt mines share stories that are most memorable to me. I was told by one patient that “taking a full breath became possible for me again after months.” I guessed it was just a placebo effect, but after that, I started learning about other people’s experiences.
Reported nightly asthma symptoms went down, wheezing also decreased, and the use of rescue inhalers dropped. I paid attention since I understand asthma can affect someone’s daily living. When we breathe calmly, everything tends to settle down. Even so, some patients do not experience significant improvement, and this therapy goes hand in hand with any prescribed medicine.
Even so, something exciting is happening at that level that matters. Being in the mines may ease inflammation in the airways and minimize contact with common triggers. I can’t look past the facts I have learned. When patients begin to enjoy life, rather than simply deal with their situation, I realize it is time to look further into it.
Who Can Benefit from Speleotherapy and Who Should Avoid It?
People tend to ask, “Should I use speleotherapy?” And the explanation changes, since every person’s asthma is different. The greatest benefits for asthma patients have been seen among those with mild to moderate cases who are sensitive to allergens or other environmental triggers.
Inside salt mines, where the air is free from pollutants, their lungs are rested, and most enjoy easier breathing after a couple of sessions. Still, I proceed with caution when dealing with people whose asthma is severe or unstable. If you regularly get sudden seizures or take many steroids, this could be counterproductive.
I have advised some patients with claustrophobia or serious health issues not to travel on the subway. Speleotherapy may not completely cure a disease, but it can support some individuals. This is why I always study what is wrong with the patient: what helps one could send another to the hospital.
The Future of Respiratory Therapy: Is Speleotherapy Gaining Ground?
Learning about speleotherapy for the first time, seemed more connected to traditions than to modern science. But many asthma patients kept telling me that time spent in underground salt mines was like nothing else. That’s when I paid better attention. Now, aside from those who benefit from this therapy, researchers are also showing interest in why it seems to work.
People are studying, in detail, the climate, clean air, and the presence of salt in spas. Small studies and clinical trials are springing up, mainly in Europe, since speleotherapy is better known there. At this point, it isn’t a popular practice in respiratory therapy because we do not have enough rigorous background information.
Yet, I am certain the balance of power is being won by the Middle East. As a doctor, I would like to use all resources possible to make breathing easier for my asthma patients. If we can find healing deep beneath the surface, then it makes sense to explore, investigate, and understand it fully.
Conclusion
After gaining knowledge and watching how it works, I am sure speleotherapy can help with asthma. My advice is not to switch your inhaler or skip medications, as asthma can easily result in serious issues. Also, if you want another activity that might improve your breathing and help your lungs, going to a salt mine can be good advice. Certain patients feel enhanced, breathe more easily, and count on emergency care less often. Originally, I wasn’t convinced, but now I appreciate what is provided by these mines. At times, it takes a long time before we realize the Earth holds important information we already have.
FAQs
How does the air quality in underground salt mines benefit people with asthma?
The air at salt mines is safe from pollen, mold, dust and industrial smog. The salt in the mine helps us against bacteria and scars in the lungs which may help comfort and calm the bronchial tubes, leading to a decrease in asthma attacks.
Is speleotherapy a replacement for my asthma medication?
Speleotherapy should always be used in addition to your usual asthma treatment. You can try complementary therapy, as it may ease your symptoms when used together with your regular treatment.
Are there any risks for asthma patients undergoing speleotherapy?
However, sometimes these situations do occur. Severe and unstable asthma usually makes it more difficult for people to deal with the treatment required by the underground. собственно, someone with fear of tight spaces or heart issues could not take part in roller coasters. Before anything else, you should be medically evaluated.
Why can’t the same benefits be achieved with a home salt lamp or salt room?
Although you can enjoy a controlled atmosphere in a salt lamp or salt room, they usually don’t have the same properties as a salt mine. In underground salt mines, the air is purer, there is steady exposure to minerals, and the climate remains unchanged.
Can children with asthma participate in speleotherapy?
You can find speleotherapy designed for children as well as adults. Nevertheless, anyone managing pediatric participation ensures a healthcare provider oversees things and the child’s asthma is under control.
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