Steeped in history, salt therapy is one of the earliest forms of alternative medical treatment. Some historians point the origin of salt therapy to around the 4th – 5th centuries B.C. in Greece. In those days, people who were sick were taken to the salt caves to convalesce.

First Official Research by Dr. Felix Bochkowsky

Dr. Bochkowsky, the state authority for occupational health in Poland, observed something astonishing: Men who worked in salt mines had clearer skin and looked younger. These salt miners also seemed to be cleared of respiratory issues. Such was in stark contrast to their coal and metal counterparts. In 1843, Dr. Bochkowsky became the first to officially publish findings on salt therapy. He also established the world’s first health facility in Poland for respiratory disorders and general well-being.

Rise of Salt Therapy by Dr. K.H. Spannahel

In 1949, German physician Dr. Spannahel noticed that villagers who had sought refuge in Klutert salt mine during World War II did not suffer from any respiratory conditions. Intrigued, he devoted his time to expound on the research on salt therapy.

Proliferation of Salt Therapy by Prof. Mieczyslaw Skulimowski

Around the 1960s, Prof. Skulimowski treated patients with respiratory conditions in underground salt mines. Thereafter, he expanded to treating patients with allergies and those seeking overall health benefits. His treatment methodology had proven popular and successful.

Many who have benefitted from salt therapy claim its effectiveness in reducing over-reliance on medications and credit salt therapy for clear skin. Today, the popularity of salt therapy has also spread across Europe and into other continents such as the Middle East, Asia, and even Oceania.