Research
Halotherapy research, explained plainly
A balanced look at the published science on dry salt therapy. What has been studied, what was found, and where the evidence is still thin, with links to every original paper.
The short version
Halotherapy has a long history of use and a growing body of research, much of it from Eastern Europe. Reviews published in peer reviewed journals describe encouraging but limited evidence. Most studies are small, and only a few are randomised and blinded. Researchers consistently call for larger, better controlled trials before halotherapy can be recommended as a treatment for any condition.
18studies in a 2021 asthma review
1,041participants in a 2014 COPD review
55children in a 2017 randomised pilot
Our position. We offer halotherapy as a relaxing wellness experience and sell halogenerators as wellness and professional equipment. We do not claim that halotherapy treats, cures or prevents any disease. If you have a health condition, please speak to your doctor.
Why researchers are interested in salt
Salt (sodium chloride) is already an established part of respiratory medicine in a different form. Nebulised hypertonic saline, a wet salt water mist, is a prescribed treatment in conditions such as cystic fibrosis, where a landmark 2006 trial in the New England Journal of Medicine found it improved lung function and reduced flare ups. Researchers have asked whether dry salt particles might have related effects, for example on mucus, airway inflammation or the skin. That question is what most halotherapy research sets out to test.
Key studies and reviews
Review · 2021
Asthma
Halotherapy: an ancient natural ally in the management of asthma
Crișan-Dabija R, Sandu IG, Popa IV, Scripcariu DV, Covic A, Burlacu A. Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(11):1604. doi:10.3390/healthcare9111604
This comprehensive review pulled together 18 studies on halotherapy and asthma. The authors reported overall positive effects when halotherapy was used alongside standard care, and noted that no adverse events were reported in the studies reviewed.
They concluded that halotherapy may be a promising complementary option but that further evidence based studies on larger populations are needed before it could be included in clinical guidelines.
Randomised controlled pilot · 2017
Children with asthma
Halotherapy as asthma treatment in children
Bar-Yoseph R, Kugelman N, Livnat G, Gur M, Hakim F, Nir V, Bentur L. Pediatric Pulmonology. 2017;52(5):580-587.
A double blind, randomised pilot study of 55 children aged 5 to 13 with mild asthma. One group had 14 sessions over 7 weeks in a salt room with an active halogenerator; the control group sat in the same kind of room without one.
The halotherapy group showed a statistically significant improvement in bronchial hyper-responsiveness and in quality of life questionnaires. Spirometry and exhaled nitric oxide did not change. The authors said halotherapy “may have some beneficial effects” in mild asthma and called for larger trials with longer follow up.
Systematic review · 2014
COPD
A review of halotherapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Rashleigh R, Smith SMS, Roberts NJ. International Journal of COPD. 2014;9:239-246. doi:10.2147/COPD.S57511
The authors searched six research databases and screened 151 articles. Only one randomised controlled trial met their original criteria, so they widened the review to include three case control studies, four studies and 1,041 participants in total.
Some studies reported improvements in lung function, quality of life and medication use, but the reviewers found weaknesses in randomisation and patient selection. They concluded that halotherapy could not yet be recommended for COPD and that rigorous randomised trials are needed.
Controlled study · 2006
Adults with asthma
The effect of salt chamber treatment on bronchial hyper-responsiveness in asthmatics
Hedman J, Hugg T, Sandell J, Haahtela T. Allergy. 2006;61(5):605-610.
A Finnish placebo controlled study in adults with asthma, comparing salt chamber sessions with sessions in a similar room without salt. The salt group showed a reduction in bronchial hyper-responsiveness, a measure of how reactive the airways are, while the authors noted that larger studies were needed.
Clinical report · 1995
Respiratory conditions
Halotherapy for treatment of respiratory diseases
Chervinskaya AV, Zilber NA. Journal of Aerosol Medicine. 1995;8(3):221-232.
An early report from St Petersburg, where much of the modern halogenerator work began. It describes the method of controlled dry salt aerosol and clinical observations in patients with respiratory conditions. It is an important historical paper, though it predates modern randomised trial standards.
Background · 2006
Hypertonic saline
A controlled trial of long term inhaled hypertonic saline in patients with cystic fibrosis
Elkins MR, Robinson M, Rose BR, et al. New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;354(3):229-240.
Not a halotherapy study, but useful context. This trial found that nebulised 7% salt water improved lung function and reduced exacerbations in cystic fibrosis. It shows salt can act on the airways, while reminding us that wet, prescribed saline is a different thing from dry salt therapy.
Reading halotherapy research critically
- Look for a control group. People often feel better after a relaxing session, so comparing against a similar room without salt matters.
- Check the size. Many studies have fewer than 100 participants, which makes results less certain.
- Notice what was measured. Questionnaires, lung function tests and medication use can tell different stories.
- Be wary of big claims. No reputable review says halotherapy cures anything. Anyone telling you otherwise is going beyond the evidence.
Further reading
- Global Wellness Institute: halotherapy evidence portal
- ClinicalTrials.gov: halotherapy in children with asthma (NCT02772341)
- Asthma + Lung UK for independent advice on managing breathing conditions
Last reviewed October 2026. If you spot a new paper we should include, let us know.