Salt Cave Therapy Offers Relief for Respiratory Patients in Turkey

Patients suffering from respiratory ailments are experiencing significant improvement through a unique salt therapy treatment offered at a private hospital in Çankırı, Turkey. The therapy utilizes the natural environment of a salt cave to aid in lung rehabilitation.

Dr. Tuba Öztürk Haliloğlu, an internal medicine specialist at the hospital, explained that the salt therapy helps expel substances that constrict the lungs. The treatment regimen also incorporates breathing exercises taught by physiotherapists. Haliloğlu noted its efficacy for lower respiratory tract diseases such as COPD, asthma, and acute and chronic bronchitis. It also proves beneficial for children's adenoid hypertrophy, persistent sinusitis, post-nasal drip, and allergic rhinitis. Furthermore, the therapy's antimicrobial and antiviral properties make it suitable for treating skin conditions like eczema, fungal infections, and psoriasis.

The treatment is accessible to all age groups, and a course of therapy in the cave typically lasts for 21 consecutive days. Haliloğlu reported that around 600 patients have received the treatment so far. "We observed that patients who stayed longer in the cave had more effective results," she stated. The therapeutic effects last for an average of six months, gradually diminishing. Therefore, repeated sessions are recommended up to four times within a two-year period.

Zeliha Yaman, a 65-year-old KOAH patient from Istanbul, shared her positive experience. "When I first arrived, I couldn't even climb a slope. After starting the treatment, I began to walk comfortably. I also had sleep disturbances before, but I sleep soundly now," she said. Mehmet Çınar, 78, from Bozkurt, Kastamonu, also undergoing treatment for bronchitis and shortness of breath, echoed the benefits.