For hundreds of years people have recognised the healing properties of salt and used it in the treatment of respiratory conditions including asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis.
Salt therapy is becoming a more popular treatment across Europe and America as it is completely natural and drug-free.
The treatment, known as halotherapy, recreates the conditions of salt mines or salt caves and in some cases uses actual salt caves as an environment to administer the treatment.
During the therapy patients breathe in salt aerosol, containing micro particles of salt, which is pumped into sterile, pure air. When inhaled, the salt can get deep into your lungs and bronchi and target the bacteria, viruses and fungi that can build up and cause asthma attacks. It can also absorb mucus which can block airways, exacerbating your health problems.
A study of 124 patients suffering from respiratory diseases showed that daily halotherapy sessions for 10 to 20 days could improve their condition. On average the patients went without a flare-up of their illness for more than seven months and more than half needed no further medication after the treatment.
Salt therapy can also help reduce snoring. The salt can clear the airways and reduce swelling that can cause people to snore.
The only downside of the treatment is that therapeutic salt caves can be hard to find and research on the best place to receive the therapy is needed.
But this completely natural therapy could help relieve the symptoms of your asthma.