COPD and Salt Therapy: Simple Breathing Starts Here

Living with COPD can feel like navigating life through a straw. The simple act of breathing becomes tiring. Recovery takes longer. Everyday activities feel heavier than they should. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you’re not without support.

At Edinburgh Salt Rooms, we offer a gentle, non-invasive treatment that can help you breathe a little easier. Salt therapy doesn’t replace your medication, but it can be a powerful companion to your care plan. One that helps you feel clearer, calmer and more in control of your breath.

What Is COPD?

COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It’s an umbrella term that includes conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These diseases gradually narrow the airways and limit airflow, making it difficult to exhale fully. Over time, symptoms often include:

• Shortness of breath

• A persistent chesty cough

• Tightness in the chest

• Wheezing

• Excess mucus or phlegm

• Increased fatigue

While there is no cure for COPD, lifestyle changes and supportive therapies can make a noticeable difference in how you feel day to day.

How Salt Therapy Helps

Salt therapy works by releasing tiny, pharmaceutical-grade salt particles into the air. As you breathe them in, the salt travels through your airways and deep into the lungs. Once there, it gently begins to:

• Reduce inflammation

• Clear out mucus and congestion

• Open up the bronchial tubes

• Improve oxygen exchange

• Support the body’s natural immune defences

The result is often a feeling of lightness. Breathing may come easier. The chest feels less tight. Many clients also notice they sleep better and feel more energised after a series of sessions.

What to Expect in a Session

Each salt therapy session lasts around 45 to 60 minutes. You’ll sit in a peaceful, softly lit room where the air is dry, clean and rich in natural salt. The room is kept at a comfortable temperature, and the experience is quiet, private, and easy to relax into.

You can bring a book, listen to music, or simply rest while the salt works quietly in the background.

How Often Should You Come?

To get the best results, we usually recommend a course of 15 to 20 sessions over several weeks. After that, many people move into a maintenance routine that suits their lifestyle and symptoms.

Everyone is different. Some people feel a shift after just a few sessions. For others, it’s a slower, steadier improvement over time. Either way, the consistency makes a difference.

A Kind, Natural Way to Support Lung Health

Salt therapy isn’t a miracle treatment, but it is a deeply supportive one. It works alongside your body, giving your lungs the space and clarity they need to do their job more easily. Many of our clients with COPD say salt therapy has helped them reduce flare-ups, feel more confident when moving, and ease the everyday burden of breathlessness.

If you would like to see if it works for your lungs, book a session here.