When most parents talk about their kids getting salty, it’s a reference to an attitude about having to clean their room or do chores.
One mom, though, who also runs a business centered on this practice, means something entirely different. What she’s describing is a ‘therapy’ in which her kids essentially have an indoor sandbox, but with salt instead of sand.
She says it regulates the immune system and helps keep her kids healthy, so let’s take a look at the trend and what science says about it.
Salting Your Children
This mom says that she “salts” her children, and that it’s great for their immune system.
Thankfully, she’s not talking about feeding them spoonfuls of salt or otherwise encouraging them to overindulge on sodium intake, so one of the most medically-unadvisable possible interpretations, at least, is off the list.
Instead, she has turned an entire room into what she calls a saltbox, and yes, in the video below, you can see her playing with a child in the salt, and even reading together in a hammock-style chair set up in the room. Her TikTok shows the room in what appears to be a business building, presumably her wellness center.
However, the website (which we’ll get to shortly) sells set-ups for home use, as well as offering consultation to businesses like yoga centers and therapy offices to build more elaborate designs.
Check out what she’s advising below.
Does Salt Therapy Really Do Good Things For Immune Systems?
Those of us who enjoy classic literature will be familiar with the recommendation of ocean air as a cure for all sorts of ills.
Always Austen dug into the rtue history of the trope, finding that yes, it was trendy for women to head to the seaside for their health, and that doctors would send those who could afford it to the beach for many reasons.
“Ocean water was believed to shrink tumors, relieve melancholy, cure tuberculosis, and heal various lung diseases.”
Modern studies haven’t found quite as much benefit, but do see some positive effects on mental health and some skin conditions.
As for playing in a saltbox or breathing salt air, a 2024 study examined the effects of salt therapy on asthma.
“Salt therapy,” known as halotherapy, is a treatment method performed in salt chambers lined with salt crystals that are pumped with salt-laden air and is used to combat respiratory diseases, skin conditions, mental fatigue and stress.”
However, despite an elaborate study plan, they don’t seem to have ever published their results.
Is This Even Safe? Should Our Kids Play In Salt?
Pediatric pulmonologist Karen Schultz, M.D., told Checkup Newsroom a decade ago that there are some potential negative effects of salt therapy, including for asthma.
“To date, there are no published studies that prove or disprove the benefits of salt therapy,” Dr. Schultz said. “As with any therapy, even natural, there are potential side effects. One known side effect of inhaling a salt solution is constriction of the airways which could worsen asthma. So, even though the idea of a non-medicinal cure is attractive, at this point it cannot be recommended without further studies of both safety and results.”
The American Lung Association has similar concerns. Their Senior Scientific Advisor, Dr. Norman Edelman, says the treatment may have a positive effect beyond the mere placebo effect.
“When fine salt particles are inhaled, they will fall on the airway linings and draw water into the airway, thinning the mucus and making it easier to raise, thus making people feel better,” said Dr. Edelman. “Also, these environments are allergen-free and thus good for people with allergies affecting their lungs.”
However, the ALA notes that the treatments aren’t proven, and that without certainty about the rooms’ sanitation, there’s a risk of bacterial growth that could cause further harm.
The ALA’s conclusion is that it’s possible salt therapy could be beneficial, but there are enough risks that anyone considering it should talk to their doctor first.
Okay, If We Wanted To Try Salt Therapy, What Would It Cost?
While the salt therapy space on Caney Salt’s TikTok is an entire room, packages for home use start with pop-up tents.
They offer a 50-inch-square Micro Pop-Up and a 72-inch-square Family Pop-Up. (Those translate into about 17 square feet, and about 36 square feet.) The prices for these start at $7,800 and $9,800, respectively.
Then there are the add-ons, like the “grounding salt floor for beach-like calm” at an extra $1,200; the Family Play Package, which includes a boat, plush toys, a wooden rake, and a comfort chair, for an extra $595; or the calming melodic steel tongue drum for an extra $99.
The company notes that a full salt room can cost over $200k.
Side note, if you’re considering trying this on your own, Caney Salt advises against it. They assert that for halotherapy to work, the salt must be 3 microns or smaller, and their product is designed to aerosolize salt as small as a single micron.
(For reference, a grain of table salt can be around 100 microns in size.)