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Salt Cave Offers Relief From Allergies

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Allergy season is in full swing, and that means many are coping with runny noses, sneezing, and itchy eyes.

If you want to avoid standard medications, or just want to try something different, there's a new treatment in Minneapolis that is offering relief from suffering allergies and other ailments. It's called the Salt Cave.

The cave is made up of 6 tons of salt from a dried up lake in Pakistan. The blocks are 600 million years old.

"It's similar to going to the beach," said owner Scott Wertkin. "In here, I create a micro-climate where the salt particles are small enough that they can penetrate the lungs and help with respiratory issues."

Wertkin claims the Salt Cave can help people who deal with asthma, allergies, colds, flus, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sinusitis.

"Any mucus-related respiratory issue, it should help out with," he said.

Minneapolis Salt Cave
(credit: CBS)

Owner Scott Wertkin hopes the cave can offer another option, instead of drugs.

"The sodium chloride helps break down mucus, liquefy it and help it run out of your body," said patron James Diers.

The key to the salt cave is in the generator. Salt therapy works after the salt is poured into the top of the generator, ground into a dust and emitted into the room. It works much like another natural remedy

"In my experience it's comp to a neti pot. You're using a salt-based solution," said Diers. "In this case, it's air, not fluid."

The salt cave is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but patrons have been feelings results.

"It's clarity in your sinuses and in your throat," said Diers. "I'm not having to clear my throat as often."

Sessions in the salt cave last 45 minutes and cost $30.

Some have been using the Salt Cave for other purposes as well, including yoga classes, meditation, and starting story time for kids. Salt blocks can even be bought, heated and used as a frying pan to cook food and give it flavor.

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