The Salt Therapy Association (STA) has released the Salt Therapy Industry Standards (STIS). The standards were developed to provide a baseline for implementation and marketing to ensure consumers receive evidence-based salt therapy.
If you plan to either offer or utilize salt therapy as a professional or a consumer, here are the official standards:
- No halotherapy without a halogenerator. Dry salt therapy (halotherapy) can only be provided by utilizing a professional-quality halogenerator.
- Particle size. Salt particle size omitted from the halogenerator must be five microns or less (the smaller the better.)
- Enclosed space. Halotherapy can only be provided in an enclosed space to contain the salt particles in the area such as a room, booth, cabin, or other type of chamber.
- Proper ventilation is required in the space to ensure proper air exchange.
- Session length. The length of the session is determined by the cubic volume of air space in the enclosed chamber. Sessions can last from 10 minutes to 45 minutes or longer.
- Pure-grade sodium chloride. The only salt to be used in a halogenerator is 99.99 percent pure-grade dry pharmaceutical/medical sodium chloride (salt), preferably certified for purity and quality such as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) organization.
- Salt decor is not salt therapy. Himalayan salt used on walls, floors, or as an architectural or decor element does not provide any direct respiratory health benefits, nor emit negative ions or other claims, even when heated.
- Health claims and cures. Never claim salt therapy is a “cure” for any condition, nor use the word “heal” concerning salt therapy. Promote, market, and advertise appropriately and with proper disclaimers on the efficacy of salt therapy.
“Misconceptions, along with false claims, have undermined the integrity of the industry,” says Leo Tonkin, one of STA’s founding directors. “STIS is a collaborative initiative that benefits the entire salt/halotherapy industry. Our goal is to educate the industry on the importance of adhering to consistent standards that maintain the industry integrity.”
