We all dream about relaxing in a beach chair, breathing in moist, salty sea air. But when you can't visit the beach, you might consider going to a salt cave.

You might wonder: what is a salt cave, exactly, and what are some salt cave benefits? It's exactly what it sounds like: a man-made cave constructed entirely of salt—usually pink Himalayan salt, though dead sea salt is sometimes used too. It's designed designed to deliver a host of physical and mental benefits. Read on, and we'll tell you about four of them:

It may help you breathe easier.

Salt cave and salt room benefits are wrapped up in an alternative medicine technique called "halotherapy," which may help lessen the symptoms of many respiratory illnesses. How? The negative ions in salt particles may help purify the air and increase lung capacity. Other potential effects of halotherapy include:

• Help reduce inflammation and lessen mucus production, making it easier to breathe.
• Potential relief for those suffering from asthma, allergies, chronic sinus congestion, and COPD.
• Possible protection from the flu, since salt also has anti-fungal and anti-viral properties.

As great as the Himalayan salt benefits are, a trip to a salt room isn't a cure or a replacement for a trip to the doctor. But if you just want to breathe a little better for an afternoon, it might be worth a shot.

It can make your skin look great.

This may be the most recognized of salt cave benefits. The salt has upwards of 84 minerals that can be absorbed through the skin, so you're actually nourishing your body as you relax and breathe deeply. Though it might sound counterintuitive (you'd think sitting in a salty room would dry out your skin), mineral salts actually do the opposite, helping to attract moisture to skin. Combine that with Himalayan salt's natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits, and you can potentially help clear up issues like eczema and psoriasis.

It can cure the blues.

Salt-cave experts say that spending just 45 minutes inside a salt cave is roughly the equivalent of spending two whole days at the beach. If the thought of that doesn't already boost your mood, consider this: the negative ions in the air may help boost your mood and give you more energy. Some visitors find it helps them with issues such as insomnia, stress, and seasonal affective disorder.

It can help you unplug.

If you're feeling anxious or stressed about work, life, or anything else, a session in a salt cave can help you forget about all that. A recent study from Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine found that many people go to salt caves for its therapeutic benefits, and that most reported feeling better afterwards. The study concluded that the salt caves "help to support a proper lifestyle."

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