Wondered if anyone found salt lamps helpful, in any way ?
I do breathing exercises around mine having had a time, from August to September, of finding it especially hard to breathe. To the point skin goes grey and you gasp, not easy to see a GP these days and I'm not one to rush to A&E, my mum was fatally injured in one and I can't cope with sitting in pain & discomfort on cold plastic chairs for hours.
I've read that folks who worked in salt mines rarely got lung problems, there is some support ( research in the area) that salt lamps are beneficial for those with respiratory diseases, but I've found nothing conclusive.
After 3 months of breathing in and out around my lamp twice a day pursing lips to exhale, my wheezing has improved a little, I was rattling like a train previously. Sometimes I'd hear a squeaking sound, couldn't believe it.
I can expand my lungs more now whereas a few months ago it was like trying to breathe underwater, had bubbling sounds - it comes and goes and I'm hoping that breathing around the salt lamp twice a day - only for a few minuets - will help.
Also have an air purifier - it seems to help too
So writing to see if others (w emphysema and COPD) find the salt lamps or air purifiers helpful?
Or could it be doing the breathing exercises?
Btw I didn't find pulmonary therapy helpful, great person who tried to help, but it was just too tiring and exhausting.
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KaraKim
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I'm intrigued, I've never heard of salt lamps. I have copd and have had some sort of virus so breathing was horrendous and phlegm unbearable and exhausting. Please could you explain what they are and where to get one. I'll try anything once. 😆
I ordered a salt lamp via Amazon after reading the same research. However it became red hot to touch and I decided that any benefits weren’t worth the risk of a fire!
I have also been to a “salt cave” - google if there is one near you. Basically a relaxation room which has been adapted to be as like a salt cave as possible. It is an interesting experience. Has it helped my COPD ? Not sure but it certainly is a lovely relaxing experience.
My niece warned me of this - she'd seen a few lamps that were faulty, they'd overheated "melted" at the bottom. Mine isn't overheating or melting thankfully. I will look into the salt caves, thanks for the reply.
Cats are naturally inquisitive and are likely to lick the lamp, which will then cause salt toxicity which is very dangerous although it can be treated. But then who would want their cat to be seriously ill? If you Google cats and salt lamps you will get the whole information there.
I have had salt lamps for a long time , I just put them on , if you don’t put them on then the lamp leaks salty water residue . It had ruined my laminate flooring where it sat . So now I put a bowl under it . When it runs water they say the lamp is crying 😁
Oh I've had my lamp for a long time but I've never experienced it leaking. I wonder why? I also didn't know that they were dangerous to cats. You definitely learn things on this amazing site
I felt I needed oxygen at the peak of a lung infection but didn't feel strong enough to sit in A&E for hours. I then wondered about doing breathing exercises "around the salt lamp" and it seems to have helped - less wheezing and choking on phlegm. Thanks for the reply.
I have a salt lamp and a salt pipe, which I bought soon after joining here as some members found them very useful. I found they are most useful if I have a cold or chest infection, as using them seems to shorten the time I feel unwell. The light from the salt lamp is lovely too.
Hi KaraKim I use a salt pipe and have a salt lamp. I have Ukrainian friends and they told me about these aids years ago. I like the lamp but the salt pipe is definitely the one that helps me .
Seems other parts of the world know about the salt lamps - I'm looking into the salt "pipe" today. Trying to cut down on the prescribed meds, esp antibiotics - I seem to have had so many courses of different antibiotics over the past few years. Thanks for the reply.
Thanks, I'm keeping up with the breathing exercises. I should try meditation and yoga - friends have advocated it for years as it's helped them with long term conditions.
I use hypertonic saline(7%) nebuliser to help with lung clearance,it's v effective.interesting re salt lamp helping u.ru on a mucolytic eg carbocysteine,which helps thin the mucous so it's easier to get up
There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that salt lamps and salt caves do help people with lung issues. If it helps you then I think that's what matters.
Thanks - sometimes simple things work - I've had so many antibiotics I thought I'd try other ways of dealing with the constant chest infections and wheezing.
Hi🙋♀️KaraKim, I have a salt light in the bedroom and one in the hall. I brought them to help with my breathing. Think they do help. I leave them on all night since a medication I was on to help shrink my Aspergillosis plugging made me night blind which was very scary. Not on the meds now but find the light very soothing beside the benefits for my lungs. Also helps when I have to get up several times in the night and rush to the Loo🤪😅xxx
I shall give it a try but you mention pursed lip breathing. This is designed to increase the exhalation pressure and force OUT of the lung the CO2 which otherwise lingers and prevents the uptake of oxygen. I am what is know as a 'retainer';- that is I retain CO2 .
The effect is to reduce my Oxygen uptake. It works like this. The O2 molecules transfer to the blood stream through minute apertures in the minute alveoli that connect your lungs to your blood sysmtem. Similar but differently shaped holes allow the CO2 which is created as we use O2 in the body out of the system. Problem.: Emphysema and asthma both affect the shape and performance of these little holes and as a result CO2, which is bigger than 02, blocks the passage.
Now I reckon there may be something in your theory since breathing in the air affected by the salt may have the beneficial effect of helping the recovery of these little apertures, thus increasing the flow out of CO2 and in of O2. Must be worth a try and seems unlikely to have any negative effects.
actually research shows that CO2 actually encourages O2 uptake since high levels of CO2 encourage the release of O2 from haemoglobin : " Carbon dioxide, although seen as a metabolic “waste” product, is more important than oxygen. Yes, we need oxygen to fuel our workouts and to fuel our bodies, but more CO2 is the answer to more efficient utilization of oxygen in our bodies. Carbon dioxide sensitivity (levels) is the stimulus to breathe. Increased levels of carbon dioxide in your body stimulate your red blood cells to release more oxygen to your tissues, organs, and working muscles. Blood with more carbon dioxide in it becomes more acidic loosening the oxygen molecule from the red blood cell (the Bohr Effect). More carbon dioxide in the blood increases oxygenated blood flow to all cells."
Give it a month Timberman - I'm also going to try the salt pipe idea. I'm trying to cut down on prescribed meds - esp antibiotics. I feel as if I've had a fungal infection in the lungs so maybe the salt lamps deal with it? Good luck and I hope the lamps work for you - don't forget the "salt pipe" suggested by fellow emphysema sufferers here.
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