Respiratory function & mucociliary clearance

“New research is beginning to examine whether halotherapy may have a role beyond respiratory wellness—including recovery and performance in athletes.”

A 2026 randomized controlled trial studied 28 elite female football players who completed a 12-week preseason training program with or without additional halotherapy. Researchers evaluated respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, and aerobic performance to determine whether regular dry-salt aerosol exposure could influence training-related outcomes.

What this means: Halotherapy is being studied in athletic populations—not simply as a respiratory wellness practice. This research is particularly interesting because it examines female athletes and repeated halotherapy exposure over an extended training period, although larger studies are still needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.

Read the research:

Effects of Halotherapy as an Adjunct to Preseason Training on Respiratory and Aerobic Outcomes in Elite Female Football Players (2026)

“One of the primary areas being investigated in halotherapy research is how inhaled dry salt aerosol may influence the respiratory system and the body's natural ability to clear mucus.”

A recent randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study investigated the effects of inhaled dry sodium chloride in people with obstructive lung disease. Researchers specifically measured mucociliary clearance, one of the body's important mechanisms for moving mucus and particles out of the airways. The study adds to growing research examining whether dry salt inhalation can influence airway clearance in people with respiratory disease.

What this means: One of the proposed mechanisms behind halotherapy is its potential effect on airway mucus and mucociliary clearance. Research in this area is still developing, but newer controlled studies are helping researchers better understand how inhaled dry salt interacts with the respiratory system.

Read the research:

The Effect of Inhaled Dry Salt on Pulmonary Mucociliary Clearance in Obstructive Lung Disease — Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study (2026)

“Controlled research suggests halotherapy may influence certain measures of respiratory health, but researchers continue to study how effective it is and who may benefit most.”

In a randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot study, 55 children with mild asthma participated in 14 salt-room sessions over seven weeks. The group receiving dry salt aerosol showed a significant improvement in bronchial hyper-responsiveness and improvements in several quality-of-life measures compared with the control group. However, researchers did not find improvements in spirometry or exhaled nitric oxide, and they emphasized that larger, longer-term studies are needed.

What this means: The findings are encouraging, but they don't establish halotherapy as a treatment for asthma. Instead, they provide evidence that dry salt aerosol exposure may influence certain aspects of respiratory function and perceived quality of life.

Read the research:

Halotherapy as Asthma Treatment in Children — Randomized, Controlled, Prospective Pilot Study