FOR Colleen Balfour and her family, the effect of visiting Salts of the Earth was so good she decided to open a franchise herself.

The owner of Salts of the Earth in Albury said in March 2011 she nearly lost her husband Andrew to a severe asthma attack.

"At the time we had two small children (aged two and four) and this incident scared us," she said. 

"We reviewed Andrew’s asthma plan with his GP with the idea of preventing this from ever happening again.

"What we found was that Andrew was doing everything right but still it was not good enough."

"We got onto the internet and started to research what else was out there and we came across an article on an AFL footballer who also suffers from asthma and was using a complementary therapy (Halotherapy) to help manage his symptoms with great success."

Armed with this information, Mrs Balfour said they visited Salts of the Earth in Albert Park. 

"We tried it and loved it so much so we floated the idea of opening up our very own centre," she said.

This advertising feature is supported by: Salts of the Earth Albury

Mrs Balfour said salt therapy was a complementary therapy that involved inhaling tiny particles of dry salt – a natural anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antihistamine – to relieve congestion, inflammation, and skin irritations.

During a salt session, a machine called a halogenerator grinds up pharmaceutical grade salt and disperses micro salt particles into the air.

Mrs Balfour said when dry salt was inhaled, it lined the walls of the airways and lungs, drew out inflammation and loosened congestion for easy expulsion.

She said people of all ages were welcomed at Salts of the Earth Albury.

Clients can recline in massage chairs, there is a private room, and a children’s salt room stocked with toys, games and movies to keep them entertained.

Mrs Balfour said consistent salt therapy sessions could help to provide lasting symptom relief for a range of skin and respiratory conditions, including hayfever, eczema, allergies, asthma, cold and flu and snoring.

Visit saltsoftheearth.com.au for further information.

Salts of the Earth is located in Olive Street, Albury.