November 15, 2005
THESE young children are breathing easy in this salt mine, 300m underground.
But that was not the case when they were up above.
They are all asthma sufferers.
Spending time in these halls carved out of salt is part of a unique treatment offered by a hospital in Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian Allergological Hospital, which runs this underground clinic, the treatment has had tremendous success in treating asthma and other respiratory diseases, especially in children.
Curing asthma involves spending two to three hours a day in the salt mines over a two to three month period, reported the Ukraine Observer.
This method of treating asthma is called speleotherapy. It has been practised in Eastern Europe for many years and is considered an alternative form of treatment.
It is believed that micro salt particles inhaled by the patients help to clear the air passages in the upper and lower respiratory tract.
The inhaled saline is said to have anti-inflammatory properties and will help to kill bacteria and unclog blockages.
The clinic has been treating patients for the past 30 years and it claims that about 60,000 have been cured.
too bad singapore no salt mine and no place for u to dig