My American dream began…

in 1986 while living in New York City. I managed a large jewelry company and owned a successful catering business that was exclusive to the medical and pharmaceutical industry. During this time, I learned how the U.S. medical system focuses on treating illness through a symptoms-only approach. The pharmaceutical industry controls paramount drug sales, leaving no room for incorporating natural therapies to treat patients.

I was born and raised in Poland in a medical family. My father was an E.N.T. doctor specializing in the treatment of respiratory disorders, infections, and allergies. For almost 60 years, he was passionately dedicated to treating patients using both conventional and alternative approaches. In many cases, the alternative approach was more effective long-term and without the common side effects of prescription drugs. In Poland and the rest of Europe alike, the holistic approach is an integral part of regular health care and a way of life for thousands of people.

My family background sparked my interest in natural therapies, which resulted in me writing my college graduation thesis on “Curative Powers of Natural Spas in Poland.” Opening Salt Spa St. Augustine, the first 5-star halotherapy (salt therapy) health resort in Florida, is a dream come true. I was inspired by the world famous Polish Wieliczka Salt Mine, which introduced halotherapy to western civilization. The Wieliczka mine has demonstrated a proven therapeutic effectiveness for over 700 years. Today, the mine features a subterranean hospital run by the Polish Ministry of Health. It is a phenomenon of science, engineering, art, history and a testament to the people that built it, as well as their deep faith in God. The Wieliczka mine was placed on UNESCO’s first list of ten most amazing natural places in the world.

Wellness and relaxation is highly prominent in European culture. Salt Spa St. Augustine looks forward to welcoming our guests by introducing the European philosophies of natural wellness, relaxation, and the therapeutic power of salt.

History of Salt

Salt has been a highly valued mineral for thousands of years in almost all cultures and on all continents. As far back as 6050 BC, salt has been an integral part of the world’s history, and it has been interwoven into countless civilizations. Used as a part of Egyptian religious offerings and valuable trade between the Phoenicians and their Mediterranean empire, salt and history have been inextricably intertwined for millennia, with great importance placed on salt by many different cultures. Even today, the history of salt touches our daily lives. The word “salary” was derived from the word “salt.” Salt was highly valued and its production was legally restricted in ancient times, so it was historically used as a method of trade and money. Before electricity, salt was used to preserve the food. Undeniably, the history of salt is both broad and unique, leaving its indelible mark in cultures across the globe.

Human Physiology and Salt

Salt is essential for human health and plays an important role in several physiological functions. For the scientist, salt is a small molecule composed of two atoms, one positively charged sodium and another with a negative charge, chloride; together they form salt, sodium chloride. For the physician, salt is crucial as well as controversial. Sodium is a vital nutrient; it is a major component of extracellular fluid and is essential for maintaining the volume of the blood to allow adequate tissue perfusion and normal cellular metabolism. Salt is distributed throughout the body in all cells and circulating fluids of the body such as blood, lymph, semen, urine and tears. Without salt our bodies would become chemically unbalanced and our muscle and nervous system would cease to function because all body cells would lose their water, causing dehydration and death.

Sodium is an essential nutrient, but the body is not able to produce salt and it has to be provided to our organism. To survive, everyone needs to consume salt regularly. An adult human body contains about 250 grams of salt and any excess is naturally excreted by the body.

The Role of Salt in the Human Body

Salt has many other functions besides regulating the body's water content; it plays a vital role in the regulation of many bodily functions. Salt is a powerful antihistamine. Asthma, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis sufferers can get rid of mucus and phlegm in the lungs by inhaling salt aerosol.

The presence of sodium ions is essential for the contraction of muscles, including the largest and most important muscle, the heart. Muscle cramps can be relieved by putting a pinch of salt on the end of the tongue and letting it dissolve.

Salt helps to relieve “stress” symptoms, depression, and emotional problems. Consuming and inhaling healthy natural salt helps to relieve those symptoms, along with walking, exercising, and following a healthy diet. Salt is also important because it removes acidity from brain cells to make our brains function better. Salt is fundamental to the operation of signals to and from the brain. Without sufficient sodium, our senses would be dull, and our nerves would not function.

Our digestive system requires salt to properly absorb the nutrients from the food we eat. Only salted foods can be digested properly. Our body has a developed and elaborate system to regulate the sodium content in body fluids. The blood vessels and brain send a signal to the kidneys to retain or secrete salt to match the quantity of salt our body requires.

Salt is most effective in stabilizing irregular heartbeats. Contrary to the misconception that salt causes high blood pressure, it is actually essential for the regulation of blood pressure - in conjunction with water. Naturally, proportions are critical. Salt is vital to the extraction of excess acidity from the cells in the body, particularly the brain cells. Salt is vital for balancing the sugar levels in the blood: a needed element in diabetics. Salt helps in the generation of hydroelectric energy in cells in the body. Salt is necessary for nerve cell communication and information processing; all the time, the brain cells work. From the moment of conception to death.

And an eight-year study of New York City conducted in 1995 by Dr. Jeffrey R. Cutler on a hypertensive population stratified for sodium intake levels found those on low-salt diets had more than four times as many heart attacks as those on low-sodium diets - the exact opposite of what the “salt hypothesis” would have predicted. Dr. Cutler documented no health outcomes of lower sodium diets.

Halo Therapy (Halo is “salt” in Greek)

The salt mines in Poland were the origin of halotherapy. It was observed hundreds of years ago that salt miners seemed to thrive in good health, quite the opposite of coal miners. Salt miners rarely had any respiratory problems, and their skin had a good appearance. During a Back Plague epidemic, the salt miners were not affected by its deadly outcome. For centuries, people used naturally occurring salt caverns to treat respiratory ailments. Several decades of research have led to the recreation of salt caverns, with one huge improvement over nature: in a Halotherapy room, the dispersed salt particles in the air, proper humidity, and low temperature create a special microclimate that mimics the air quality in salt mines and provides an environment with natural benefits.

Salt therapy started in Poland 150 years ago. Dr.Boczkowski was the first physician to incorporate salt therapy into his medical practice for respiratory conditions. His example was followed by other physicians; thus, salt therapy became very popular in many parts of the world.

Salt chambers, if properly constructed and equipped, are completely bacteria- and allergen-free and rich in healthy micro-elements such as sodium chloride and magnesium chloride and other micro-elements necessary for healthy life. Such an environment is beneficial for anyone suffering from asthma, lung inflammation, allergies, or recurrent nose, sinus, or throat conditions, as well as a preventative measure for maintaining good health.

Skin conditions can also be improved with Halotherapy (psoriasis, rashes, eczema, and acne). Table salt, sodium chloride, is dehydrating, but pure mineral salts have natural moisturizing properties and support the skin’s water balance and barrier function by attracting moisture to the skin. Minerals are necessary for cell function and detoxification, so mineral salts have strong rejuvenating properties. It is accepted that salt possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and may be used for several ailments, such as various respiratory problems, skin irritation, and even to combat mental lethargy.

Our licensed massage therapists have many years of experience working for medical and spa establishments in New York City, California, Massachusetts, Europe, and Florida. Each of our LMT’s expertise in the field of bodywork ranges from 8 to 30 years. Massage is a very unique experience based on trust, proficiency, and ability of a provider that can meet the expectations of each client. Our staff strives to make an appointment with a therapist who can provide the best service based on individual preferences and the needs of each guest. We provide our clients with a short form before each massage to find out what kind of lubricant, pressure, upgrades, and needs they may have. For clients with special needs, we need an advance notice to be ready to assist them upon arrival. If you are a first-time visitor to our spa, please speak up to your therapist, and she/he will find the best way to satisfy your massage needs. If you are looking for a very deep pressure in your massage, let us know during bookong process to find the provider who can best meet your needs. Our establishment is registered with the Florida Department of Health License nr. MM 39428