Opinions please: I am thinking of creating a small salt retreat at the back of my house, what arevyour thoughts?

[Lilasimpson]

Hi all, I would like your opininion: i am a healthcare professional and would like to diversify. I suffer from eczema, my daughter from asthma and husband from insomnia... well I think most of it is due to stress, especially as dh will lose his job soon. We have a double garage at the back of our garden, actually looks like a mini house, maybe 40 square metres. Would lovebto convert it to a salt spa. The problems are: I am not sure it is feasible as I might need a bigger space. Even if it was, it is near a garage that repairs cars. My aim would be to create a completely peaceful atmosphere, where little kids with coughs, colds etc or adults could come to relax and heal from their conditions without too much medication. I could also help patients with their inhaler uses, advise on skincare or medication due to my background... I love the idea of natural healing and have always believed in that. I am so enthusiastic about this project! Would the fact that it is near a garage put you off as a customer? Would you be willing to try and if so how much would you like to spend? There is already a toilet, sink and loft but would need to rearrange everything to make it very attractive. Please give me your thoughts!!

Thank you all for your opinions. Littledinaco, really appreciate your objective thoughtd re:running costs, parking. There is actually some parking around, mostly parking permit area, which I might be to overcome by buying parking permits. I live in a very lively towncentre, 5minutes away from main shopping centre.
I am reading all your opinions with good attentions. Regarding me advising as a pharmacist, I would enquire about this. However I will not charge for advice. It is not ethical to me. I do give free advice at work so do not see how I can charge. I do advise my friends for free all the time.
Bertrand, if you do not believe in halotherapy it is completely fine. It is your opinion.I do believe that it helps though. This is why I am trying to market it. Not everyone believes in acupuncture or aromatherapy.

I definately believe in scientific method viv but also believe that completary treatment can work with it. We actually learn this as a student

sorry meant complementary treatments

Just "believing that it helps" really isn't good enough to market something as having health benefits, as the judgement from the Irish advertising agency I linked to upthread shows.

Any studies you can use to back up you "belief that it works"?

I am not sure if I am allowed to mention it but if you look at the clara buffong NHS project you might understand more. I just do not want to advertise for salt cave companies, not sure if I am allowed

That's not evidence. That's someone who feels it helped them. I'm very surprised you don't recognise the difference.

I don't know what a salt spa is.
I do love spas but not sure I would find sitting in someones garage relaxing especially if there were sick kids around.
Salt nor spas can cure colds though.
You need to be extremely careful giving medication advice you also need insulin case you ate sued for incorrect advice.
I think the whole idea needs a bit if a rethink

Insurance not insulin

Op you really mustn't give out free advice about medication without insurance. Yoy are at risk of being sued.

"completary treatment can work with it. We actually learn this as a student"

You are referring to the placebo effect, I presume. It doesn't mean the "treatment" is effective.

What would you charge to sit in a garage of salt?

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22349069
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20435858
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21593232
For your interest.

Purpledaisies, I do not appreciate your arrogance. I am not here to prove that I am a good healthcare professional

That's talking about hypertonic saline, not a salt grotto. What's the concentration of salt in the air inside a salt grotto?

Cote D'Azur, complementary means homeopathy, acupuncture etc

Thank you all for your comments and opinions. I had a good idea of what you thought and appreciate your time to write your comments

Sued and losing her registration.

You cannot market this as having health benefits for the conditions you describe. You'd almost certainly be well advised not to also use your status as an HCP to sell it. Unless you also have good Union reps or a lawyer.

My arrogance? You're the one wanting to make money from people who are often desperate to improve their health without the sufficient knowledge to recognise quackery.

Would you run into difficulties giving informal advice? I have no idea at all in this area, just wondering if for example, I was to bring my DS who has asthma and you said you felt he would benefit from a different medication - I would then have to go to my GP/consultant at hospital and say I'd spoke to a lady in the salt spa who recommens xyz. I don't think I'd feel comfortable doing this.
Personally, I would prefer to have a proper consultation, maybe discuss how frequently you would advise my DS visit the salt spa then after X amoumt of weeks/months have a review-discuss symptoms, etc again to see if treatment is making a difference.
By keeping proper records, you would be able to document how effective the treatment is, which hopefully would then lead to more business.
That is just how I would like to use a salt spa though, everyone is different so you need to really research your target market.

I think you may struggle with parking - are permits allowed for business customers or only visitors? If they are, how would it work-would your customer have to knock on your door, get the permit then look for somewhere to park? How would this work if you are in the middle of speaking to another customer? There may be an easy way round this, just something to consider.

"Bertrand, if you do not believe in halotherapy it is completely fine. It is your opinion.I do believe that it helps though. This is why I am trying to market it. Not everyone believes in acupuncture or aromatherapy."

No. because none of them work.

Rafals You are right. I will probably not use my status and just be a spa lady. Which suits me well actually, that would be much more relaxing!

I don't think the documents you link to do much to support the healing effects of sitting in a salt cave.........

thank you so much for your great feedback littledinaco, really appreciate it. This is def something to consider

As someone else upthread asked, what is a salt spa? Is it like a salty sauna? How do you make salty air? Or is it scrubs etc with salt? and a salty bath. Forgive my ignorance, I'm not trying to be rude or cheeky, just wondering what people would actually do especially if little kids are there?

Timetohittheroad could you look up salt cave uk? It will explain everything to you...I am not doing this just as a business point of view. My daughter would benefit. I appreciate all of your comments and I am trying to get my head around everything: what I am allowed and not allowed to do, if there is interest, if I will get permission for this etc. I definately have no will to be considered as a con person. Definately not. I am sure you can all look at the pros and cons about the therapy online. I do not think it goes against my principles as a pharmacist as I never said that halotherapy should be used on its own but as a complementary treatment. I think I will close the topic now. Thank you all again.