You may have been asking the same question I was when I drove by Linscott Salt and Wellness, located on Stockdale drive in Marysville.
I wanted to know more about it, so I spoke with the owner, Michelle Linscott. She quickly started my education on salt therapy. It is a natural alternative, complementing traditional medicine to improve general wellness, respiratory issues, skin conditions, and athletic performance.
Her interest began when she suffered from sinus/allergy headaches, and noted that every time she was at the beach, in the salt air, she improved. So she began researching to find out if salt therapy could help her.
In the middle 1800s, health officials in Poland made the observation that salt mine workers rarely suffered from colds, respiratory ailments or lung diseases. People with asthma, allergies, emphysema and other respiratory problems began heading to salt mines, and salt cave therapy was born. (I must be the last human on earth who didn’t know about this. When I mention this meeting to others, they all know what I am talking about!)
Modern technology has enabled us to enter an enclosure a little larger than a phone booth to experience this non-invasive, drug-free, chemical-free, all-natural solution.
Michelle says some may be concerned about the intake of salt because of issues relating to diet and high blood pressure. That type of salt is connected to the digestive track, but this is dry salt therapy (also known as halotherapy). It’s different because it is associated with the respiratory tract. The inhalation of the salt causes no side effects, but actually kills bacteria, reduces inflammation and expands airways.
When she bought the salt booth and started her treatments, her headaches went away. What a nice result. Now she offers this treatment to those with breathing problems, where the salt helps reduce swelling in mucous membranes and treats skin conditions such as eczema.
When you enter the booth, you can do so fully clothed or remove clothing to expose skin areas to be treated. Some have surprisingly removed everything for the treatment, oh well.
The dry salt, which is very absorbent, is emitted into the oversized phone booth with soft music playing in the background. The treatment lasts about 15 minutes. Some choose to come two to three times a week.
Patients have reported that they have been able to reduce medicines they have used to treat their condition. Michelle considers it an extension of traditional care.
She met her husband, Dr. Joe Linscott (both MHS class of ‘82) in 1977 when they were at 4-H camp. Now they’ve been married for 31 years.
Also part of the team at Linscott Salt and Wellness is Brandi Kennedy, licensed therapeutic massage therapist. She has been working since 2012, after two years of training and receiving an associate degree. Brandi was born in Marysville and grew up in Cincinnati, but is now back in Union County. She helps patients with pain management and does Swedish, prenatal, deep tissue, myofascial, and hot stone massages. Each massage is customized to the patient’s need.
When I asked Brandi if she worked full-time, she explained that a massage therapist doesn’t work 40 hours a week. It’s very hard on their body and they have to take care of themselves, too. That includes stretching and massaging so they can continue their work. She offers both 60- and 90-minute sessions. Carolyn Morgan is also a licensed massage therapist at the office.
Then I met the acupuncturist, Kevin Decot. He has been working for six years in acupuncture and explained it requires three years of training and state and national testing for certification. One of the most important things he does is pain management.
I am familiar with that. More than 10 years ago I found an acupuncturist in Columbus who treated my migraine headaches, which I had had for over 40 years. I have told you about that experience in this column in the past.
After eight treatments I no longer had migraine headaches and that has lasted now for 10 years. I am a big believer as you can imagine.
Everyone has different results, Kevin is quick to point out, but you don’t know until you try it. He has also had tremendous success with treating both, smoking cessation and anxiety. In addition, acupuncture can help with weight loss, digestive disorders and stress.
He ends most sessions using Reiki, a laying on of the hands for stress reduction and relaxation. It is based on the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us. It can trigger the body’s natural healing ability.
The staff of Linscott Salt and Wellness believes in the body’s ability to heal itself given the right tools. They treat the problem, not the symptom and often refer patients to each other to find the correct solution, helping people restore wellness. You can reach them at 937-642-0855.
(Melanie Behrens – melb@marysvillejt.com)