A different flavor of healing
Salt of the Earth in Upper Macungie offers natural benefits of Himalayan mineral
Maybe you struggle with allergies or asthma. Perhaps you have a skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis or acne. Or maybe you’re having trouble shaking a common cold or sinus infection.
For these health issues and more, a new business in Upper Macungie Township is using salt’s natural antibacterial, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties to provide relief.
Salt of the Earth, which opened in mid-December at 628 Twin Ponds Road, is a Himalayan salt cave, or salt room, featuring more than 7,000 pounds of Himala- yan salt atop a heated floor, akin to a warm pebble beach.
“Salt has long been known for its healing properties,” owner Linda Printz said. “Many years ago, monks used to take their patients down into salt mines because they found it helped their respiratory and skin health. Today, if we have a problem in our mouth, we rinse with salt water. A sore throat? We gargle with salt water. An eye issue? We use saline. Even for our nose, we use neti pots.”
The facility offers salt therapy, or halotherapy, where a halogenerator crushes pure salt crystals into micro-particles that are emitted into the room.
Clients breathe in the the salt while sitting in one of seven zero-gravity lounge chairs or lying directly in the salt.
The 85-degree cave features a dimly lit, serene atmosphere — with calming music, flickering salt blocks in a fireplace and more than 800 fiber-optic, twinkling ceiling lights resembling stars.
Clients, who are barefoot or wear socks, can choose a fullbody massage or foot reflexology treatment from Printz, a massage therapist for 16 years.
“For years, doctors have recommended Dead Sea salt for skin conditions such as psoriasis,” Printz said. “And Himalayan salt, as opposed to table salt, has 84 trace minerals naturally occurring in it. As our bodies age, we get depleted of these. So, being in the salt, you absorb that in your skin and your skin’s the largest organ in your body.”
As someone with year-round allergies, I was intrigued and decided to take Printz up on her offer of a 15-minute foot reflexology treatment while sitting in one of the chairs. In my nearly 13 years working at The Morning Call, I’ve never fallen asleep on the job, but I came close this week.
Printz used an organic, nongreasy cream while firmly yet gently massaging every nook and cranny on my feet.
After the pampering, I relaxed in the salt for another 15 minutes and came out of the room feeling refreshed, with my sinus passageways cleared and my skin slightly smoother. But I’m not a medical professional, and few scientific studies have been conducted to back up the benefits of salt caves.
“We don’t claim to cure anything,” Printz said. “But it’s a wonderful alternative and complement..”
At Salt of the Earth, 45minute halotherapy sessions are $25. Massages, which incorporate halotherapy, are $110 for full-body and $125 for warm salt stone. Foot reflexology is $1 a minute.
Salt of the Earth, which accommodates up to 10 people, is open daily by appointment. The business also sells allnatural deodorants, soaps and other personal care products from Topton’s Mosaic Soap Co.. Info: 484-225-0448. classes. Karlick, a Marine veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, previously served as barracks commander (general manager) at the area’s first Soldierfit gym, which opened in 2017 in Trexlertown.
The fitness program, created by Army veteran Danny Farrar, focuses on varied workouts incorporating strength, cardiovascular endurance and core training. Certified instructors lead classes at a dozen facilities nationwide.
A pre-sale offer includes a $19 enlistment fee (regularly $199) and an unlimited boot camp rate of $69 a month (regularly $99). Info: 484-5385545. falafel, oregano pizza, cheese pies, spinach pies, grape leaves and other dishes,” John said.
Some more delicious news: Eight Oaks Craft Distillers ,a 3-year-old distillery at 7189 Route 309 in New Tripoli, recently formed a partnership with Tre Locally Sourced to provide seasonally inspired cuisine that is regionally grown or raised.
Tre, which also has a partnership with Free Will Brewing Co. in Perkasie, is a 2-year-old food truck serving dishes such as grass-fed beef chili and shrimp salad gyros.
According to Carly Butters Snyder, Eight Oaks’ general manager, Tre is the distillery’s exclusive food vendor, operating out of a kitchen in the production space from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Info: eightoaksdistillers.com. more than 450 fast-casual restaurants nationwide, closed Jan. 6 at 69 N. West End Blvd., according to signs on the doors.
The Colorado company, a chain established in 1985 with more than 450 fast-casual restaurants nationwide, has one remaining area restaurant, in South Whitehall Township.
Also, in Bangor, the 6-yearold Pies to Die For Cafe closed last week at 5 Broadway, according to the business’ Facebook page.
“This was not an easy decision, but due to the high cost of doing business and the decreased sales, we had to make this decision,” the post reads.
Pies to Die For continues to sell its “Pie in a Cone” product at events and a stand in Allentown’s PPL Center.
A final closing note: Home furnishings retailer Pier 1 Imports at 2630 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township recently sold its location to Realty Income Corp. of San Diego, freelance writer Kevin Duffy reported last week.
The sale makes way for the building to be razed and a new structure to be built for four tenants — two of which will be restaurants — said Bob Gage, senior vice president of development services for GBT Realty Corp. during a zoning hearing board meeting Tuesday.
The Whitehall store, one of up to 25 that the chain said in April it would be closing, is still open. But Gage said it won’t be for long.
Retail Watch keeps track of new stores, restaurants and banks in the Lehigh Valley. Contact Ryan Kneller at 610-820-6597 or retailwatch@mcall.com. Retail Watch appears every Sunday.