Is salt therapy beneficial for non-specific interstitial pneumonia?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com. NSIP (non-specific interstitial pneumonia) is a chronic form of interstitial pneumonia, which cause thickening of the interstitium, an anatomical lung part not seen on x-rays. This type of thickening can be due to inflammation, scarring or edema in the lungs. Usually, there are two types of NSIP that is cellular and fibrotic. Fibrotic NSIP is more common and more dangerous than cellular NSIP. The mainstay of treatment is the steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. No other type of therapy has been found effective on a long term basis. As you asked about salt therapy, let me clear you that it is a type of complementary therapy mainly in allergic and obstructive lung diseases. It is not to be used as a solo therapy in any disease. It helps to loosen the mucus and relieve dyspnea in patients with chronic lung diseases. The role is only supportive as it is not scientifically proven standard therapy for interstitial lung diseases. So, I advise you to continue the medicine as advised by your pulmonologist and think of this salt therapy only for symptomatic relief of NSIP symptoms and not as a primary line of treatment. There is no alternative to steroid medicines in the treatment of the NSIP.