Anyone been to the asthma-friendly caves of Turkey?

Neil Churchill

I am currently travelling round the Aegean coast and I am reading about two sets of caves – Alanya’s Dripping Stone Cave and The Caves of Heaven and Hell.

Alanya's Dripping Stone Cave has 95% humidity which some say relieves their asthma symptoms. It sounds just the place to bring out the worst in mine.

The Caves of Heaven and Hell sound a better bet for my asthma. They are also meant to help you breathe better if you inhale and exhale long enough inside them. However, if it’s called Heaven and Hell presumably it's not a wholly positive experience.

Both sets of caves are near the Mediterranean coast. You can even read about them in the Lonely Planet guide to Turkey. I’m not sure I'll be swapping my beach chalet for a night in a cave anytime soon.

Anyone been anywhere on holiday - cave or otherwise - that has really helped your asthma?

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buteyko'd my asthma

19 August 10
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I plan to go to a salt cave in Ireland (artificial one in a shopping centre) at teh weekend to see if there is a benefit to me with it. First visit is free. The usual duration for an adult is around an hour. There are similar artificial caves in Britain..meant to mimic the effect and conditions in the salt mines.... There are also small salt pipes available that you can use at home...not sure about their effectiveness (you use it similarly to a tobacco pipe- inhaling air through it- not sure if there is provision to nasal breathe). They seem to make sense as salt is antibacterial. The names on caves can be related to geological features or the wish to have an exotic name to attract tourists.....doesnt necessarily reflect the visiting experience!

stefan

13 August 10
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I had a brilliant sleep and glowing sensations in my lungs after visiting the salt mines at Wieslicska, near Krakow, Poland. I did the tour again the next day just to spend a few hours in the mine! There is a sanitorium there where you can sleep overnight. In the 1800s, it was noticed that salt miners rarely suffered from respiratory diseases and speleotherapy was born. The Cochrane review on speleotherapy says there is evidence of short-term benefit to children with asthma, but further research needs to be done. But who will do this research? There is no money in this for the drug companies. I hope to spend time in salt mines in Solotvino, Ukraine because these are deep and warm.

growler

11 August 10
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I went to Antarctica at the end of last year - perfect conditions for my lungs... shame it's so far away!

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