A Haven for halo

FORT RECOVERY — Halotherapy is now available in the village.

Salty Haven opened for halotherapy, an alternative medicine practice, in the back room of Sunshine Boutique, 128 Wayne St., Fort Recovery, early last month. It is now available for appointments Tuesday through Saturdays.

“Salty Haven is my little piece of Sunshine,” owner Nikki Kremer wrote on the business’ Facebook page.

The back room of the boutique now has a smaller “salt room” for the treatments. Salt rooms are used for halotherapy, which is said to reduce inflammation in the throat and lungs.

A halogenerator machine attached to the wall infuses the air with salt and disperses it throughout the room. The approximately 10-foot by 10-foot space also has two Himalayan salt wall panels and several Himalayan salt lamps.

Halotherapy provides relief for sinus problems, stuffy noses, coughs and other similar health issues, Kremer said. It helps flow oxygen into athletes’ lungs, and it has also helped those suffering from long-term effects of COVID-19, she added.

Sunshine Boutique owner Krista Muhlenkamp added she has heard it can also help singers or actors struggling with a hoarse voice the day before a performance.

“We’re just really excited to help people in a new way, in a new fashion,” Kremer said. “We’ve had lots of kiddos in with colds — its just nice to have an option aside from medication.”

Although the treatment has yet to be scientifically proven, Kremer advocates for its effectiveness from her past experiences.

Kremer’s late daughter, Ava, had Mucopolysaccharidosis, a degenerative disease categorized by symptoms such as respiratory problems and chronic pneumonia. She used to visit Nature’s Green Nursery in Celina for halotherapy treatments two or three times a week.

“It was very therapeutic for her and greatly improved her quality of life,” Kremer said.

After the nursery in Celina closed — the original Fort Recovery location owned by Nikki Stone is still in business — Kremer had the opportunity to purchase its halogenerator.

She wasn’t sure where to put it until Troy Muhlenkamp, Krista’s husband, suggested they use the back room at Sunshine Boutique.

The space was originally used as a work area and break area before Krista Muhlenkamp purchased the second floor of the building. About three years ago, the room was remodeled and served as a spot to display a men’s clothing line, shoes and sale items.

Recently Troy Muhlenkamp and Kremer’s husband, Clint, constructed a smaller room in the back for the halotherapy business. They also installed new doors in the back and repainted the entire boutique in white.

Halotherapy sessions last about an hour, and the room can hold up to six people at one time. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Each session costs $20 and package deals are available.

Kremer can be reached for halotherapy appointments by calling the Sunshine Boutique phone number at (419) 375-5700.