Dr. Margaret Smiechowski, North America's foremost expert on Himalayan salt, is pleased to announce the opening of her latest salt cave creation in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Owned by Scott B. Wertkin, the "Salt Cave MPLS" opened on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis this month after an exciting design and building period. Wertkin notes that he first learned about Himalayan salt when trying to find complementary relief for his son, who previously suffered from asthma. Upon seeing the benefits of the use of salt, Wertkin and his wife decided to open their own cave, and consulted with Smiechowski, who designed the cave.

"This cave is like others that I have designed," says Smiechowski, "but there is nothing like this one in Minnesota. Instead of the white walls that are popular in some cave simulations, this cave is a work of art."

With 12,000 pounds of Himalayan salt on the floors, walls, and ceiling, and a powerful salt generator that pumps salt into the air, visitors can sit in the climate-controlled comfort of zero-gravity chairs at the first cave of its kind in Minnesota. A 45-minute session in the cave costs just $30; after the session, customers can shop in the salt-themed retail store to bring the salt cave experience home.

Research on the benefits of Himalayan salt is conducted regularly in Russia, China, and Poland, and has supported the belief that speleotherapy, the clinical use of salt, is highly beneficial for the respiratory system. In other parts of the world, Himalayan salt therapy is used for a wide variety of medical purposes, but salt caves like these in the United States are hailed for their relaxation benefits.

"It's the high mineral content that makes the caves so beneficial," says Smiechowski. "The Himalayan salt contains every mineral that the human body needs. Visitors breathe in the minerals and feel the benefits after just a few minutes."

Smiechowski built her first salt cave in 2007 at the Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center in Rutland, Vermont, and has built many additional caves around the country. She is known for innovative designs that combine the most recent technology with the healing benefits and beauty of the pink salt.

For more information, please contact Dr. Margaret Smiechowski at 802-770-3138 , or Scott Wertkin at 612-567-2587, or to see her caves, visit www.saltcavebuilder.com, www.pyramidvt.com or www.saltcaveminnesota.com.