Photo by Jeffrey Saulton At Oasis Salt Cave and Renew Wellness the salt cave is filled with six tons of real Himalayan salt.

VIENNA — A business featuring holistic health products has added a new feature with a relaxation technique thousands of years old but only starting to be seen in the United States.

Brenda Hargett, a holistic health practitioner and owner of Oasis Salt Cave and Renew Wellness, said she has had a long interest in using natural things to help people stay healthy. After five years in business in Vienna, Hargett was looking for a way to expand.

“This was a natural fit to the business and having it expand,” she said. “Actually salt caves are a popular trend in higher end spas in Europe and now in the United States in the bigger cities.”

While the Mid-Ohio Valley is small compared to other areas, having a salt cave puts the area above others, she said.

“This puts the area on the cutting edge,” she said. “It is a recognized therapy with many benefits, so we are fortunate to have this in our backyard.”

Photo by Jeffrey Saulton Located at 2800 Grand Central Ave., in Vienna, Oasis Salt Cave and Renew Wellness is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

When customers go into the cave, they are required to wear coverings on their feet to keep the sand clean and uncontaminated like it is in nature, Hargett said.

Hargett said the cave, in their building at 2800 Grand Central Ave., in Vienna, was custom made, with salt brought in.

“It was hand carved and cut for this location,” she said. “Nothing was pre-fabricated; it was all made and cut on site.”

Hargett added there are six inches of Himalayan salt on the floor. Overall the cave is covered with six tons of salt.

“It’s almost magical in here with the lights and the sound of ocean waves,” she said. “It’s very relaxing and on top there is a generator dispersing salt particles into the air; this is called Halo therapy.”

Photo by Jeffrey Saulton handcars doors lead to the salt cave at Oasis Salt Cave and Renew Wellness.

Hargett said the word halo comes from an ancient Greek word for salt and the experience is as close as one can be to salt caves in the Himalayas without going there.

In the salt cave the temperature is between 68 and 70 degrees, so regular street clothes are worn while in there. Blankets are available to keep some from feeling too cold during the 45-minute session.

While in the salt cave, customers are seated in zero gravity chairs, making it possible to completely relax, she said.

Hargett said Himalayan salt is used around the world to treat a wide variety of medical issues. However, Hargett said, the use of the salt is only starting to be used in the United States.

She said Oasis is the second salt cave in West Virginia; the other is in White Sulphur Springs. She said the closest salt cave is in Columbus. There are fewer than 50 in the United States.

“It’s a big deal,” she said. “Usually we are among the last to get something like this.”

Hargett has a degree in nursing and a background in traditional medicine.

“All of what we offer works with the body in a way to treat body, mind and spirit for total well-being,” she said.

The business’s grand opening week began Friday.

Hargett said the cave was crafted by one of the top cave designers in the country and most places that have the caves charge $50 to $75 per session.

“Mine are $25 because I realize the Mid-Ohio Valley is not as affluent as some of the bigger cities,” she said. “I want people to come and come frequently because there are benefits from repeated visits.”

Among those it allows the body to detoxify and cleanse, she said.

“We also have ionic detox foot baths that help release toxins,” she said. “They can be booked online like they can for the salt cave.”

Hargett said they do an assessment of the body to help determine how the body could benefit from nutrients and herbs.

During the grand opening week, Hargett said, they are offering a one-time special. Bring a friend who has not visited before and both 45-minute sessions are $15 each through Aug. 12.

Oasis Salt Cave and Renew Wellness is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Salt cave sessions are on the hour beginning at 10 a.m. and the last session is 7 p.m.