One of Mattapoisett’s newest businesses sells something many people may not have heard of — halotherapy.

Marion resident Terry Lee, and his wife Kim, recently opened up a halotherapy business inside of Mattapoisett Wellness. Halotherapy uses salt as a way to address a myriad of issues, particularly skin and respiratory problems.

Essentially, salt is pharmaceutical grade salt is atomized into the air, where it can be breathed in. Clients can sit in Lee’s salt cabin for a session lasting about 20-25 minutes and just breathe.

The idea for halotherapy came from Eastern Europe, where people noticed salt miners never seemed to suffer from skin or respiratory diseases. Doctors attributed this to the salt environment.

Lee and his wife were introduced to the idea from their neighbor when they lived in South Florida in the 90s. Since moving back in 1999, Lee had researched the nearest halotherapy clinic, and found the closest one was in Southern Rhode Island.

Lee wanted one closer to use, but even the smallest machine type is too big for home use. When he found out about the extra space at Mattapoisett Wellness, he thought the opportunity could be “meant to be.”

“It’s especially helpful in the New England environment,” Lee said. “I had a desire to use it and bring it to the community.”

While the idea is breathing in salt air, Lee points out that it’s different than going to the ocean and standing on the beach.

“The difference is that it’s dry salt,” he said. “It can get into your lungs.”

Lee said this is thought to be beneficial because it can dry out excess mucus or moisture in the lungs. Salt is naturally an anti-inflammatory and an anti microbial, so it can also help kill bacteria and microbes.

“I’m not a doctor, but those are some of the properties around salt that we think play a role,” Lee said. “All three of those things are pretty well established about salt.”

The machine at Mattapoisett Wellness is a “salt cabin,” which could fit two to four people at a time. It’s a room with big comfy chairs, where people can spend 20-25 minutes at a time.

“Depending on what your problem is, you might want to go a few times a week,” Lee said.

Southcoast Halotherapy is open now, and Lee is excited to see people discover the benefits to the practice. The sessions will be around $30-$40 a piece. For more information, visit www.southcoasthalotherapy.com.