Winter Wellness in Ventura: How HaloTherapy + Red/Infrared Light Can Support You Through Flu Season
Winter in Ventura has its own rhythm: cooler ocean air, more time indoors, and—like clockwork—an uptick in colds, congestion, and “why is everyone coughing?” moments. While nothing replaces good basics (sleep, hydration, hand hygiene, there are complementary therapies that may help your body stay resilient and recover faster.
At Iris Love Wellness, the HaloRed experience combines two modalities that have been studied for winter-season support:
HaloTherapy (dry salt aerosol / halotherapy) for respiratory hygiene and sinus support
Red + near-infrared light (photobiomodulation, PBM) for inflammation modulation, recovery, and sleep support
Below is a clinical, research-informed breakdown of what each modality may help with during winter and flu season—and why the combination can be especially supportive.
1) Respiratory Hygiene: Helping Your Lungs and Sinuses “Clear House”
HaloTherapy uses a halogenerator to disperse dry, micronized sodium chloride aerosol into the air. The salt particles are inhaled and can support the upper and lower respiratory tract by helping loosen mucus and supporting airway clearance—often described clinically as respiratory hygiene.
A notable clinical report on dry salt aerosol for respiratory infections concluded that inhalations of dry sodium chloride aerosol (performed twice weekly) were an effective preventive method against acute respiratory viral infections in the studied groups. Global Wellness Institute
Broader clinical reviews also summarize that salt therapy has been associated with symptom relief and improved functional parameters in conditions like sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and COPD—areas that often flare during colder months. PubMed
Why this matters in winter: when congestion and mucus hang around, you’re more likely to feel pressure, post-nasal drip, cough, and irritation. Supporting airway clearance can make winter feel a lot more breathable.
2) Inflammation Support: Calming the “Seasonal Swell”
Both viral illnesses and winter-time environmental triggers can increase inflammation—systemically and locally (sinuses, throat, bronchial pathways).
Red/near-infrared light (PBM) is studied for its anti-inflammatory effects. Mechanistically, PBM interacts with cellular chromophores (including mitochondrial pathways) and can influence nitric oxide signaling, ATP production, and downstream inflammatory cascades. PubMed+1
There’s also a growing body of work describing PBM’s immunomodulatory behavior—often shifting inflammatory signaling toward a more regulated, pro-resolution state. PMC+1
Why this matters in winter: less inflammatory “load” can translate into fewer aches, less reactive tissues, and a smoother recovery curve—especially for people who tend to feel wiped out for days after getting sick.
3) Better Sleep: The Underestimated Flu-Season Superpower
If winter had a single “most protective habit,” it would be sleep. It’s also the first thing to get disrupted when we’re stressed, busy, traveling, or mildly sick.
Whole-body red-light exposure has been linked with improved sleep quality and higher melatonin levels in a controlled study of elite female athletes after 14 days of red-light treatment. PMC+1
Why this matters in winter: consistent, restorative sleep supports immune function, mood stability, and recovery time. Even when you can’t control every exposure, you can improve your body’s baseline resilience.
4) Recovery Support: When You’re Already Run-Down
Winter wellness isn’t just prevention—it’s how you recover when something inevitably makes its way through school, work, or your household.
Salt therapy is often used in health-resort respiratory programs as part of prevention and rehabilitation strategies (especially in Eastern European traditions of respiratory hygiene). halotherapysolutions.com
PBM is also being explored in respiratory-support contexts for inflammatory lung states; while this is not “flu treatment,” it underscores PBM’s broader investigation for inflammation control and recovery support. PMC+1
Why this matters in winter: if you tend to get knocked down hard by seasonal bugs, supportive recovery modalities can help you feel functional sooner.
5) The HaloRed Advantage: Why Combining Salt + Red/Infrared Can Feel Like a Reset
Used together, HaloTherapy + PBM targets two winter pain points:
Airway burden (congestion, mucus, sinus pressure) through respiratory hygiene support Global Wellness Institute+1
Inflammatory + recovery load through PBM’s cellular and immune-modulating effects AIMS Press+1
That’s why clients often describe HaloRed as feeling like they “breathe deeper” and “reset faster” during winter—especially when they build it into a routine (rather than using it only once they’re already miserable).
Important, Clinically Responsible Notes
HaloTherapy and PBM are not cures for influenza or other viral illnesses.
They should be framed as supportive wellness modalities that may assist comfort, recovery, and resilience.
Anyone with significant respiratory disease, immunocompromise, or acute illness should consult their clinician before starting new therapies.
Book a HaloRed Session for Winter Support
If you want a winter ritual that supports breathing, recovery, and sleep—HaloRed is a powerful, low-effort addition to your season. A session is 20 minutes, relaxing, and designed to support your body’s natural resilience through the months that tend to challenge it most. Book a session today.
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