Duzdag: A hidden health sanctuary deep within a salt mine at the edge of Asia

Nakhchivan, an isolated exclave about 260 miles southwest of Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, is home to a wealth of historical landmarks, including towers, fortresses, tombs, and even caves believed to grant wishes.

The star attraction is the Duzdag salt mine, or ‘Salt Mountain,’ which stands as the region's largest medical tourism hub.

Buried 360 feet (110 meters) beneath the earth, this unique destination offers alternative therapies for respiratory conditions in chambers originally carved nearly 5,000 years ago.

Mountain retreat

Located just seven miles from Nakhchivan city, the caves are set amidst stunning mountains at an elevation of 3,848 feet (1,173 meters).

The modern Physiotherapy Center, established in 1979, stands on the site of ancient salt mines that archaeologists uncovered in the 1970s. It is believed that salt was extracted here as far back as the third millennium BCE and traded with the Middle East.

The exact origins of the caves' reputation for healing properties remain unclear, with multiple stories offering competing explanations.

According to legend, the caves have long been regarded as a source of healing by locals who consider Duzdag salt to have sacred powers. During 20th-century excavations, archaeologists are said to have found relief from bronchitis and asthma.

Another story speaks of a young boy with severe respiratory problems who lived near the caves and often visited to play and sketch animals on the walls. His drawings can still be seen, and locals believe his illness was completely cured.

Salt therapy

Salt-based remedies are not a recent discovery. In the mid-19th century, Polish physician Feliks Boczkowski, working at a salt mine, noticed that miners rarely suffered from respiratory issues and appeared to be in particularly good health.

Boczkowski is regarded as the pioneer of halotherapy, a treatment that involves inhaling air with fine salt particles to improve breathing.

Halotherapy has gained popularity in recent years, though the scientific community remains divided on its effectiveness. Experts believe that airborne salt may help thin mucus in the airways and draw in moisture, while salty environments are generally free of allergens.

However, without evidence-based studies to guide medical practices, the American Lung Association advises consulting a doctor before starting halotherapy or salt treatments.

When salt therapy takes place underground, utilizing the natural salt air and climate of caves, it is known as speleotherapy. Salt caves are found worldwide, including in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Germany, and Switzerland, and are frequently used by asthma patients seeking alternative treatments.

Salty shimmer

What distinguishes the Duzdag complex is its horizontal layout, allowing patients to gradually acclimate to the cave’s environment as they walk nearly 900 feet (300 meters) from the main entrance to their rooms.

The winding road leading into the mine first reaches the tidy, single-story wooden structure of the Physiotherapy Center, which contrasts with the enchanting, sparkling walls within the tunnel.

One immediately noticeable feature, even before entering the caves, is the distinctive aroma of Duzdag salt, which is strikingly different from the mild salty breeze that blows in from the nearby Caspian Sea.

The shimmering salt layers on the walls are 8.2 meters thick (around 27 feet). The spacious tunnel, with benches along the sides and even a resting area equipped with a TV and tables, never feels cramped or claustrophobic.

A closer look at the small, pinkish rocks near the walls reveals that even these are composed of salt. Visitors often collect larger pieces, believing the crystals can ward off negativity.

It takes a while to get accustomed to the intense salt scent, but breathing in the tunnel is not difficult. According to the center, the cave's natural ventilation prevents the buildup of harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen.

The center asserts that the combination of factors such as the mine's elevation above sea level, its temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, oxygen's ionic composition, and its bacteriological makeup contribute significantly to the effective treatment of conditions like bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, hay fever, and allergic rhinitis.

Microclimate

The microclimate inside the caves remains stable year-round: humidity levels stay between 20-25%, and although it was 3°C (37°F) outside during Dinogo’s visit, the cave temperature remained comfortably between 18-20°C (64-68°F).

The center has grown to accommodate 474 patients, and in 2008, the Duzdag Hotel was added. Located just over a mile from the caves, it is part of the Duzdag Physiotherapy Complex, where new patients are examined and spend a few days adjusting to the environment.

During a December walk through the caves, there’s only one other group of tourists present. On average, 3,500-4,000 patients visit the caves each year, with the majority coming in the summer when families plan their treatments during school holidays and time off work.

In recent years, this tranquil health retreat has introduced a specialized post-Covid rehabilitation program to address the virus's impact on the respiratory system. The caves are also believed to have healing properties that extend beyond respiratory care, reportedly boosting immune function, improving circulation and skin health, and alleviating stress.

While these claims may not be independently verified, there’s no question about the unique atmosphere in the caves.

Sitting on a bench, surrounded by the peaceful glow of the shimmering walls, which generations have trusted to heal in silence, it’s easy to lose yourself in the calm, leaving your worries behind at the entrance.