A Unique Healthcare Haven Underneath Yerevan
Deep beneath the capital of Armenia lies a unique healthcare facility that has become a focal point in the ongoing debate about alternative medicine and modern healthcare. This is the Republican Centre of Speleotherapy, located within a Soviet-era salt mine in Yerevan. The clinic offers a distinctive approach to treating respiratory illnesses by having patients breathe in mineral-rich air found in vast salt caves.
Speleotherapy, derived from the Greek word spḗlaion meaning “cave,” involves spending extended periods in underground environments like salt mines. This form of alternative therapy is based on the belief that the unique conditions found in such settings can help alleviate respiratory issues.
The clinic was established in 1987 and operated as part of Armenia’s public healthcare system for many years. However, in 2019, government funding was cut, with officials stating that the treatment did not meet the evidence-based standards required under the country’s new universal healthcare reforms.
Since then, the centre has been working hard to remain open despite the challenges. Patients continue to travel long distances seeking relief, highlighting the clinic’s importance to many individuals.
A Life-Changing Experience
Armen Stepanyan, a 63-year-old mechanical engineer from Kemerovo, Russia, has made the journey to these caves every year for over a decade to treat his severe asthma. He explains, “I’ve had asthma since I was 37. It got really bad at some point, and nothing would help. I went to a sanatorium for treatment, but that didn’t help either, so eventually I came here.”
He describes the therapy as life-changing: “I thought it was salvation. After that, I came to Yerevan every year, except for the coronavirus year. This is already the 13th time I’ve come to these caves for treatment.”
Inside the tunnels, patients rest in rows of beds, exercise, or participate in group therapy sessions while doctors monitor their breathing and lung function. The underground environment provides protection from allergens, pollution, and temperature fluctuations.
Expert Insights
Doctor Anush Voskanyan, who has worked at the clinic since its creation nearly four decades ago, explains the benefits of the setting. “The Republican Centre of Speleotherapy is located at a depth of 235 metres, deep in the salt mines. Our hospital was founded about forty years ago, and I’ve been working here since its creation. We treat mainly patients with bronchial asthma, allergic diseases, especially respiratory allergies, and skin allergies.”
She highlights the unique conditions underground: “The air here is ionised, and the temperature is constant year-round, 19–20°C, and doesn’t fluctuate constantly. This is due to the depth down the earth’s crust. Radiation is reduced to zero here.”
“There are no surface magnetic radio waves, noise, dust, or allergens, and thanks to all these factors, we obtain the healing effect,” she adds.
A Controversial Practice
Supporters argue that speleotherapy has long been part of healthcare traditions across eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, where natural environments such as mineral springs and mountain sanatoriums were widely used to treat chronic illness.
However, critics argue there is still not enough large-scale scientific research proving the treatment actually works, and Armenian health officials say that with limited healthcare budgets, priority has to go to treatments supported by stronger evidence.
The withdrawal of state support has sharply reduced patient numbers and placed the centre’s future in doubt.
“Our centre is currently facing a crisis, as we no longer receive government funding. The centre is at risk and may be forced to close down completely. As a result, patients are unable to receive treatment due to the lack of government support. We hope that investors will come forward and that the centre will be revived,” Voskanyan says.
The Road Ahead
The government is now trying to privatise its share in the facility, raising hopes that private investors or medical tourism could potentially help keep the underground clinic open.
Check out the video above to see inside the underground retreat.
