Salt is more than a seasoning for food, at least In Ogden at the Salt Cave at Awaken Wellness. SCAW provides salt therapy sessions to assist with people who are managing symptoms and side effects of mental and physical health.

SCAW invites WSU students to partake in a cave session during finals week — one of the most stressful weeks for students — to treat health issues, such as asthma, anxiety and depression.

A cave session lasts 45 minutes and involves a relaxation period in their zero-gravity chairs while listening to meditation music.

According to SCAW’s brochure, “As the salt goes into your respiratory system, it reduces inflammation, widens the airways and eliminates toxins and allergens, strengthening the immune system.”

Camille Campbell, clinical social worker, healer and owner of SCAW, said it’s important to her that she provides services to WSU students.

As a WSU alumni, she understands students’ struggles in college and believes the shaman practices SCAW provides can help.

Shamanism is about being in tune with spirituality and spiritual healing; a shaman is an individual vessel to bridge between the physical and spirit world.

After graduation, Campbell studied in Peru where she learned shaman teachings and rituals from the Shipibo-Conibo tribe; there, she discovered her “gift.”

Some say Campbell has psychic abilities but she prefers the term claircognizant, which translates to clear knowing. In other words, Campbell’s skill lies in knowing vague details about a person without previous knowledge.

Campbell has helped a few people find solutions to release tension in their wrists and ankles, which had lasted 10 years and longer; she describes this as pulling out tension through her energy and spiritual gift.

Because of Campbell’s involvement in the LGBTQ community, her “spirit” urged her to combine the two and counsel, providing a sense of peace within LGBTQ community members in Ogden.

An event on Sept. 12 was catered toward LGBTQ community members who are dealing with, or have dealt with, mental or physical health problems due to homophobic acts and remarks, for example.

During the session, Campbell used a single person as a vessel to unite everyone’s energies in the room, which is called bodytalk. Using her abilities, she asked her spirit yes or no questions to understand who needed healing.

For example, Campbell asked her spirit if there needed to be healing in the abdomen area. Then, she lifted the vessel’s hand; if it was heavy, that meant yes, and if it was light, that meant no.

After indicating the problem, everyone took a deep breath and lightly tapped their heads, chest and stomach as a way of releasing tension.

Campbell also used essential oils to assist in her healing processes.

While reading from the book, “Emotional Healing with Essential Oils,” she handed out essential oil to her guests, and read about the benefits of each. She used oils that specifically aligned with those who have issues within their identity as an LGBTQ community member.

Emily Carter, a regular attendee, brought her girlfriend, Kim Lyttge to the salt therapy session.

“I always feel better after being here. A lot of times I’ll get a break from my chronic pain for a few hours,” Carter said. “I end up feeling recharged. This is like a second home to me. I love it.”

On the other hand, Lyttge felt out of her comfort zone during the session; she talked to her spirit and felt each other’s energies, which seemed out of place for her.

She said she would attend the session again in support of her girlfriend.

Lyttge said she tends to let her emotions out right when she feels them, which is why Carter believed her girlfriend did not feel much of an impact.

According to Campbell, the more open a person is to the experience, the more of an impact they might feel.