Alternative medicine (2)
- Asthma treatment: Do complementary and alternative approaches work?
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continued:
Asthma treatment: Do complementary and alternative approaches work?
Asthma alternative therapies that need more research
Research still isn't clear whether these treatments help or not:
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles to various depths at strategic points on your body. Acupuncture originated in China thousands of years ago, but over the past two decades its popularity has grown significantly in other parts of the world. While some evidence suggests that asthma symptoms improve with acupuncture treatment, there's still not enough solid evidence to be certain it helps.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy aims to stimulate the body's self-healing response using very small doses of substances that cause symptoms. In the case of asthma, homeopathic remedies are made from substances that generally trigger an asthmatic reaction, such as pollen or weeds. There's no evidence that homeopathy helps treat asthma. The substances that trigger symptoms are used in such tiny amounts that they're unlikely to cause a reaction. Even so, most asthma experts discourage homeopathic treatment.
Inspiratory muscle training
This technique helps strengthen the lung muscles with a series of breathing exercises. It's sometimes used for other lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and after certain types of surgery. These exercises definitely strengthen your lungs, but there's not enough proof to say whether they help with asthma.
Massage and chiropractic treatment
Although some claim that these treatments help, there's no evidence that physical manipulation of the spine or muscles helps with asthma symptoms.
Relaxation therapy
Relaxation therapy techniques include meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis and progressive muscle relaxation. Although these techniques seem to reduce stress and promote well-being, it's uncertain whether they help with asthma.
Consider the evidence and safety
In most cases, more well-designed studies are needed to make a clear judgment about which complementary and alternative asthma therapies are likely to help. But, keep in mind that lack of solid evidence doesn't necessarily mean these treatments don't work. Although they haven't been rigorously tested in a way that proves they're effective, many haven't been proved ineffective either — they simply haven't been investigated thoroughly enough to make a judgment.
If you do decide to try any complementary or alternative treatment for asthma, be sure to first talk to your doctor about it — and don't stop your regular treatment. In reality, alternative asthma therapies should be considered "complementary" rather than "alternative" since they're used as an addition to regular treatment rather than a replacement. Some of these treatments may be beneficial when used in combination with medical treatment, but when it comes to preventing asthma flare-ups and relieving symptoms, they aren't a substitute for prescribed medications and advice from your doctor.
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