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Alternative medicine

By Mayo Clinic staff

Certain alternative treatments may help with asthma symptoms. However, keep in mind that these treatments are not a replacement for medical treatment — especially if you have severe asthma. Talk to your doctor before taking any herbs or supplements, as some may interact with medications you take.

While some alternative remedies are used for asthma, in most cases more research is needed to see how well they work and to measure the extent of possible side effects. Alternative asthma treatments include:

  • Breathing techniques. Examples include the Buteyko breathing technique, the Papworth method and yoga breathing. These exercises may reduce the amount of medication you need to keep your asthma symptoms under control. Yoga classes increase fitness and reduce stress, which may help with asthma as well.
  • Acupuncture. This technique involves placing very thin needles at strategic points on your body. It's safe and generally painless.
  • Relaxation techniques. Techniques such as meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis and progressive muscle relaxation may help with asthma by reducing tension and stress.
  • Herbal remedies. A few herbal remedies that may help improve asthma symptoms include butterbur, Indian frankincense and pycnogenol. Blends of different types of herbs are commonly used in traditional Chinese, Indian and Japanese medicine. However, more studies are needed to determine how well herbal remedies and preparations work for asthma.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids. Found in fish, flaxseed and other foods, these healthy oils may reduce the inflammation that leads to asthma symptoms.
Coping and support Lifestyle and home remedies
References
  1. What is asthma? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/. Accessed March 14, 2012.
  2. McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2012. 51st ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2740. Accessed March 14, 2012.
  3. Parker MJ. Asthma. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2011;44:667.
  4. Asthma action plan. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/asthma_actplan.htm. Accessed March 14, 2012.
  5. Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=9127709. Accessed March 14, 2012.
  6. Asthma overview — What causes asthma? Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&cont=6. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  7. Bjerg A. A strong synergism of low birth weight and prenatal smoking on asthma in schoolchildren. Pediatrics. 2011;127:e905.
  8. Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2012: 5 Books in 1. Philadelphia, Pa. : Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..00010-0--sc0310&isbn=978-0-323-05611-3&sid=1283797418&uniqId=324341161-6#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..00010-0--s6435. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  9. Asthma overview — Diagnosis. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&cont=7. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  10. Zafirlukast. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed March 14, 2012.
  11. Asthma overview — Treatment. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&cont=8. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  12. Hashimoto S, et al. Current treatment of severe asthma. Clinical and Experimental Allergy. In press. Accessed Mar. 14, 2012.
  13. Allergy overview — Treatment. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&cont=81. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  14. Mason RJ, et al. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00038-9--s0250&isbn=978-1-4160-4710-0&sid=1283802117&uniqId=324341161-7#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00038-9--s0325. Accessed March 14, 2012.
  15. Indoor air quality and allergies. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=18&cont=233. Accessed March 15, 2012.
  16. Bruton A, et al. The role of breathing training in asthma management. Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2011;11:53.
  17. Alternative therapies. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=16&cont=40. March 14, 2012.
  18. Butterbur. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=MAYO&s=nd&pt=100&id=649. Accessed March 15, 2012.
  19. Indian frankincense. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=MAYO&s=nd&pt=100&id=63. Accessed March 15, 2012.
  20. Pycnogenol. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=MAYO&s=nd&pt=100&id=1019. Accessed March 15, 2012.
  21. Fish oil. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=MAYO&s=nd&pt=100&id=993. Accessed March 15, 2012.
  22. Li JT (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 22, 2012.
  23. Anderson CF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 20, 2012.
DS00021 May 26, 2012

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