Asthma Control

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Asthma treatment: Do complementary and alternative approaches work?

Many people try complementary and alternative asthma treatments ranging from

herbs to yoga. Discover which home remedies for asthma are most likely to work.

 

By Mayo Clinic staff

 

Complementary and alternative asthma treatment ranges from breathing exercises

to herbal remedies. There's limited information about asthma alternative

therapy. Researchers are still investigating whether most of these types of

asthma treatment really work and are safe. But many people try these types of

asthma treatment and claim they help. Here's what the evidence says about

complementary and alternative asthma treatment.

Asthma alternative therapies that may work

 

There's some evidence these complementary and alternative asthma treatments may

help:

 

Breathing exercises

Doing breathing exercises may reduce symptoms and may decrease the amount of

medication you need to control your asthma. Examples of breathing exercises that

may help include:

 

* The Buteyko breathing technique, which teaches you to habitually breathe

less. The theory is that this reduces asthma symptoms by keeping you from

getting too much air (hyperventilation). This method also gives advice about

stress reduction, medication use, nutrition and general health.

* The Papworth method, which involves deep belly breathing (diaphragmatic

breathing), nose breathing and other breathing techniques.

* Yoga breathing (pranayama), which teaches you to take deep, slow and

steady breaths. Yoga classes increase fitness and reduce stress, which may help

with asthma as well.

 

Diet

What you eat can have an effect on asthma symptoms. While a multivitamin or

supplement pill may help you get nutrients, the best source of nutrition is a

varied diet rich in whole foods.

 

Foods and nutrients that may help reduce asthma symptoms include:

 

* Fruits and vegetables. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables may increase

lung function and reduce asthma symptoms. These foods are rich in protective

nutrients (antioxidants) that boost the immune system.

* Omega-3 fatty acids. Found in fish, flaxseed and other foods, these

healthy oils may reduce the inflammation that leads to asthma symptoms. They

also appear to have a number of other health benefits.

 

Foods that may worsen asthma symptoms include:

 

* Foods high in saturated fat. These fats, which are solid at room

temperature, are found in foods such as red meats and butter. They may cause an

immune system response that worsens asthma symptoms.

* Salty food. High sodium levels may worsen the immune system response that

causes asthma symptoms.

* Foods that have caused a reaction in the past. Any foods that have caused

an allergic reaction or digestive problems in the past may be more likely to

cause asthma symptoms.

* Food additives and preservatives. Artificial sweeteners, food

preservatives and food colorings may cause reactions in some people. Examples

include aspartame, sulfites, benzoates and yellow dye #5.

* Milk products. In some people, milk and other dairy products increase

mucus production and worsen asthma symptoms. You may want to eliminate milk

products for a trial period to see if it helps. If you do cut milk products out

of your diet, make sure you're getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D from

other sources. Some people who are bothered by milk find that cheese and other

cultured milk products are OK.

 

Exercise

Stay physically active if you have asthma. Regular aerobic exercise strengthens

your lungs so that they don't have to work so hard and has other health benefits

that may reduce asthma symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you haven't exercised

for a while, and start out slowly with gentle activity. Keep in mind that

exercising in cold weather may trigger asthma symptoms. If you do exercise in

cold temperatures, wear a face mask to warm the air you breathe.

 

Herbal remedies

Herbal remedies and dietary supplements have been used for thousands of years to

treat lung disorders, and are still considered a primary asthma treatment in

many countries. Some have shown promise in research, but more studies are still

needed to find out for certain what works and what's safe. Herbs that have shown

at least some promise in treating asthma symptoms include:

 

* Butterbur

* Dried ivy

* Ginkgo extract

* Tylophora indica

* French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol )

* Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata)

* Choline

 

Blends of different types of herbs are commonly used in traditional Chinese,

Indian and Japanese medicine. There's some evidence that certain combinations of

herbs are more effective than taking one herb on its own.

 

Use caution with herbal remedies and always discuss the use of any new herb or

dietary supplement with your doctor. Consider these concerns before taking any

herbal remedy:

 

* Quality. While some sources or brands may be more reputable than others,

in the United States herbal medications have not had to meet the same standards

for safety and effectiveness as over-the-counter or prescription medications.

However, a new law requires dietary supplements sold in the U.S. to meet more

exacting standards for purity and quality by 2010.

* Side effects. Side effects caused by herbal supplements can range from

minor to severe, and depend on the herb and the dose you take. Be especially

cautious of herbal asthma remedies that contain ephedra or ephedra-like

substances, which may cause high blood pressure and have been linked to heart

attack and stroke. Examples include ma-huang (banned in the United States) and

bitter orange.

* Drug interactions. Certain herbal remedies can interact with other

medications. Talk to your doctor before taking an herbal remedy to make sure it

won't cause any problems.

 

These concerns don't necessarily mean trying an herbal treatment's a bad idea —

you just need to be careful. Talk to your doctor before taking an herbal remedy

to make sure it's safe for you.

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.

 

Best Wishes,

Scarlet

http://www.momswearyourtees.blogspot.com