Complementary Medications

Are you interested in learning about complementary treatments for asthma? If so, read this and consult your health care provider before learning about any complementary treatment.

Complementary or alternative medicines usually refer to treatments that do not use medications prescribed by health care providers. Many complementary therapies claim to control asthma symptoms. Complementary therapies should complement, not replace, your medical treatment by a health care provider. Before using any complementary medicine, please read the following information and discuss the treatment with your health care provider. Complementary treatments can be harmful for people with asthma. While prescription drugs must go through rigorous studies and be approved by the USFDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), herbs and other complementary treatments are not closely regulated by the USFDA. As a result, we do not know how well they work, and more importantly, we do not know much about the possible harmful side effects of these complementary treatments. It is important to continue taking your medications as prescribed by your health care provider unless your health care provider tells you to stop or changes your medication.

Some common complementary medicines/treatments include the following:
Herbal Medicines
Acupuncture
Avoidance of Certain Foods
Yoga
Biofeedback
Massage Therapy
Chiropractic Adjustments

Herbal Medicines

• Herbal medicines are often sold to people with asthma claiming that they can help control their asthma. There is very little research to prove this.
• Just because herbs come from plants does not mean they are safe. Some herbal medicines have side effects ranging from nausea to poisoning.
• The USFDA has found that some herbs can interact with prescription and other drugs to cause people harm.
• It is important to consult your health care provider before taking any herbal supplement/medicine.
• Some examples of herbs that claim to help treat asthma and their potential side effects include:
  • Bee pollen - may cause severe allergic reaction, headaches, decreased memory and abdominal pain.
  • Caffeine (coffee/tea) - may cause irregular heartbeats, shakiness, and decreased appetite.
  • Deadly nightshade - may cause dry mouth, dry eyes, blurred vision, irregular heartbeat, and confusion. The USFDA has declared that this herb is unsafe for any use.
  • Ephedra (Ma-Huang) - may cause heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure. The USFDA has declared that this herb is unsafe for any use.
  • Ginkgo - may cause diarrhea, headaches, vomiting, and allergic reactions.
  • Jamaican dogwood - may cause nausea, indigestion, and may depress the heart muscle.
  • Licorice - may cause high blood pressure, heart failure, and fluid in the lungs.

Acupuncture

• Acupuncture is a treatment that involves the insertion of needles into the body. The practice is based on the Chinese theories of natural balance of energies in the body.
• Some people with asthma have found that acupuncture can reduce their pattern of asthma episodes and improve lung function.
• Some people become sick after acupuncture treatment, usually as a result of infected needles or puncture injuries.

Avoidance of Certain Foods

• Some people believe that eating or not eating certain foods can cause asthma. They argue that by eating more of the helpful foods and eliminating the harmful foods, you can control asthma. There is little research to support this claim.
• A well-balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables, is the best diet for people with asthma. If you would like more information about your diet and asthma, talk to your physician.

Yoga

• Breathing exercises used in yoga have been found to help some people with asthma control their breathing and relieve stress, a common asthma trigger. The rhythmic breathing techniques and exercise can also help to lower your breathing rate and decrease constriction in the airways.

Biofeedback

• Helps people to control body functions that are not usually controlled voluntarily. Biofeedback can help a person lower their heart rate and relax muscles inside the lungs that tighten during asthma episodes.
• Learning to increase the amount of air inhaled has reduced fear and anxiety during an asthma episode for some people with asthma.

Massage Therapy

• Some people use massage therapy to lower stress, relax the muscles around the chest, and improve the function of the immune system. These can all have a beneficial effect on asthma symptoms.

Chiropractic Adjustments

• Some people use chiropractic adjustments to help their asthma symptoms, claiming that the adjustments of the bones in the upper back (thoracic) area allow them to breathe more freely and have improved respiratory function.

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