Articles
Asthma treatment: Do complementary and alternative approaches work?
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Acupuncture
Breathing exercises
Chiropractic manipulation
Diet, vitamins and supplements
Herbal remedies
Massage
Relaxation techniques
Consider the evidence and safety
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Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) asthma treatments range from breathing exercises to herbal remedies. However, a lack of well-designed clinical trials makes it difficult to determine the safety and effectiveness of these treatments.
A recent survey of allergists found that most people who used CAM did so because they thought the treatments were safer than traditional medicines. Yet, the doctors observed a link between greater CAM use and increased symptom flares and emergency room visits.
If you're considering CAM treatments for asthma, here's what you should know.