Why should I consult a healthcare professional about complementary therapies?

Discussing your treatment options for asthma openly with members of your healthcare team will assist you to optimise your asthma management. If you would like to try a complementary therapy, talk to your doctor first about what aspect of your asthma you hope to improve, and how you can measure if the therapy is helping.  

Your doctor can assist you in:

• assessing whether the complementary therapy has improved your asthma by reviewing (before, during and perhaps after use of the therapy) such things as:
  - your lung function (breathing capacity)
  - changes in your symptoms
  - changes in the amount of reliever medication you use.  
• maximising the potential benefit of any complementary therapy by providing you with information about:
  - possible interactions with medicines you are taking
  - the types of therapies that have been shown to have positive health benefits in people with asthma
  - any complementary medicines that may worsen asthma, such as Royal Jelly, Echinacea or products containing natural aspirin, such as willow bark.  

As with any asthma treatment, it is wise to try a complementary therapy for a set period. After this time its benefit can be assessed and you can make a clear decision to stop or continue the therapy.   It is also extremely important that you do not stop taking your regular asthma preventer medicines without discussing this first with your doctor. Stopping preventer medications suddenly can be dangerous for people with asthma.

Regulations for complementary therapies and therapists

In Victoria, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners must be registered with the Chinese Medicine Registration Board. Osteopaths and chiropractors are also registered in many States and Territories. There are no regulations for practitioners of other complementary therapies.  

Medicines used in complementary therapies are subject to Commonwealth regulations. Most complementary medicines are ‘listed’ (AUST L) products. Their claims are limited to ‘assist’ rather than ‘treat’ minor self-limiting conditions or for ‘maintaining health’ or reducing risk of non-serious conditions.  

Things to think about or ask before seeing a complementary therapist

The following suggestions* may help you to select a complementary therapist to suit your needs:  

• What experience have they had in treating people with asthma?
• Do they have professional registration?
• Who with?
• What exactly is the therapy?
• What period of treatment is likely to be required before we can tell if it has helped?
• What is the cost per session, and what is the likely total cost?
• What evidence is there that the treatment proposed actually works?  

* Source: Osman LM "...advising patients about complementary therapies" .The Asthma Journal, March 2001, 6:50.