Therapy |
Panel’s findings |
Diet modification |
Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)
Selenium supplements
Vitamin C supplementation
Vitamin C and E supplementation combined
Oral magnesium supplements
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Dietary salt |
Selenium supplements and magnesium supplements
(in people who were deficient in magnesium) were thought to be
possibly effective in improving symptoms, but not breathing
capacity, in people with asthma. Of the others, on current
evidence omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) are probably ineffective
as treatment for asthma and lactobacillus is possibly
ineffective. There was no consistent evidence about the others.
Please note: At high doses, some vitamin and mineral
supplements may cause side effects such as foetal abnormalities
and toxic effects. Please check the supplement with your doctor
or pharmacist. There is also a brochure on Asthma and Diet in
Early Childhood in this range of brochures. |
Physical therapies |
Chiropractic
Massage
Swimming
Physical training |
Chiropractic is probably ineffective for asthma
and physical training is possibly ineffective. There is no
consistent evidence about the effectiveness of the other
treatments. |
Homeopathy |
| Remedies derived from plants and minerals,
given in extremely diluted forms according to individual patient
needs |
Possible beneficial effects shown for breathing
capacity, and a reduction in medication required, but no clear
evidence of effectiveness for asthma symptoms.
Please note: products should be carefully selected and
preferably carry an AUST L number. |
Traditional Chinese and
Japanese herbal medicines
|
| Herbal medicines derived from plants or plant
substances, usually prescribed on an individual basis |
A number of specific therapies were reviewed.
Several of these are possibly effective in improving breathing
capacity in people with asthma. However, there is no evidence of
beneficial effects on asthma symptoms or on the requirement for
other asthma medication.
Please note: side effects and interactions with other
medicines reported for some herbs. Please check herbal medicine
with your doctor or pharmacist. Products should be carefully
selected and preferably carry an AUST L or AUST R number. |
Traditional Ayurvedic
(Indian) medicines
|
| Herbal medicines derived from plants or plant
substances, usually prescribed on an individual basis |
Several of these therapies are possibly
effective in improving breathing capacity in people with asthma
and some are possibly effective in relieving asthma symptoms.
One, Tylophora indica, is probably effective in reducing asthma
symptoms. Please note: side effects and interactions with other
medicines reported for some herbs. Please check herbal medicine
with your doctor or pharmacist. Products should be carefully
selected and preferably carry an AUST L or AUST R number. |
Buteyko breathing
technique
|
| System of breathing exercises focusing on nasal
route of breathing, hypoventilation and avoidance of deep
breaths |
Short-term studies in adults show that it is
probably effective in reducing asthma symptoms and reducing the
amount of medication required. However, there is no evidence of
effect on breathing capacity in people with asthma. |
Yoga |
| Ancient Indian practice using physical
postures, discipline of breathing, and concentration during
practice |
No consistent evidence of beneficial effects in
people with asthma. |
Breathing exercises
|
| Various techniques |
Possible beneficial effects on breathing
capacity and medication requirement. No evidence of effect on
asthma symptoms. |
Acupuncture |
| Laser or fine needles used to puncture the skin
at defined points |
No consistent evidence of beneficial effects in
people with asthma. Please note: some side effects have been
reported. Care should be taken when selecting a therapist. |
Hypnotherapy |
| Creating a trance-like state |
No consistent evidence of beneficial effects in
people with asthma. |
Ionisation |
| Instrumentally boosting the positive and
negative ion content of the air |
Probably ineffective in reducing asthma
symptoms and the amount of medication required. Please note:
Ionisation has been reported to worsen exercise-induced asthma.
|
Meditation |
| Techniques used to calm the mind and body |
Possibly effective on breathing capacity for
people with asthma. No evidence of effects on asthma symptoms or
medication requirement. |
Music therapy |
| Use of interactive music-making as a therapy to
address individual emotional and developmental needs |
Possibly beneficial on asthma symptoms. No
evidence of benefit for breathing capacity or medication
requirement. |
Osteopathy |
| Physical manipulative therapy used to adjust
misalignments of the muscles, joints and bones |
No consistent evidence of beneficial effects in
people with asthma. Care should be taken when selecting a
therapist. |
Reflexology |
| Application of pressure, usually to the feet,
to produce therapeutic effects on other parts of the body |
No consistent evidence of beneficial effects in
people with asthma. Care should be taken when selecting a
therapist. |
Speleotherapy |
| A therapeutic measure which involves spending
time in the pure underground air of caves or salt mines |
Possible beneficial effects on breathing
capacity and medication requirement. Results achieved may vary
from cave to cave. |
Relaxation therapy |
| Techniques to reduce anxiety, tension and
stress |
Probably ineffective in reducing asthma
symptoms and the amount of medication required. May be of
benefit for those with asthma worsened by anxiety. Has also been
demonstrated to be useful in acute attacks. |
In
many cases the panel concluded that there was insufficient evidence to
decide whether the therapy was likely to be effective, or that the available
evidence was inconsistent. In other cases there was some evidence that the
treatment was effective or, alternatively, that the treatment was
ineffective. However, often the available evidence was fairly weak or there
was conflicting evidence. Therefore, the panel classified treatments as
either “possibly” or “probably” effective (or ineffective). Some of the
findings are summarised in the following table. More information may be
available from your doctor, the National Prescribing Service Medicines Line
or other contacts at the end of this brochure. 