| Medicinal therapies: traditional Chinese herbal medicines(20, 21) |
Ginkgo biloba
extract (ginkgolides
BN 52021 and
BN 52063)(22-24)
|
II: 2 RCTs
|
People with asthma aged
13-48 years |
+/-
|
1+
|
0
|
One study was in 61 people for 8 weeks; the second in 8 atopic adult asthmatics with effects measured immediately |
Reports of headache, nausea, dizziness, palpitations and allergic skin reactions; rare reports of bleeding
(AusDI, 2003)
Drug interactions likely (AusDI, 2003)
|
Ligusticum wallichii
(also called chuan xiong in China and senkyu in Japan)(25) |
II: 1 RCT |
Adults with moderate to severe asthma |
1-
|
1+
|
0
|
Measured at one month |
|
| Chanbei Kechuanping (CBKCP)(26) |
II: 1 RCT |
People with asthma |
0
|
1+
|
0
|
Effects measured immediately |
|
| Xuan Fei Ding Chuan Wan and Xiao Chuan Gu Ben Wan(27) |
II: 1 RCT |
People with asthma |
+/-
|
1+
|
0
|
|
|
| Reinforcing kidney and invigorating spleen decoction(28) |
II: 1 RCT |
‘Severe’ asthma taking inhaled steroids |
1-
|
1-
|
0
|
4-6 months |
|
| Invigorating kidney for preventing asthma tablets(29) |
II: 1 RCT |
Adults with asthma taking inhaled corticosteroids |
+/-
|
1+
|
0
|
3 months |
|
Strengthening body decoction
mahuang Ephedra sinica mixture(30) |
II: 1 RCT |
‘Cold and heat type’ adult asthmatics |
1-
|
1+
|
0
|
Two weeks |
mahuang is ephedrine
30-90%
Reports of headache, nausea, irritability, motor restlessness, insomnia, tachycardia (AusDI, 2003)
Rare case reports of hepatotoxicity
(Am J Gastroenterol 1996; 96: 1436-8)
|
| mahuang (Ephedra) Wenyang Tongulo mixture (WTM)(31) |
II: 1 RCT |
Adults with asthma |
1-
|
1+
|
0
|
8 weeks
Comparison was with oral salbutamol and inhaled corticosteroid |
| Chinese herbal medicines(32) |
Ill: non-randomisd CT |
Children with asthma |
+/-
|
+/-
|
0
|
Some TCM medicinals contain ephedrine, a sympathomimetic amine, which may be responsible for observed effects |
|
| Medicinal therapies: traditional Ayurvedic (Indian) medicines(20, 21) |
Boswellia
serrata(33) |
II: 1 RCT |
Adults with asthma |
1+
|
1+
|
0
|
|
2/40 patients reported epigastric discomfort on Boswellia |
Coleus forskohlii
(forskolin)(34) |
II: RCT |
People with asthma |
0
|
1+
|
0
|
Immediate effect tested. Less effective than ß agonist but more than placebo |
|
| Picrorrhiza kurroa(35) |
II: 1 RCT |
|
1-
|
1-
|
0
|
Over 14 weeks |
|
Solanum xanthocarpum/
S. trilobatu
(kantakari)(36, 37) |
II: 1 RCT |
Adults with asthma and with COPD |
1+
|
1-
|
0
|
Single dose study |
|
Tylophora
Indica(38-43) |
II: 5 RCTs
|
Adults with asthma, generally on no other treatment |
2+
|
1+
|
0
|
Effects reduced after several weeks |
Sore mouth, nausea and vomiting, loss
of taste |
| Medicinal therapies: traditional Japanese medicines(20, 21) |
| Tsumura saiboku-to (TJ-96)(44, 45)
|
II: 2 RCTs |
Adults with asthma |
2+
|
2+
|
1+
(oral steroids)
|
|
|
| Medicinal therapies: herbs (miscellaneous)(20, 21) |
Ivy leaves (dried)
(Hedera
helix L.)(46, 47)
|
II: 5 RCTs |
Adults and children with chronic airway obstruction due to asthma |
+/-
|
+/-
|
0
|
Only one trial was placebo controlled |
|
| Breathing and yoga |
Buteyko breathing technique (system of breathing exercises focusing on nasal route of breathing, hypoventilation and avoidance
of deep breaths)(48, 49) |
II: 5 RCTs |
Short-term studies in adults |
2+
|
0
|
2+
|
|
|
Yoga (ancient Indian practice using physical postures, discipline
of breathing,
and concentration during
practice)(50-54) |
II: 4 RCTs |
Patients with asthma |
+/-
|
0
|
+/-
|
Two studies showed reduced airway hyper-responsiveness |
|
| Breathing exercises(55) |
I: Cochrane Review |
|
0
|
1+
|
1+
|
5 studies reviewed including one study on Buteyko. No standard breathing technique used |
|
