| Other therapies |
| Acupuncture (laser or fine needles used to puncture the skin at defined points)(56, 57) |
I: 2 systematic reviews (1 Cochrane)
|
|
+/-
|
+/-
|
+/-
|
Short-term studies. Questionable use of sham acupuncture as comparator. 7 trial of 174 people reviewed by Cochrane |
|
| Hypnotherapy (creating a trance-like state)(58-63) |
I: Systematic review |
Adults and older children with severity ranging from mild-moderate/severe
|
+/-
|
+/-
|
+/-
|
Dependent on hypnosis ‘susceptibility’. Several published studies have not provided sufficient detail to assess effect. |
|
Ionisation (instrumentally boosting the positive and negative ion content of
the air)(64-68) |
II: RCT |
Adults and children with asthma |
2-
|
0
|
2-
|
Total N = 92 |
One trial demonstrated positive ionisation aggravated EIA |
| Meditation (techniques used to calm the mind and body)(69) |
II: 1 RCT |
Adults with ‘stable’ asthma |
0
|
1+
|
0
|
Only half the respondents completing the
full trial.
Airways resistance decreased
|
|
| Music therapy(70) |
II: 1 RCT |
Stable asthmatics |
1+
|
1-
|
0
|
Data from a single trial (n = 72) with relaxation and no treatment as the comparator |
|
| Osteopathy (physical manipulative therapy used to adjust misalignments of the muscles, joints and bones)(71, 72) |
II: 1 pilot RCT
and 1
controlled
comparative
study |
Adults with asthma. Comparative group in second trial included
non-asthmatics |
1-
|
+/-
|
0
|
Total number of participants = 18 |
|
| Reflexology (application of pressure, usually to the feet, to produce therapeutic effects on other parts of the body)(73, 74) |
II: 2 RCTs |
Adults with asthma |
+/-
|
1-
|
+/–
(SABA
use
decreased)
|
Total N = 70
Peak flows increased in one study, but neither study showed improvements
in FEV1.
|
|
| Speleotherapy (use of subterranean environments as a therapeutic measure)(75) |
I: Cochrane Review
(3 RCTs) |
Children with asthma |
0
|
1+
|
1+
|
Results may vary from cave to cave
Total N = 118
Lung function effects were described as transient
|
|
| Relaxation therapy(76-82) |
I: 1 systematic review and other RCTs |
Adults and children with asthma ranging from mild to severe |
2-
|
+/-
|
2-
|
May be of greatest benefit for those with asthma exacerbated
by anxiety.
Has also been demonstrated to be useful in acute attacks
|
|
