Asthma & Complementary Therapies (Asthma Series Paper 5)

There is evidence of widespread and increasing public interest in the use of complementary therapies (both medicines and physical therapies) for the treatment of medical conditions, including asthma.

Authoritative information about these therapies, their possible benefits or adverse effects on people with asthma, is required to enable health professionals to respond to the needs of people with asthma.

This paper summarises current information from published clinical trials and systematic reviews about the effectiveness of various complementary therapies for improving symptoms and/or lung function and/or reducing medication requirements in people with asthma. This data is laid out at the end of this document in a colour-coded table.

An agreed definition of complementary therapy has not yet been developed. This paper uses a simple working definition: a complementary therapy is a therapy, including medicinal products, which is not considered to be part of current standard medical care.

This publication is dedicated to the memory of Professor Ann Woolcock AO.

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Asthma Series Paper 5: Asthma and Complementary Therapies
© Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing 2005.

Authors

A/Prof Guy Marks, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney;
Prof Marc Cohen, Head, Complementary Medicine, RMIT University, Melbourne; 
Dr Vicki Kotsirilos, Member, Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee, Therapeutic Goods Administration;
Dr Chris Luttrell, Member, General Practitioners Asthma Group; 
Dr John Massie, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne; 
Ms Treasure McGuire, Pharmacist, Mater Health Services, South Brisbane/School of Pharmacy University of Queensland; 
A/Prof Ray Mullins, John James Medical Centre, Deakin, Canberra; 
Ms Cassandra Slader, Pharmacist, St Vincent’s Public Hospital, Sydney and Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney

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Disclaimer

The information contained in this paper has been expert reviewed and represents the available published literature at the time of review. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be referred to a medical practitioner.