Alternatives to Pharmacotherapy

 

Physical training
Physical training programs as a therapy for asthma result in improved cardiorespiratory capacity, no change in lung function, and an increase in the frequency of wheeze (Ram FSF, et al, CDSR) [LEVEL 1].

Acupuncture
A systematic review did not identify studies reporting benefit from acupuncture, and because of methodological problems, the current evidence on the effects of acupuncture on asthma is considered to be inconclusive (Linde K, et al, CDSR) [LEVEL 1].

Family therapy
Some support has been demonstrated for the use of family therapy as an adjunct to medication, in the treatment of childhood asthma. However, current evidence comes from only two randomised controlled trials (Panton J, et al, CDSR) [LEVEL 1].

Homeopathy
There is currently insufficient evidence available to assess the role of homeopathy in the treatment of asthma (Linde K, et al, CDSR) [LEVEL 1].

Speleotherapy
The available evidence does not permit a reliable conclusion as to whether speleotherapeutic interventions are effective for the treatment of chronic asthma (Bearmon S, et al, CDSR) [LEVEL 1].

Allergen avoidance and asthma
Primary prevention: there is no long-term prevention of the onset of asthma in children whose mothers avoided known allergen-producing foods (i.e. peanuts, cows' milk and eggs) during pregnancy. However, avoiding cows' milk formula or soy formulae in the first six months of life may reduce the risk of development of asthma in high-risk infants with a family history of atopy (Thien F & Coughlan J, CAR) [LEVEL 2].