Alternative treatments for asthma not so successful

A new study shows that about 13% of families are using alternative therapies like vitamins, acupuncture and homeopathics, to treat their children’s asthma. According to a study from the Universite de Montreal,
published in the Canadian Respiratory Journal, this trend is associated with a two-fold higher rate of poor asthma control in children.

“Previous studies have shown that close to 60% of parents believe that complementary and alternative medicines are helpful,” says senior author Francine M. Ducharme, a Universite de Montreal professor, pediatrician and researcher. “Yet, well designed studies have failed to show any evidence that therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic medicine or
herbal therapy are effective in asthma. Parents may not be aware of the risk associated with the use of alternative medicine, including adverse reactions, possible interactions with conventional asthma therapy, as well as delay in taking, and compliance with, effective asthma therapy. Or findings confirm that children using complementary or alternative medicine,
are twice as likely to have poor asthma control than those that don’t.”

2000 families participated in the study by filling out questionnaires regarding their treatment preferences.

Strong assertion and something to think about if your child has asthma. “Our study may serve as a reminder to parents that alternative and complementary medicine has not been proven effective in asthma. . . They should first discuss its use with their physicians. It should also serve as a reminder to health care professionals to inquire about alternative therapy use, particularly if asthma is not well controlled, and initiate appropriate counseling,” concluded Dr. Ducharme.

Source: University of Montreal, Science Daily