Alternative Therapies for Asthma

Therapy	Best Evidence *	Probably Useful †	Least Evidence ‡
Herbals	Atropa belladona; capsaicin; ephedra sinensis (12.5–25 mg t.i.d.); quercetin (400 mg ac t.i.d.); glycyrrhiza glabra (1–2 g t.i.d. powdered root; 2–4 ml t.i.d. extract; 250–500 mg dry powdered extract t.i.d.); grape seed extract (50–100 mg t.i.d.); guaiac wood (guafenisin 600 mg b.i.d.).	Ginkgo biloba (60 mg b.i.d.); tylophora asthmatica (200 mg b.i.d.).	Coleus forskohli (50 mg t.i.d.); lobelia inflata; coltsfoot (potentially toxic).
Diet and Nutrition/Lifestyle	Avoid sulfites, aspirin, tartrazine, biogenic amines; environmental control; vitamin C (10–30 mg/kg/day in divided doses).	Carotenes (25,000–50,000 IU/d); essential fatty acids (fish oils, omega-3 fatty acids); magnesium (200–400 mg t.i.d.); vitamin E (200–400 IU/d); zinc (15–30 mg/d); food allergy identification and avoidance (milk, egg, wheat); green tea (Camellia sinensis); onions, garlic; reduced sodium intake.	Treat hypochlorhydria; probiotics; selenium (200 µg/day); vitamin B 6 (if on theophylline: 25–50 mg b.i.d.); vitamin B 12 (sulfite-sensitive children: 1000 µg/d or IM weekly).
Mind-Body Interventions		Biofeedback; hypnosis; yoga breathing techniques.	Treat depression; stress management.
Pharmacological and Biological Treatments			Anti-Candida diet; DHEA.
Bioelectromagnetic Therapies			Electrical stimulation.
Alternative Systems		Acupuncture; African herbs; ayurvedic herbals; Chinese herbals; homeopathy.
Hands-On Healing Techniques	Massage.		Chiropractic; osteopathy.

^*Therapies with the highest degree of scientific support for efficacy and safety.
^†Therapies that are often helpful but that do not have the highest degree of supporting evidence for efficacy and safety.
^‡Therapies that may be useful but that have limited scientific evidence for efficacy and safety.
SOURCE: Sierpina, VS: Integrative Health Care: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for the Whole Person, F.A. Davis, Philadelphia, 2000.