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Asthma in Teens and Adults - Other Treatment
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
- Overview
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Health Tools
- FAQs
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When to Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Living With Asthma
- Medications
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
A new treatment called bronchial thermoplasty is available for adults with severe asthma. For this therapy, bronchoscopy is used to apply heat to the airways. This reduces the thickness of the airways and improves the ability to breathe.20, 21
Allergy shots (immunotherapy) may be recommended for people who have asthma symptoms when they are around substances to which they are allergic (allergens). In some people, allergy shots have been shown to reduce asthma symptoms and the need for medicines.24 But allergy shots are not equally effective for all allergens. Allergy shots should not be given when asthma is poorly controlled. For more information, see:
Allergy shots contain small doses of one or more substances to which you are allergic so that your body can become less responsive to them over time.
Complementary medicine
Alternative treatments such as homeopathy, acupuncture, and breathing exercises have been used to treat asthma. The research on these treatments is limited. Reviews of research show:25, 26
- No evidence to support using homeopathy, air ionizers, manual therapy, or acupuncture for asthma.
- A possible but not clearly established role for using antioxidants.
- Breathing exercises practiced in yoga may improve lung function.
Some people have used ephedra—a stimulant sold for weight loss and sports performance—to try to treat asthma symptoms. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale of this dietary supplement because of concerns about safety. Ephedra, also called ma huang, has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, and some deaths.
A review of complementary and alternative treatments for treating asthma in children concluded that none have been proved to reduce asthma symptoms and some may have harmful side effects.27 Some of these studies included teenagers and adults. The therapies reviewed include:
- Herbal products such as ivy leaf, butterbur, and Tylophora indica (T. indica).
- Dietary supplements such as fatty acids and probiotics.
- Homeopathy.
- Procedures such as acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, hypnosis, and biofeedback.
Talk to your doctor before trying a complementary or alternative treatment.
For more information on alternative treatments, see the topic Complementary Medicine.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: February 13, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Rohit K Katial, MD - Allergy and Immunology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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