Medically Reviewed
Some complementary therapies may help manage asthma symptoms (and the stressors that can make symptoms worse). But experts say never substitute alternative therapies for medications and treatments prescribed by your doctor.
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If you have asthma, odds are you’ve come across products marketed as “natural remedies,” “complementary therapies,” or “alternative treatments” for asthma symptoms.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), complementary therapies involve using nontraditional practices in combination with traditional medicine, whereas alternative treatments are used instead of traditional medicine. “Natural remedies” can fall into one or both these categories.
As of 2012, more than 30 percent of American adults turned to complementary therapies or alternative medicine, per the NCCIH. So, clearly, they’re popular but when it comes to asthma, are they safe to use?