Herbal cure for asthma can be fatal--study

Researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM) found that patients believing in herbal cures have a tendency to skip their asthma medication, therefore deteriorating their health.

“These patients report worse asthma control and poorer quality of life than patients who follow medication plans,” said Angkana Roy, M.D., pediatrician, MSSM.

Roy added, “Underuse of prescribed medication is one of the main factors contributing to poor outcomes in asthma patients.”

326 patients studied
The research team studied the health records of 326 patients over a period of 33 months.

The team found out that 25.4 percent patients were using herbal remedies as asthma cure and did not stick to the prescribed inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).

The research team also found that patients using herbal remedies were young and had a higher risk and tendency to be hospitalized for asthma treatment.

The team concluded that patients who were apprehensive about the undesirable consequences of ICS had trouble adhering to prescription and followed herbal cure.

Among the patients, the study revealed 47.4 percent adherence to herbal remedies in contrast to 31.7 percent in case of ICS.

The details of the study appear in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Patients advised to complete treatment
Asthma is considered a serious ailment and the treatment has to be equally effective. General practitioners have to carefully deal with patients suffering from chronic asthma and should frequently enquire about any alternative treatment the patient might be taking.

Therefore, the use of herbal remedies has to be talked with the physician in order to avoid serious problems.

“Patients interested in herbal remedies need to use them to complement treatment and not as an alternative,” said Leonard Bielory, American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) Integrative Medicine Committee’s head.

“Or they will not maximise their health and may actually hinder it as this study shows,” added Bielory.

Medication for asthma may vary depending upon the intensity, and proper identification is needed for the purpose of curing the disease effectively.

Also the patient has to be vigilant of the diet. It is essential that the diet chart be discussed with the physician and that foods causing allergy be avoided.

A restricted intake of acid-forming foods such as carbohydrates, fats and proteins is advised. Consumption of fresh fruits, green vegetables, and sprouted seeds is also recommended.