Here is some more excellent research on the effectiveness of using acupuncture treatments for asthma from the internet library.com

Acupuncture & Asthma

Acupuncture has traditionally been successfully employed in China to treat most illnesses and research in the past decade has shown that acupuncture can be very effective for respiratory diseases including asthma. There are many studies relating to the success of acupuncture treatment for asthma which have been reported in the medical journals (1) . In 1979 the World health Organization listed 40 diseases for which acupuncture was considered to be beneficial and diseases of the respiratory tract including asthma and bronchitis were included in that list (2).

Dr Mike Whiteside in one report stated that: “This (Acupuncture) is excellent for a mild attack and remarkably well accepted even by children.” (3) This view is certainly supported through the international medical literature and the published controlled studies.

In a study conducted at the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care in the University Hospital of Vienna revealed that over 70% of patients with long-standing asthma reported a significant improvement of their ailments after ten weeks of acupuncture treatment. (4)

Please remember that traditional acupuncturists treat the whole person rather than a disease and therefore attempt to get to the root cause of the problem rather than treating the symptoms and, like other holistic practitioners, will consider all lifestyle and environmental factors before commencing treatment.

(1). Aldridge d & Pietroni P (1987) Clinical assessment of Acupuncture in Asthma Therapy: a discussion paper. Journal of the Royal Soc of Med, 80, 222-4.
Jobst KA et al, (1986) Controlled trial of acupuncture for disabling breathlessness. Lancet 2, 1416-9.Fung KP et al (1986) Attenuation of exercise induced asthma by acupuncture Lancet 2, 1419-22.
(2) reported by Dr S Fulder MD in The Handbook of Complementary Medicine (Coronet).
(3) reported In here’s health Feb 1993 p.81.
(4) Beneficial effect of acupuncture on adult patients with asthma bronchiale.
Zwolfer W; Keznickl-Hillebrand W; Spacek A; Cartellieri M; Grubhofer G
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Vienna, Austria.
Am J Chin Med (UNITED STATES) 1993, 21 (2) p113-7

Scientists at the Department of Acupuncture, Second Municipal People’s Hospital, Kaifeng City, Henan Province studied 192 patients suffering from bronchial asthma , all of whom were treated by acupuncture on Kongzui (Lu 6) and Yuji (Lu 10). The results revealed that there was an immediate total effective rate of 98.9%, and interestingly, the rate of clinical remission dropped and there was a marked improvement in 76.5% of the patients.

The efficacy of the treatment did not differ significantly in patients of varying ages and even the duration of the disease was not found to be significant. The effects for asthma patients of the cold type according to Traditional Chinese Medicine classification and of the allergic type according to western medicine were the most impressive, and the researchers also found that the long-term curative rate was linked to (a) the length of time of needle retention and (b) the speed with which a patient responded to treatment. (ie. those patients who received the most needling and those who responded fastest to the treatment experienced a better long-term curative rate.)

The study also found that 40 minutes of needle retention after the treatment took effect was the most desirable. Acupuncture treatment of bronchial asthma was considered very effective, and particularly useful for those patients who have a history of drug allergy.

Zang J Immediate anti-asthmatic effect of acupuncture in 192 cases of bronchial asthma. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CHINA) Jun 1990, 10 (2) p89-93

The clinical observation revealed that the asthmatic symptoms in most of the patients began to be improved after several acupuncture treatments with the dosage of the drug gradually reduced.

Generally, the dose of cortisone per oz was decreased by 2 mg every 10 days, while that of aerosol was controlled by the patients themselves according to the condition of the disease.

The symptoms in most of the patients were markedly improved after 15 treatments, but the treatment should be continued for another 10 times to consolidate the curative effect. Thus, each asthmatic patient needs to receive approximately 30 sessions of acupuncture treatment, lasting about 3 months. Thereafter, in order to prevent its relapse, the treatment should be administered 10 times each year in the summer season. It is worthy to be mentioned that, in this series, there was a female patient who suffered from anaphylactic asthma induced by dog’s hair. She received 10 sessions of acupuncture treatment with no improvement. In this case, the acupuncture treatment should not be given any longer. There were another two children patients aged 5 and 7 years respectively, for them the above method of acupuncture treatment was difficult to be used. Therefore, the auricular pressing method combined with cupping was adopted instead. The auricular points selected were Shenmen, Lung, Large Intestine, sensitive point, Pingchuan, Subcortex, and Kidney. 5 points were used each time, and pressed with the seeds of Vaccaria which were changed every 3 days. The patients were asked to press each of the points themselves 3 times a day (each time by 20 pressings). And Dazhui (Du 14), Feishu (UB 13), Pishu (UB 20) and Shenshu (UB 23) were cupped for 5 min. each time. The auricular pressing and cupping therapies may also be added for adult patients to strengthen the curative effect. The 25 cases of hormone dependent bronchial asthma were treated by acupuncture, yielding a markedly effective rate of 56% with a total effective rate of 96%, indicating that good therapeutic results can also be expected in the western countries for those cases who have already been treated with hormones.

J Tradit Chin Med 1998 Mar;18(1):27-30, Hu J, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing.

Here is another study by the TCM journal showing once again the efficacy of acupuncture in treating bronchial asthma

Acupuncture & Bronchial Asthma
The clinical observation revealed that the asthmatic symptoms in most of the patients began to be improved after several acupuncture treatments with the dosage of the drug gradually reduced. Generally, the dose of cortisone person was decreased by 2 mg every 10 days, while that of aerosol was controlled by the patients themselves according to the condition of the disease.

The symptoms in most of the patients were markedly improved after 15 treatments, but the treatment should be continued for another 10 times to consolidate the curative effect. Thus, each asthmatic patient needs to receive approximately 30 sessions of acupuncture treatment, lasting about 3 months. Thereafter, in order to prevent its relapse, the treatment should be administered 10 times each year in the summer season. It is worthy to be mentioned that, in this series, there was a female patient who suffered from anaphylactic asthma induced by dog’s hair. She received 10 sessions of acupuncture treatment with no any improvement. In this case, the acupuncture treatment should not be given any longer. There were another two children patients aged 5 and 7 years respectively, for them the above method of acupuncture treatment was difficult to be used. Therefore, the auricular pressing method combined with cupping was adopted instead. The auricular points selected were Shenmen, Lung, Large Intestine, sensitive point, Pingchuan, Subcortex, and Kidney. 5 points were used each time, and pressed with the seeds of Vaccaria which were changed every 3 days. The patients were asked to press each of the points themselves 3 times a day (each time by 20 pressings). And Dazhui (Du 14), Feishu (UB 13), Pishu (UB 20) and Shenshu (UB 23) were cupped for 5 min. each time.

The auricular pressing and cupping therapies may also be added for adult patients to strengthen the curative effect. The 25 cases of hormone dependent bronchial asthma were treated by acupuncture, yielding a markedly effective rate of 56% with a total effective rate of 96%, indicating that good therapeutic results can also be expected in the western countries for those cases who have already been treated with hormones.

J Tradit Chin Med 1998 Mar;18(1):27-30 Hu J Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing.

FROM:   Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER)

October 24, 2002 Des Moines, Iowa— Patients afflicted with asthma may benefit from spinal manipulation in terms of symptoms, immunological capacity, and endocrine effects, an audience was told on October 5 at the 9th International Conference on Spinal Manipulation in Toronto. The investigative team, headed by Ray Hayek, Ph.D., has been conducting a trial at 16 treatment centers in Australia involving 420 patients with an average age of 46 in an effort to find out what effects spinal manipulation has on symptoms, depression and anxiety, general health status, and the levels of immunity as reflected by the concentrations of both an immunoglobulin (IgA) and an immunosuppressant (cortisol). This investigation draws from several references in the scientific literature which suggest that different forms of manual therapy (including massage) improve the symptomatology and lower cortisol levels in asthma patients.

Dr. Hayek reported that only the patient group which underwent spinal manipulation (by any of four commonly used manipulative treatment protocols) displayed significant improvement in asthma symptoms and depression and anxiety scores. Simply experiencing structured interviews at the treatment centers or being monitored at home did not yield these improvements. In addition, patients actually undergoing spinal manipulation displayed dramatic increases of IgA and decreases of cortisol through the posttreatment period, suggesting that there were physiological consequences to their manipulative treatments reflecting increased immunological capacities which would be expected to ward off subsequent asthmatic attacks.

These biochemical changes not only suggest that the effects of spinal manipulation are more far-reaching than commonly believed, but that they may be more long-term as well. The gain in immunological capacity achieved with the simultaneous loss of the immunosuppressant cortisol and the increase of the immunoglobulin IgA following spinal manipulation would be expected to reduce the incidence and severity of pathogenic invasion of the airways. There would be less of a risk under these circumstances of compounding the symptoms of asthma.

The immunosuppressing mechanism of glucocorticoids is believed to occur by their reducing the permeability of capillaries, decreasing the migration of white blood cells in inflamed areas, suppressing the release of interleukins, and inhibiting the production of proteolytic enzymes by stabilizing the lysosomal membranes which release them.

This followed contacts that the Director of Research at FCER was able to make with the Australian research community in 1995, taking into consideration the expertise of the investigative team as well as the fact that Australia’s 2 million asthma sufferers have given the Island Continent the dubious distinction of being the asthma capital of the world. It has been carried out with the support of research grants exceeding a quarter of a million dollars from both the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER) and the National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company (NCMIC). This research, which may be highly influential on the future of the chiropractic profession, is still in need of funding. To contribute to this important project, please call FCER at 800-637-6244, or donate via the Foundation’s secure website at: https://www.fcer.org:448/html/asthma_donate.asp

This research represents one of approximately 50 projects administered by FCER since 1990 in the effort to document both the theory and practice of chiropractic to increase its effective integration into healthcare systems worldwide. The conference at which these results were presented is an international forum which FCER has sponsored at different locations worldwide for the past 14 years.

Here is a very interesting study from the Riverside Osteopathic Hospital involving 81 children over a 2 month period receiving chiropractic care for their asthma. As you will see from the findings, there were significant improvements in their asthma. The results once again showed to be very promising. These ranged from reduction in medications to a nearly 50% drop in asthma attacks.

FROM:   Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research 1997;   1 (4) Jul:   1–8

Robert L. Graham, D.C.; Richard A. Pistolese, B.S.

Riverside Osteopathic Hospital, Trenton, MI 48183, USA

A self-reported asthma-related impairment study was conducted on 81 children under chiropractic care. The intent of this study was to quantify self-reported changes in impairment experienced by the pediatric asthmatic subjects, before and after a two month period under chiropractic care. Practitioners, representing a general range of six different approaches to vertebral subluxation correction, administered a specifically designed asthma impairment questionnaire at the appropriate intervals. Subjects were categorized into two groups; 1-10 years and 11-17 years. Parents/guardians completed questionnaires for the younger group, while the older subjects self-reported their perceptions of impairment. Significantly lower impairment rating scores (improvement) were reported for 90.1% of subjects 60 days after chiropractic care when compared to the pre-chiropractic scores (p < 0.05) with an effect size of 0.96. As well, there were no significant differences across the age groups based on parent/guardian versus self rated scores. Girls reported higher (less improvement) before and after care compared to boys, although significant decreases in impairment ratings were reported for each gender. This suggested a greater clinical effect for boys which was supported by effect sizes ranging from 1.2 for boys compared to 0.75 for girls. Additionally, 25 of 81 subjects (30.9%) chose to voluntarily decrease their dosage of medication by an average of 66.5 % while under chiropractic care. Moreover, information collected from patients revealed that among 24 patients reporting asthma “attacks” in the 30 day period prior to the study, the number of “attacks” decreased significantly by an average of 44.9% (p <.05). Based on the data obtained in this study, it was concluded that chiropractic care, for correction of vertebral subluxation, is a safe nonpharmacologic health care approach which may also be associated with significant decreases in asthma related impairment as well as a decreased incidence of asthmatic “attacks.” The findings suggest that chiropractic care should be further investigated relative to providing the most efficacious care management regimen for pediatric asthmatics.

The answer to the question can asthma be treated naturally? The answer is yes and no. Yes to prevention, no to attacks.

It is a slow and gradual process where conventional treatments are used along side alternative treatments,  referred to as complimentary. Time and dedication are needed.

Asthma is a serious condition and should be treated with respect and caution. Is is potentially a life threatening condition. Alternative therapies generally treat the chronic aspect of the disease NOT the acute attack.

In the true sense of the meaning alternative practitioners do not cure asthma. They do however, use natural processes that open the airways, reduce inflammation, and reduce spasms of the bronchial smooth muscles. It is about making a patient generally healthier in every aspect, by facilitating the body’s own natural healing. The idea is to improve the health of the patient, manage stress efficiently, reduce total inflammatory load, reduce pollutants, provide natural nutrients that will help bring about the necessary changes.

Diet is the most important aspect in any alternative treatment program to prevent asthma. For a lot of people its the toughest part of the program, and is the part of the program that is going to take time and effort to master. The the rewards are huge.

You will have to go on an anti-inflammatory diet. It is important to reduce general inflammation. A type of hormone known as prostagladins are produced by the body to maintain a balance between inflammation and anti-inflammation, arachidonic acid encourages the type of prostaglandin that encourages inflammation. Arachidonic acid in found in animal products especially meats. Make an effort to reduce the amount you consume.

In most practitioner’s experience with dealing with people who suffer asthma or other breathing problems, cow’s products cause a problem. Some people have food sensitivities to diary products, causing excess mucus production and inflammation.

The other main culprit is wheat so many people have problems with wheat and products containing wheat. Its amazing what a difference it can make.

Anti-oxidants are very helpful in general in reducing inflammatory induced free-radials. Your diet needs to be very rich in fruits and vegetables, all are a good source of anti-oxidants.

Generally alternative practitioners, use a variety of natural tools to bring about long lasting health and improvement in symptoms.

1) If you can afford it see a professional alternative practitioner like a naturopath or accupuncturist etc

2) Be prepared to make nutritional changes

3) Lose weight, if you need to

4) They might suggest certain exercises

5) They may prescribed breathing techniques

6) They could use homeopathy or supplements or herbs it depends on your individual symptoms

Take a good hard look at your life.

It is thought that many of today’s health problems arise from stress, I agree with that however there is an aspect that most people under estimate the effects of a poor diet, leaving the body less able to cope with stress. Stress up-sets the delicate balance and homeostasis of all your body’s functions, re-establishing a balance requires a holistic approach.

You might not have considered having massage on a regular basis to help your asthma, but it is an effective way of calming the whole system, it can be enhanced with certain essential oils added to the massage oil or cream.

Hot Stone Massage Therapy has been used for centuries to relax and treat breathing problems, ancient Ayurvedic therapy with hot river bed stones, melts away stress and tension and draws out impurities from the body.

Several studies show positive effects occur when parents massage their asthmatic children, there is less anxiety and a reduction of the stress hormone, cortisol. Learn massage or reflexology from books and DVDs.

Many patients have found breathing exercises have made a big difference to them, helping to reduce asthma symptoms and reducing their dependency pharmaceutical medication for controlling their asthma. Here are two main techniques, we have  most experience in the clinic with the first one -

The first is the Buteyko breathing technique was developed in the 1950s, as a method of breathing that would help asthmatics in the former Soviet Union. Since those days it has become more popular elsewhere in the world. This technique teaches you to automatically breathe less, I know it sounds strange at first hearing this, it has been observed that asthmatic breathe too much. This prevents breathing too much, which is a form hyperventilation. The Buteyko technique also includes advice about relaxation and stress reduction, medication use, nutrition and general health. An holistic alternative treatment.

The second is the Papworth method teaches relaxation and breathing techniques involves deep diaphragmatic breathing, nose breathing and matching your breathing to suit whatever activity you’re doing, some people  breathe through their mouth.

Both technique have shown reduction in asthma symptoms.

At the Haven we teach the first method along with lifestyle changes.

Yoga is a gentle form of exercise that date back hundreds of years and there are several types of yoga, but all kinds teach the importance of breathing techniques – called pranayama – which have helped some people reduce their asthma symptoms.

As a team of alternative practitioners (acupuncturists and naturopaths etc) we help people with chronic diseases, using our collective expertise. This might include acupuncture, nutrition, exercise, breathing properly, reducing stress, herbs and aromatherapy, to bring about a change in that person’s health and hence their symptoms subside.

As natural practitioners we never treat the disease, we always treat the individual.

This is one of the reasons it is so hard to measure a single treatment as alternative medicine doesn’t work like that. For instance – in conventional medicine if your cholesterol is high, you will generally be prescribe one of several cholesterol lowering drugs available (with their side-effects). For alternative medicine it is not that simple, every detail of a persons diet is noted, exercise habits, nutritional deficiencies, details that give clues like dry skin, or nausea or bathroom habits etc. A detailed diet is formulated, herbs maybe used that help the liver, supplements, plus treatments, but most of all education how to maintain a healthy life and maintain good cholesterol levels naturally for years to come, without being dependent on any type of medication.

Back to asthma – there are two types, intrinsic asthma , generally starts later in life and there seems to be no identifiable reason. Extrinsic asthma seems to be triggered by sometime inhaled and triggers an attack. There is also exercise induced asthma, brought by too much exertion.

Symptoms of coughing , shortness of breath, wheezing, and a tight chest, is frightening as you fight for breath.

Triggers could be – smoke, dust, stress, exertion, respiratory infections, Aspirin, NSADs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, beta-blockers), chemicals in foods, perfumes, chemicals in the atmosphere, pet dander, pollen, acid reflux, extreme changes in weather, emotional stress, food sensitivities, even laughing.

Life for an asthma sufferer is a mine-field.

To treat a person with asthma would only be successful if we treat them with a multi-faceted  approach. We will never be able to make the environment fit for asthma suffers, but we can make asthma suffers fit for the environment.

Being taught how to breath properly

Having treatments like acupuncture to encourage the body

Research conducted a little while ago in London, showed a strong correlation with asthma attacks and having too much tablet salt.

How to eat right and strengthen the immune system (much more important than most people realize)

Food sensitivities – we can investigate which foods are causing a problems – heading the top of the list is cow’s milk

Vitamin C – is an excellent anti-histamine, protects lung tissue, encourages air-flow, good anti-inflammatory and reduces the chances of infections.

Vitamin E – works in synergy with Vitamin C, and is an excellent anti-oxidant protecting the lungs.

Evening primrose oil and flaxseed oil are both anti-inflammatory

Sonia Jones ND from The Haven Spa and Alternative Treatment Clinic, Boquete, Panama

Acupuncture and asthma

Research shows that acupuncture is very effective on all sorts of respiratory diseases including asthma. The World Health Organization listed forty diseases that were known to help with acupuncture, asthma is on the list.

Acupuncturists treat a person with asthma, they don’t treat the asthma. They consider all aspects of the person and their lifestyle.

The Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine (China) in June 1990 reported that the Scientists at the department of acupuncture, Second Municipal People’s Hospital, Kaifeng City Henan Province, China studied nearly 200 patients who where suffering from asthma. All where treated with acupuncture – the effective rate was 98.9%, the rate of clinical remission dropped and an improvement of 76.5%. This was the case basically what ever the age of the patient or the duration of the disease. Those who received the most treatment experienced a better long-term prognosis.

It is generally noted that acupuncture treatments improve symptoms, and medication dependency gradually reduces. There have many such reports and research.

Generally speaking it takes several treatments, observations so significantly marked improvements in about 15 treatments and then after that treatments are continued but less often. It is thought that people should have approximately two treatments a week for about 3 months. The maintenance program after that might be once a month depending on the individual.

What if the idea of acupuncture sends you into a panic?

Reflexology is a treatment without needles.

Reflexology, is well known is many parts of the world and research has revealed it benefits asthma suffers. Like acupuncture, reflexology has stood the test of time it too is also thousands of years old, and extremely difficult to fully explain like acupuncture. It can help balance and normalize organs and tissues of the body, through the nervous system, strengthening and normalizing the lung and bronchial tissue.

Of-course, if conventional medicine is working for you and you are happy with your treatment and progress that is great. But a number of the population, are finding conventional medication is not working for them, it is not improving their quality of life. These are the people we generally see at the clinic – where a number of modalities are used to help this person to a better state of health, with acupuncture or reflexology, advice on nutrition, herbs and lifestyles.

Our mission and aim is to improve your symptoms and enhance every aspect of your life to make you healthier. To make life a good experience.

Many Western trained practitioners like to denigrate certain alternative therapies and in some cases I would join them, however acupuncture has stood the test of time and most acupuncturist are very skilled professionals.

Many times they site the fact that it could be placebo effect, but this is also a yard stick for measuring the success of conventional medicine.

People have been seeing practitioner’s of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for 2000 years. It has certainly stood the test of time. The therapy is based on the idea that the body has a life force, a female and male energy known as Yin and Yang and there are five elements – earth, wind, fire, metal, and wood. Each element represents a different organ or system in the body.

TCM practitioners say this energy should flow freely around the body, through energy channels called meridians. If this energy become unbalanced, channels can become blocked and symptoms become evident.

It is the practitioner’s job to carry out a full investigation, a case study that explores all aspects – lifestyle, diet, medical history, and present symptoms. Tongue analysis and the study of your pulse – there are 12 different pulses relating to different organs and systems. Having gathered all the facts the practitioner is able to decide the course of treatment relevant to your set of circumstances.

The acupuncturist uses absolutely tiny needles, most people really don’t feel any pain. The therapy works to resort free flowing energy and stimulate the chi (life force) by strategically placing needle in specific acupuncture points. All needles come individually wrapped and are only used once, disposal is only in special containers. Acupuncture has been very effective people people with asthma.

This first treatment is about an 90 minutes and subsequent sessions are about 45 minutes. Often there will be advice on diet and herbs.

If you can not afford treatments, find out where the training places are, students need people in the student clinics to practice on, under strict supervision.