<s>[INST] Can alternative therapies help my asthma? [/INST] 
Although many people try alternative therapies, and many practitioners claim that they help, alternative therapies have not been conclusively shown to be effective in treating asthma.

Here’s what The Canadian Asthma Consensus Report, 1999, a supplement to The Canadian Medical Association Journal 1999; 161 (11 Suppl) has to say on the subject: “There is no objective evidence of any benefit, apart from placebo effect, from the more frequently used unconventional therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy and herbal remedies.”

If you do decide to try an alternative therapy, tell your physician first, and make sure you continue to take your controller medication as directed. Bear in mind that, in addition to the fact that alternative therapies have not been properly tested, they also haven’t been tested for side effects. Most herbs do not have to be tested for benefits or side effects because they’re classified as food products. And remember, just because something is called “natural” doesn’t mean that it’s healthy. Cyanide, uranium and viruses are all perfectly “natural.” Source: Asthma Canada. Link: https://asthma.ca/get-help/understanding-asthma/frequently-asked-questions/. Field: Lung Disease. Disease: Asthma </s>