Advances in complementary and alternative medicine are being made amidst interests to avail alternative cure for illnesses and sicknesses. The “Approximations” offered by complementary and alternative medicine in treating asthma has increasingly been sought by more patients following several failures of clinical medicine, as posited by Blanca, Gongora-Melendez, Esquer-Flores, Escalante-Dominguez, & Macias. Although the usefulness of complementary and alternative medicine in asthma is yet to be ruled out by scientific evidence, final conclusions are yet to be made regarding their efficacies and safety in treating asthma. Acupuncture has been used in treatment of chronic diseases in Japan, and its application in the treatment of chronic pulmonary disorders has been allowed by the World Trade Organization according to Suzuki, Yoko, & Hiroshi. Better quality of life is one of the positive results of acupuncture treatments that have been reported. Safer and more effective alternatives for asthma are needed with increased affected population. For example, an estimated 15 million people in the United States have been affected by asthma.
Patients with Asthma have shown a variety of responses to acupuncture, indicating the potential of complementary medicine in treating asthma. In study by Sternfeld, Fink, Bentwich, and Eliraz, patients showed reduction of “bronchodilator and taper completely corticosteroid therapy”. Acupuncture has also been found to be useful in treating COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and UIP (Usual Interstitial Pneumonia). Jobst has posited that acupoints could be dynamic points that can “initiate a physiological response when the conditions are right”, as posited by Jobst. Treating asthma patients with acupuncture has reported more success elsewhere-“decreased concentrations of SlgA and total IgA (in saliva and in nasal secretions) and levels of IgE in sera after treatment” according to Yang et al.
A lot of literature has been developed concerning the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating asthma, and it appears that many cases refute the usability of the method. Reviews of several publications have found flaws in research that support the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating asthma. The case for the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of asthma is to be further supported by more research studies, since current and past research has been affected by a number of limitations or flaws that have limited or affected the evaluation of the usability of acupuncture in treating asthma. These limitations include the cultural barriers of the studies, lack of standardization in treatment, as well as small samples of patients (see Gyarik & Martin). It appears that inadequate prove exists for or against the utilization of acupuncture in asthma therapy. The operation of acupuncture on asthma, as well as for other sicknesses needs to be explained using the criteria for understanding and judging modern therapies, so that its application, effectiveness and validity can be understood more.
In conclusion, there are no clear indications whether acupuncture is effective in treating asthma. While some studies and cases have reported positive results based on the patient experience, other studies have refuted the claim that acupuncture is effective in treatment of asthma. The validity and reliability of studies supporting effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for asthma has been indicated as lacking, because the judgment has been based on the patients’ experiences and feelings.
References
Blanca R, Gongora-Melendez A, Esquer-Flores J, Escalante-Dominguez J, & Macias A. The role of acupuncture in asthma. Rev Alerg Mex. 2007; 56 (5): 154-7.
Gyarik S, & Martin B. Complementary and alternative medicine for Bronchial Asthma: Acupuncture. Curr Opin Pulm Med, 2004; 10 (1).
Jobst A. A critical analysis of acupuncture in pulmonary disease: efficacy and safety of the acupuncture needle. J Altern Complement Med. 1995; 1 (1):57-85.
Sternfeld M, Fink A, Bentwich Z, and Eliraz A. The role acupuncture in asthma: changes in airways dynamics and LTC4 induced LAI. Am J Chin Med. 1989;17 (3-4): 129-134.
Suzuki M, Yoko Y, Hiroshi, Y. Research into acupuncture for respiratory disease in Japan: a systematic review. Acupunct Med. 2009; 27 (2): 54-60.
Yang Y, Chen H, Zhao C, Wang R. Studies on regulatory effects of acupuncture on mucosal secretory IgA in patients with allergic asthma. Chen Tzu Yen Chiu. 1995; 20 (2):68-70.