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Updated November 11, 2014.

I am commonly asked if alternative medicine is safe in kids with asthma?

Until recently I had never really questioned why I was getting questions like this. Certainly I have patients and friends who, like many people, are trying to be more “green” and want more natural products in their lives. I also have a number of patients who have difficult to treat asthma and they are looking for something else to help them get better asthma control.

I also have patients who are concerned about the long term side effects of asthma medications and want to know if they have other options.

What Is Alternative Medicine?

While some of my patients and friends look at me funny, the first thing I usually ask them is “what do you mean by alternative medicine?” I do this because complementary and alternative medicine or CAM are really separate things that have become lumped together. CAM consists of two parts according to the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM):

• Complementary medicine. Non traditional treatment approaches are combined with traditional, Western medicine. Complementary treatments are a diverse group of practices and can include:
  
• Dietary supplements such as vitamins
  
• Herbs
  
• Probiotics
  
• Homeopathy
  
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
  
• Meditation
  
• Acupuncture
  
• Massage
  

One scenario might be something like combining one of the mentioned practices in addition to your daily inhaled steroid.

• Alternative medicine. By NCCAM’s definition, alternative medicine refers to treatment with a non-traditional approach instead of treatment with a more traditional one.

In my practice I am much more familar with patients choosing the adjunctive approach rather than in lieu of a standard treatment.

Is Alternative Medicine Regulated?

Most patients pursue treatments in an adjunctive fashion. However, patients are often very confused. Most patients and parents are unaware that most CAM treatments do not fall under the regulatory review of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before coming to market. While they do fall under its jurisdiction related to side effects that may occur, that is only after they are available for purchase by you and I. Many consumers are misled by promises and benefits that are devoid of scientific evidence. While the NIH and NCCAM have begun funding studies and examining CAM practices, it is important for pediatricians to realize that patients continue to consume CAM in large numbers despite a lack of clinical evidence.

What Are The Side Effects Of Alternative Medicine?

Just as with any medical treatment, CAM treatments have the potential for side effects as was noted in this case report. The patient is an 11 year old girl who began seeing a CAM practitioner for her difficult to control atopic dermatitis. Her family had tried restrictive diets, supplements, but she was beginning to experience weight loss. A trial of cupping and acupuncture was recommended, but blistering of the skin and a significant infection were unintended side effects.

Unfortunately, this case is not the only one and cases of significant side effects and deaths have occurred. Many parents that assume incorrectly that when they see natural in the product description that it also means the the product is safe.

Commonly Reported CAM Side Effects In Medical Literature

While the exact side effects of a CAM treatment depend on the treatment administered, I provide you the following list so that you can have an idea:

• Bleeding
• Constipation
• High levels of calcium in the blood
• Leg pain
• Thyroid problems
• Allergic reactions
• Acute hepatitis
• Seizures
• Pregnancy problems

The more worrisome problems occurred when patients stopped traditional treatments and had a worsening of a preexisting condition.

If you plan on utilizing CAM make sure you discuss with your doctor that the treatments will work with your current asthma action plan.

Sources

1. Lim A, Cranswick N, . Adverse events associated with the use of complementary and alternative medicine in children.. Arch Dis Child2011 Mar;96(3):297–300. Accessed on September 21, 2014.
2. Kam LH, Luk DC, Leong KF, Leung AK. Cupping Therapy May be Harmful for Eczema: A PubMed Search. Case Rep Pediatr. 2013; 2013Accessed on September 21, 2014.