Homeopathy, also known as homeopathic medicine, is a holistic and natural medicinal practice that is used to treat a variety of diseases. Homeopathic practitioners often use diluted natural substances from flowers and herbs in their treatments using a concept called "like cures like," which refers to the idea that using a substance that induces certain symptoms could also potentially cure them.
In the case of asthma, the goal for most homeopathic practitioners is to treat patients with a minimal dose that can cause symptoms similar to the condition. They do this to stimulate the body's natural defense systems to treat asthma symptoms naturally.
Studies have looked into the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment for asthma symptoms, but the results are mixed. According to one review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, there is simply not enough evidence to reliably assess and evaluate the effectiveness of homeopathy in asthma. The researchers call for significantly more randomized trials and observational data to make a good assessment.
Another review, published in the journal Complementary Medicine Research, claims that proof supporting homeopathic treatment remains inconclusive. The trials conducted were inconsistent and at risk of bias, incomplete reporting and small sample sizes.
Other studies on homeopathy, however, show some promise. A double-blind study published in the journal Advances in Integrative Medicine involved a randomized trial on 140 adults suffering from bronchial asthma. From the results, the researchers found that normal treatment complemented with homeopathic treatment was more effective at suppressing symptoms than normal treatment with a placebo.
While the researchers could not draw solid conclusions, a study published in the Indian Journal of Research in Homeopathy suggests that homeopathic treatment can help reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks.
While homeopathy can be useful in dealing with the symptoms of asthma, it is often most effective when paired with other treatments. Thankfully, certain lifestyle changes can make a big difference in helping you cope with symptoms and tone down the debilitating effects of an asthma attack. Here are a few natural ways to help relieve asthma symptoms:
People with asthma can live normal and healthy lives as long as they manage their asthma symptoms accordingly, such as through avoiding asthma triggers and having normal treatments alongside homeopathy.
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