People with asthma often turn to complementary therapies for relief from symptoms. Most of these haven't been shown to work. The exception is some types of breathing exercises, which do seem to improve symptoms and quality of life.

Research by Asthma UK shows that almost 1 in 10 people living with asthma use complementary medicine, and many would consider it in the future.

According to Dr Mike Thomas from Asthma UK, there's little evidence that complementary therapies in general improve the symptoms of asthma.

Specific remedies that are sometimes tried include homeopathy, acupuncture, air ionisers, the Alexander technique and Chinese herbal medicine, but the results have been disappointing. See Asthma treatment.

Breathing exercises

People with asthma are taught slow, steady 'diaphragmatic' (belly-breathing) breathing through the nose. This can result in fewer asthma symptoms and better quality of life. However, these exercises are not a cure for asthma, and people with asthma still need to use their regular inhalers.

The Buteyko method, a system developed in Russia, teaches similar exercises and may improve the symptoms of asthma in some people. Some people with asthma find that the breathing exercises used during yoga also help their symptoms.

According to Leanne Male, Asthma UK's assistant director of research, people with asthma who gain some relief from Buteyko and other types of breathing exercise should not rely on it so much that they stop their conventional medication.

"We know that some people with asthma use breathing techniques such as Buteyko but, while they may reduce symptoms, they will not reduce the sensitivity of the airway, and should not replace regular asthma medicine. Also, we don't know what the long-term benefits are."

As for Chinese medicine, other herbal medicines, acupuncture, hypnosis and other complementary therapies, there isn't enough clinical evidence to recommend their use.