Alternative Therapies for Asthma

Alternative Therapies for Asthma is organized by Western Schools.

Release Date: January 2, 2018
Expiration Date: January 31, 2021

Credits: 2 Hours

Description:
A complementary, or alternative, therapy is any healing practice that is not considered part of conventional, mainstream medicine. Complementary therapies may be based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence (National Asthma Council Australia, 2012). It is important to understand that there is a distinction between complementary and alternative practices. If a nonmainstream practice is used in conjunction with conventional medicine, it is considered complementary. If a nonmainstream practice is used in place of conventional medicine, it is considered alternative. Most people who use nonmainstream approaches combine them with conventional treatments (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health [NCCIH], 2016).

Although not a mainstay of therapy, the use of alternative therapies by individuals with asthma warrants discussion because of its increasing popularity. The use of alternative therapies is so prevalent that healthcare professionals can expect to provide care to a large number of individuals who use these therapies. Alternative therapies may influence the delivery of medical care, so it is important to ask about a history of alternative therapy use in the assessment. Healthcare professionals have a responsibility to provide individuals who use other therapies with accurate information about the safety and potential adverse interactions with traditional medical care. It is imperative that the person with asthma understand the risks and benefits of alternative treatments, which ones have evidence-based effectiveness, and the need to maintain medical management and follow-up to ensure good asthma outcomes. This course focuses specifically on the use of alternative therapies in asthma treatment.

Additional details will be posted as soon as information is available.