Asthma patients who use herbal remedies experience more asthma symptoms and poorer quality of life, according to a new study published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and reported by HealthDay News.
Researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City surveyed 326 asthma patients to determine herbal remedy and prescribed inhaled corticosteroids use (ICS). Scientists found that 82 patients, or 25 percent, used herbal remedies more often than their prescribed medication to manage their asthma.
“Results indicate patients using herbal remedies are less likely to take their prescribed medications. These patients report worse asthma control and poorer quality of life than patients who follow medication plans. Underuse of prescribed medication is one of the main factors contributing to poor outcomes in asthma patients,” said study author Angkana Roy, MD, of the pediatrics department at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, in a news release.
Experts suggest that patients interested in herbal remedies should use them to complement their asthma treatment, not replace it.
To ensure safety and effectiveness, they also stress that patients who use herbal remedies and medications to discuss the details with their allergists.
