For asthma sufferers who are looking for a non-chemical solution to asthma, acupuncture is being increasingly suggested as a potential option. But can the precise placing of needles in the skin really help with a chronic inflammatory lung disease?
Asthma affects the wellness of tens of the thousands of people in the UK alone, but not everyone is happy to use chemicals and drugs in order to combat it. People have been searching for a long time for an alternative, and acupuncture is considered by some to be a useful treatment when administered by a skilled and qualified practitioner.
Acupuncture considers all diseases and ailments to be a signifier of a deeper problem, known as a ‘disharmony’. In that sense, a qualified acupuncturist will attempt to diagnose and tune into that disharmony rather than trying to physically combat the disease in its own right. As the asthma is considered only to be a manifestation of this disharmony, removing the disharmony should also relieve the symptoms of the asthma.
As with all forms of acupuncture, scientific proof is highly limited, as most studies have either suggested that it makes no difference or that there is insufficient evidence available for a scientific distinction. It could be argued, however, that this is because acupuncture is not an exact science and relies upon the acupuncturist’s ability to tune in to their patient and understand the root of the problem.
As such it cannot be recommended to use acupuncture as a complete alternative to standard medicine, as there simply isn’t the proof available to ensure that this would be safe. If you are still interested in attempting to use acupuncture to combat the effects of asthma, a slow, cautious approach should be taken. The acupuncture sessions should be used alongside traditional medicine to see if your symptoms improve.
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