Asthma

Air purifiers

In 2017 the Journal of Asthma published a 12-week study in which air purifiers were installed in the bedrooms of children with asthma in Fresno, CA. Compared to a control group, the children who received air purifiers saw improvement in asthma test scores and reduced daytime nasal symptoms. Average particulate matter 2.5 concentration was reduced by 43 percent.
In 2002 Chest published a review of 10 studies totaling 216 participants which demonstrated that the use of air purifiers lead to reduced sleep disturbances and a reduction in overall symptoms in patients with asthma and allergies.
In 2014 The Journal of Asthma published a study with showed that high performance air filters that remove more than 70 percent of per dander, fine particulate matter and respiratory virus can lower asthma triggers by more than 50 percent. Very high performance filters, rated 16 on the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Removal Value) rating system, are only marginally more effective than MERV12 or 13 rated filters.
In 2011 Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine published a 126-subject study in which children with asthma, residing with a smoker saw a significant increase in symptom-free days with the introduction of an indoor air purifier – However the authors note it is not enough to prevent second-hand smoke inhalation.

In 2002 Pediatric Allergy and Immunology published a study based on 35 asthmatic children and 29 controls which found an association between low vitamin A levels and children with asthma. Additionally, children with the most severe asthma had the lowest vitamin A levels among the sample tested.

In 2010 the Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences published a study in which 24 asthma patients were either assigned to a control group or a yoga group which practiced yoga daily for 50 minutes for a 4-week period. After the intervention the yoga group reduced albuterol inhaler use by 67 percent and albuterol tablet intake by 58 percent and saw a decrease the number of daytime and nighttime asthma attacks.
In 2009 the International Journal of Yoga published a study in which 5 bronchial asthma patients were assigned to either deep breathing exercises or meditation, both for 20 minutes, twice daily for 12 weeks. Assessments showed that subjects in the deep breathing group experienced significant improvements in asthma symptoms and lung function compared to the meditation group. The authors of the study recommend deep breathing as a part of regular therapy for asthma patients.

In 2007 Inflammation Research published an animal study which found that quercetin supplementation suppressed inflammation and showed potential for treating allergic asthma in mice.
In 2013 The American Journal of Physiology Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology published an animal study which found that quercetin acutely relaxed contracted airways in mice.

In 2017 the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a study in which 1,445 patients with allergic asthma received 15 acupuncture sessions over a 3 month period or were assigned to routine care. At the end of treatment the acupuncture group had higher quality of life scores with benefits continuing through 6 months after the start of treatment.