title: Defining complementary and alternative medicine in allergies and asthma: benefits and risks.
abstract: In this review, the current literature discussing complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) interventions, the prevalence and pattern of use, examples of specific modalities and the risks of CAM for asthma and atopic disease are discussed. The specific risks of CAM interventions associated with the use of these modalities, omission of traditional therapeutic modalities, and the liability risk for physicians who either provide or counsel their patients regarding CAM interventions are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, UMDNJ-Asthma and Allergy Research Center, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heimall
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bielory
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment