PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is 
widespread across the world. Patients with asthma and allergy regularly use CAM 
therapies. Allergic and anaphylactic reactions to CAM have been reported.
RECENT FINDINGS: Recent attempts to regulate and monitor adverse reaction to 
these therapies have given us further insight into potential causes of severe 
allergic reactions. Several culprits identified including Andrographis 
paniculata, Echinacea species, bee products, Ginkgo biloba and Ginseng are 
discussed here.
SUMMARY: Knowing the factors that increase the risk of anaphylaxis allows 
reactions to be recognized, reported and further investigated. Research to 
identify key causative allergens is necessary in the future. Collaboration 
between the allergy community and CAM practitioners can allow better 
understanding of allergy to these therapies.