The Buteyko Method of Breathing for Asthma
The Buteyko method was developed in the 1950’s by a Russian Doctor called Dr. Konstantin Buteyko. As a medical student, Dr Butekoy was assigned the task of observing patients’ breathing rates in order to gather information on the severity and prognosis of their illness. He later became fascinated by the correlation between health and breath and was even able to predict the time of death of patients, purely by observing their breathing patterns. He found that conditions worsened as breathing rates increased.
He went on to develop a totally safe, effective and drug free method to help asthmatics and sufferers of other respiratory pathologies.
By the early 1980’s the Russians authorities allowed him to conduct a formal trial with asthmatic children in a Moscow hospital. As a result of this trial, the Russian authorities approved the Buteyko as an adjunct hospital treatment throughout the former Soviet Union in 1981.
In the West, scientific trials mainly conducted in Australia and New Zealand have also proved that asthma sufferers using the Buteyko system were able to significantly reduce their need for asthma medication.
Just recently (December 2007), a new study by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary, Canada and entitled ‘ Cowie RL, et al. A randomized controlled trial of the Buteyko technique as an adjunct to conventional management of asthma’ concluded that ‘the subjects in the Buteyko group were able to significantly reduce their daily doses of inhaled corticosteriod’. It went on to state ‘the Buteyko method can be recommended given that it is structured, well developed and in the public domain and because there is no evidence that it has any adverse effects’.
In the UK, the method is being taught in some NHS hospitals by Physiotherapists in Pulmonary rehabilitation wards and Asthma nurses.
As it is relatively new in the UK, it has tended to be considered as an alternative method which it definitely is not. It is an adjunct method, to be used alongside medication. As patients symptoms improve, they discuss the possibility of reducing medication with their treating doctor.
The Buteyko method has been shown to help with:
- Asthma
- Mild to moderate COPD
- Emphysema
- Sinusitis
- Rhinitis
- Hayfever
- Persistent coughs
- Bronchitis
- Hyperventilation
- Anxiety and panick attacks
There are 22,000 trained Buteyko practitioners in the world.
The Buteyko protocol consists of 5 one hour sessions taught once weekly by practitioners registered with the Butekyo Breathing Association (BBA) or the Buteyko Institute of Breathing and Health (BIBH).
The Buteyko methods is designed to teach children and adults simple breathing techniques to help them fend off asthma or panick attacks. It does require the patients’ participation and home practice. The commitment is well worth the effort and the results speak for themselves.