What is the Buteyko Method?
Safe and natural breathing exercises tailored to the individual and depending on medical history, coupled with simple and easy to implement dietary and lifestyle changes.
How was the Buteyko Method developed?
Professor Buteyko, whilst completing his medical training, did a piece of work on breathing and health. He found that the sicker someone was, the more they breathed. So he set about exploring the connection between breath rate and disease. During periods of disease he found that the breath rate increased way over what is considered normal. He found that over 250 medical complaints responded favorably to breath reduction, the most noticeable being asthma. He spent over 40 years perfecting the breathing method we now know as the Buteyko Method.
How does the Buteyko Method work?
The Buteyko Method normalizes breathing. The exercises result in a gradual reduction in the overall intake and output of breath. Oxygen levels remain optimal, as with normal rate breathing oxygen levels are 98%, but what does change are the levels of carbon dioxide that are exhaled. This important gas is produced in the body and serves to keep the airways open and improve oxygen absorption.
What is hyperventilation?
The World Health Organization states normal breathing is 8 to 10 breaths per minute taken through the nose. Hyperventilation or over-breathing is when either more than the stated number of breaths per minute are taken or when air is taken through the mouth rather than the nose.
How easy is the Buteyko Method to learn?
Children as young as five manage well, so it really only needs very basic skills to be able to master the method.
How soon will I see an improvement in my condition?
50% reduction in symptoms like coughing and wheezing within two weeks
Can young children learn the Buteyko Method?
As long as a child can follow simple instruction, they can learn the Buteyko Method. Generally I take children over five years old and up.
Can the Buteyko Method help me with my sports activities?
Yes. Stamina improves, and, if symptoms have been experienced during exercise, this gradually reduces to become an experience of the past.
How often and for how long will I have to practice the breathing exercises?
Adults need to practice for three 20-minute sessions each day. For children, the time is reduced to 12 minutes three times a day. The results you gain from this input of time are well worth the investment.
What is asthma?
Asthma is not a disease; it is a collection of symptoms. Commonly described as tightness in the chest, difficulty getting a satisfying breath, swollen inflamed airways and mucous.
Why do these symptoms occur?
Many people who get asthma will recognize these scenarios.
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- You are running late for an appointment. You start to feel anxious. Your pulse rate rises. You huff and puff your way to the top of the stairs. You arrive at your destination breathless and tight chested.
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- A child's birthday party. A bag of balloons. You look around for ANYONE else who will blow them up for you because you know that if you attempt it you will have asthma in no time.
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- You laugh aloud. Suddenly you feel symptom of an asthma attack.
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Each of the scenarios outlined above have one thing in common. The breathing pattern changed; the rate of breathing increased. This is called hyperventilation. Put simply - breathing more than the body requires for the activity. When this occurs it causes an imbalance of the levels of individual gases within our lungs and our blood. Principally we breathe out too much carbon dioxide.
Why does it matter if we breathe out too much carbon dioxide?
There is an optimum level of carbon dioxide which our body needs for normal functioning. If we have too little within our system the result will be the onset of symptoms.
Does it work for all types of asthma?
According to Professor Buteyko, over-breathing causes all types of asthma, and therefore, all will respond to normalization of breathing. For example, the following types of asthma will benefit from the Buteyko Method:
- Asthma due to allergies from dust mites, animal fur, pollens, feathers etc.
- Exercise-induced asthma
- Asthma related to colds and flu
- Seasonal asthma
- Food-related asthma
- Asthma triggered by irritants such as smoke, pollution, cold temperatures, fumes, and vehicle exhausts
- Nocturnal asthma (night-time)
- Occupational asthma
For what conditions the Buteyko method is effective?
Asthma, Rhinitis, Sinusitis, COPD, Snoring, Stress, Depression, Chronic fatigue, Congested nose, Panic attacks, Sleeping disorders.
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