How to Learn The Buteyko Method to Improve Asthma

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By Ann Casano
eHow Community Member

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(18 Ratings)

Feel like your asthma is out of control and traditional medicine is not working? Dr. Buteyko developed an effective holistic approach that can be used anywhere at any time to help patients with asthma, other respiratory illnesses, air hunger and anxiety attacks. His method is based upon the idea that the primary cause of respiratory distress is over-breathing or hidden chronic hyperventilation. By practicing his method of breathing retraining, asthma attacks and prescription drugs can significantly be reduced.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Timer

Practice Shallow Breathing

Step 1

Use only your nose to breathe in and out. Keep your mouth closed.
Step 2

Breathe only with your diaphragm, never your chest. Sit in front of a mirror. Place your hand on your belly and inhale. Your chest should not move at all, only your hand on your stomach. When exhaling, your stomach should move down to it's normal position.
Step 3

Place your finger under your nose. Your breathing should be so shallow that you barely feel any air moving.

Implement Breathing Exercises

Step 1

Sit in an upright position and breathe shallow for 3 minutes.
Step 2

Time your control pause. Breathe out normally. Pinch your nose shut. Time how long you can hold your breath before feeling the slightest urge to breathe. You may only be able to do this for a few seconds but as you practice your goal should eventually be 60 seconds.
Step 3

Breathe shallow for 3 minutes.
Step 4

Take a normal breath in and exhale slowly. Pinch your nose and hold your breath for 20 seconds. When you are done, resist the urge to take a deep breath.
Step 5

Breathe shallow for 3 more minutes.
Step 6

Take a normal breath in and exhale slowly. Pinch your nose and hold your breath for 30 seconds. Return to normal breathing.
Step 7

Breathe shallow for 3 more minutes.
Step 8

Pinch your nose and hold your breath for 40 seconds. Return to normal breathing.
Step 9

Breathe shallow for 3 more minutes.
Step 10

Measure control pause again. Your control pause should be longer than it was at the beginning of the exercise.

Use Buteyko in Everyday Life

Step 1

Tape your mouth closed when you sleep at night. The whole idea is to retrain your breathing, that means limiting mouth breathing.
Step 2

Limit rescue inhaler medicines. Use your daily medicines as normal, however the use of fast acting inhalers impede on the effectiveness of Buteyko.
Step 3

Limit the amount of protein you eat while you are learning the method. It takes the body more energy to burn protein.

Comments

Jakeroo123 said

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on 7/12/2008 I am asthmatic...I mean I was and then I first heard of Professor Buteyko in 1982...when he was on Irish Radio. I searched out his technique more fully at the "Hale Clinic" London & found I improved greatly. BBC also at around that time done an experimental documentary on his treatment & found many of the patients’s who agreed to take part in that programme improved greatly. My advice is if you're presently an asthmatic is try this treatment but do so under expert supervision. Now in another "BIG BREATH" I wish all asthmatic’s good health in the "FUTURE"!

ChristiB said

on 1/13/2008 Thank you for this information! Very useful. I am very disappointed in the amount of information doctors do not know!

Ceile said

on 12/8/2007 "Many American doctors are not familiar with The Buteyko Method, so be prepared to educate them."

It is a very sad fact that many American doctors are not familiar with a LOT of alternative techniques! I'm so happy you have included this article here!

Five Stars!!