Medical Trials of the Buteyko Method

In this modern world everyone is agreed that scientific proof of any remedial system or drug is essential before it is made freely available within a health care system. There are two key problems arising from this assumption that both affect the recognition of the effectiveness of the Buteyko Method; the first questions the trust we place in current clinical trials and the way they are constructed and the second is more fundamental, in that the overwhelming majority of clinical trials are funded by drug companies who are unwilling to fund research into a system that has already been shown to considerably reduce the need for drugs.

Despite these reservations there have been a number of trials funded by independent bodies. Some of these are shown below:

Research & Clinical Trials on The Buteyko Method

The most extensive research into the effects on health of breathing was the life's work of Professor Konstantin Buteyko & much of this early work is being published on the internet. In the West there have been a number of clinical trials that have substantiated the relationship between chronic hidden hyperventilation and asthma.

Description: http://www.asthmacarekent.co.uk/mphb-jpg_w800_h600_fit.jpg The Mater Hospital Trial Brisbane 1998

"Those practising the Buteyko Breathing Technique reduced hyperventilation and their use of beta2-agonists. A trend toward reduced inhaled steroid use and better quality of life......" Download pdf HERE
Description: http://www.asthmacarekent.co.uk/mphb-jpg_w800_h600_fit.jpg The Gisborne Trial New Zealand 2003

"The magnitude of effect in both studies was remarkably similar to the Mater trial, 85% reduction in reliever medication & 37% reduction in steroids." click HERE
Description: http://www.asthmacarekent.co.uk/images-150x150.jpg The Calgary Trial Canada 2007

"I've been astonished and also very pleased with the excellent result. There is no disruption of their life at all by their disease: normal activities; not waking at night; not needing to use any reliever medications. It's just great...75% control is about as good as anyone has got in any study of asthma. The neat thing about it is that it has no side effects. It's very safe. The Buteyko technique certainly has been shown to be an important adjunct to treatment."....Dr. Robert Cowie Respirologist. Download pdf HERE

All these trials & others have shown
approximately 90% reduction in reliever medication
approximately 50% reduction of steroid inhalers
reduction in coughing & wheezing
improvement of sleep and general improved quality of life
All without adverse side effects.

Research & Clinical Trials on The Buteyko Method

Buteyko breathing technique improves exercise capacity and control of breathing in uncontrolled asthma [Abstract]
Austin G, Brown C, Watson T, Chakravorty I 2009

Buteyko breathing technique reduces hyperventilation-induced hypocaponea and dyspnoea after exercise in asthma [Abstract]
Austin G, Brown C, Watson T, Chakravorty I 2009

Effect of mouth taping at night on asthma control--a randomised single-blind crossover study.
Cooper S, Oborne J, Harrison T, Tattersfield A 2009

A randomised controlled trial of the Buteyko technique as an adjunct to conventional management of asthma.
Cowie RL, Conley DP, Underwood MF, Reader PG 2008

A randomized controlled trial of buteyko technique for asthma management [Abstract]
Cowie RL, Conley DP, Underwood MF, Reader PG 2006

Buteyko Breathing Technique for asthma: an effective intervention.
McHugh P, Aitcheson F, Duncan B, Houghton F 2003

Effect of two breathing exercises (Buteyko and pranayama) in asthma: a randomised controlled trial.
Cooper S, Oborne J, Newton S, Harrison V, Thompson Coon J, Lewis S, Tattersfield A 2003

Health education in asthma management - does the Buteyko Institute method make a difference? [Abstract]
McGowan J 2003

The effect of two breathing exercises (Buteyko and Pranayama) on the ability to reduce inhaled corticosteroids in asthma: a randomised controlled trial [abstract]
Cooper SE, Oborne J, Newton S, Harrison V, Thompson Coon J, Lewis S, Tattersfield AE 2003

Do breathing exercises (buteyko and pranayama) help to control asthma: a randomised controlled trial [abstract]
Cooper S, Oborne J, Newton S, Harrison V, Thompson Coon J, Lewis S, Tattersfield AE 2002

The effects of carbon dioxide on exercise-induced asthma: an unlikely explanation for the effects of Buteyko breathing training.
Al-Delaimy WK, Hay SM, Gain KR, Jones DT, Crane J 2001

A clinical trial of the Buteyko Breathing Technique in asthma as taught by a video.
Opat AJ, Cohen MM, Bailey MJ, Abramson MJ 2000

Positive evidence of the effectiveness of Buteyko breathing techniques in asthma
Bowler SD, Green A, Mitchell CA 1999

The Buteyko breathing techniques in asthma: a clinical trial
Opat A, Cohen M, Bailey M, Abramason M 1999

Buteyko breathing techniques in asthma: a blinded randomised controlled trial.
Bowler SD, Green A, Mitchell CA 1998

  Hypoventilation exercises buteyko breathing and asthma: a controlled trial.
Bowler S, Green A, Mitchell C, Graham T 1995

Soviet medical approbations and trials of the Buteyko Method and health conditions addressed:
· 1981, Sechenov's Med Inst, Moscow, USSR (asthma, with pneumonia, rhinitis, chronic tonsillitis)
· 1990, Shevchenko's Central Hospital, Kiev, Ukraine (radiation disease)
· 1991, Kiev Scientific and Research Instit of Epidemiol and Infect Diseases, Ukraine (HIV-AIDS)
· 1991, Kiev Scient and Res Inst of Epidemiol and Infect Diseases, Ukraine (hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis)
· 2001 Zaporozhsky State Institute of Further Medical Education, Zaporozhie, Ukraine (cancer)

Hyperventilation syndrome (chronic hyperventilation) is a physiological state characterized by chronic over-breathing or breathing more air than the medical norm.

Normal minute ventilation at rest is about 6-7 L/min for a 70-kg man, as it was found in numerous studies done on healthy subjects (see the links and Table below).

Hyperventilation syndrome leads to reduced CO2 content in the alveoli of the lungs or alveolar hypocapnia. For most people, it also causes arterial hypocapnia (or CO2 deficiency in the arterial blood).

Minute ventilation rates (chronic diseases)

Condition

Minute
ventilation

Number of
people

All references or
click below for abstracts

Normal breathing

6 L/min

-

Medical textbooks

Healthy Subjects

6-7 L/min

>400

Results of 14 studies

Heart disease

15 (±4) L/min

22

Dimopoulou et al, 2001

Heart disease

16 (±2) L/min

11

Johnson et al, 2000

Heart disease

12 (±3) L/min

132

Fanfulla et al, 1998

Heart disease

15 (±4) L/min

55

Clark et al, 1997

Heart disease

13 (±4) L/min

15

Banning et al, 1995

Heart disease

15 (±4) L/min

88

Clark et al, 1995

Heart disease 

14 (±2) L/min

30

Buller et al, 1990

Heart disease

16 (±6) L/min

20

Elborn et al, 1990

Pulm hypertension

12 (±2) L/min

11

D'Alonzo et al, 1987

Cancer

12 (±2) L/min

40

Travers et al, 2008

Diabetes

12-17 L/min

26

Bottini et al, 2003

Diabetes

15 (±2) L/min

45

Tantucci et al, 2001

Diabetes

12 (±2) L/min

8

Mancini et al, 1999

Diabetes

10-20 L/min

28

Tantucci et al, 1997

Diabetes

13 (±2) L/min

20

Tantucci et al, 1996

Asthma

13 (±2) L/min

16

Chalupa et al, 2004

Asthma

15 L/min

8

Johnson et al, 1995

Asthma

14 (±6) L/min

39

Bowler et al, 1998

Asthma

13 (±4) L/min

17

Kassabian et al, 1982

Asthma

12 L/min

101

McFadden & Lyons, 1968

COPD

14 (±2) L/min

12

Palange et al, 2001

COPD

12 (±2) L/min

10

Sinderby et al, 2001

COPD

14 L/min

3

Stulbarg et al, 2001

Sleep apnea

15 (±3) L/min

20

Radwan et al, 2001

Liver cirrhosis

11-18 L/min

24

Epstein et al, 1998

Hyperthyroidism

15 (±1) L/min

42

Kahaly, 1998

Cystic fibrosis

15 L/min

15

Fauroux et al, 2006

Cystic fibrosis

10 L/min

11

Browning et al, 1990

Cystic fibrosis*

10 L/min

10

Ward et al, 1999

CF and diabetes*

10 L/min

7

Ward et al, 1999

Cystic fibrosis

16 L/min

7

Dodd et al, 2006

Cystic fibrosis

18 L/min

9

McKone et al, 2005

Cystic fibrosis*

13 (±2) L/min

10

Bell et al, 1996

Cystic fibrosis

11-14 L/min

6

Tepper et al, 1983

Epilepsy

13 L/min

12

Esquivel et al, 1991

CHV

13 (±2) L/min

134

Han et al, 1997

Panic disorder

12 (±5) L/min

12

Pain et al, 1991

Bipolar disorder

11 (±2) L/min

16

MacKinnon et al, 2007

Dystrophia myotonica

16 (±4) L/min

12

Clague et al, 1994

 

www.buteykokent.co.uk - Michael Lingard - Buteyko Practitioner - Hawkhurst - Kent - UK