Buteyko Method - Asthma Message Board

Cutekeet · 08-07-2004, 10:43 PM

Hello

My sister had asthma since she was a little girl and after years of using inhalers my mother slowly got her off them. Recently she started coughing wetly. Though my mother seems to think that her breathing irregularly has a large part to do with her coughing wetly. I wondered if this Buteyko Method was as great as it is known to be, and if anyone could sum up the exercises for me, it will be greatly appreciated

I'm so sorry if this makes no sense at all, as I'm not very good with words.

Thanks alot :P

Howitt44 · 08-08-2004, 01:52 PM

I have heard a lot about that method, but personally have never tried it. [ removed ]

charleyhorse · 09-21-2004, 07:39 PM

I'm all for trying anything that works, but I just wanted wanted to point out that Buteyko is a commercial venture just as much as medications are - if you do it right with the approved materials and instruction its definitely not free. There are a lot of people who have had amazing results from it, but there are a few things in the program that can be quite dangerous (ie like refusing oxygen when your O2 sats drop in an emergency). Some of the 'science' of the program simply doesn't doesn't stand up to any sort of scrutiny. However, the breathing excercises themselves can't do any harm so I think you take the good stuff and sift out the rest and if it works for you you've got reason to celebrate.

jerrie97 · 09-22-2004, 06:33 PM

I'd have to agree with charleyhorse on this one. A few of Professor Buteyko's theories have been proven wrong:
1. Refusing o2 when sats drop. In a severe asthma attack, the sats are VERY low. Low o2 sats are the main cause of death in status asthmaticus, therefore, refusing o2 can kill you.

2. He says to keep accumulated asthma mucus in your chest, as this will prevent hyperventilating. This will also give you various infections and further narrow your airways, sometimes to the point of developing atelectasis.

3. "Inhaled steroids will make you more vulnerable to chest infections" - Wrong. Studies have proven that inhaled corticosteroids do NOT make one more susceptible to chest infections.

4."Asthmatics are constantly hyperventilating" - also wrong. Take me for example, I'm asthmatic, and if I'm constantly hyperventilating, why are my oxygen saturations 90-91 on a good day?

I'm sorry, but I'm a skeptic.

charleyhorse · 09-22-2004, 06:39 PM

I'm not saying don't give it a try - I just want to throw in a word of caution. My info comes from a naturopath that I worked with for a number of years. He went through the book with me and pointed out his concerns, and the 02 item was a very big issue for him. My GP had the same reaction. The idea that asthma is caused by hyperventilation really doesn't add up and that's seems to be the issue that most doctors have trouble with. However, like I said, the breathing exercises certainly can't do any harm and if they help someone cut down on their meds, it certainly gets my vote.