Wendy Haddock, a physiotherapist from Sanquhar teaches asthmatics the Buteyko Method around Scotland and north west England. To address interest in Buteyko Method the following article describes the Buteyko Method and why she became a Buteyko practitioner.

I first became involved with Buteyko in January 1997 when I watched a BBC programme, "Front line Scotland" a documentary on Buteyko featuring Alexander Stalmatski and Chris Drake, who introduced Buteyko to the United Kingdom. My interest sprang from my mother's chronic asthma that was progressively deteriorating as she got older.

Having been a physiotherapist since the early seventies, I had long been frustrated that the physiotherapy exercises I used to try and help her overcome her condition were largely ineffective. My mother's asthma was becoming considerably worse and dramatically affecting her quality of life so I enrolled her on a Buteyko course.

The results were exceptional and surprised us both. After the course my mother's asthma came under control, reducing and finally eliminating the need for medication allowing her to live a normal life. She is now better than she has been for many years enjoying good health and a full and active life. Others on the course my Mother attended experienced similar improvement.

The Buteyko Method originated in Russia in the 1950's. Russian doctor, Konstantin Buteyko, who was working in an acute respiratory ward, noticed that patients closer to normal breathing were less ill than those who had deeper breathing. Buteyko has studied this phenomenon over a long period of time, and linked overbreathing with a variety of respiratory ailments, including asthma.

Professor Buteyko believes there is a causal link between asthma and hyperventilation (overbreathing). By Buteyko's definition, hyperventilation includes that which is "hidden" , where the respiratory rate is increased beyond the normal 4 to 6 litres of air per minute. This hidden hyperventilation may be in the form of mouth breathing, where the volume of air is increased, or nose breathing when the rate is greater than the normal 12 breaths a minute.

Having noticed this he experimented on his own breathing. Professor Buteyko at this time was suffering with hypertension and when he reduced his air intake he soon noticed that all the symptoms of his hypertension disappeared. When he subsequently increased his air intake they once again returned. He went on to study this phenomena and devised the method we know today perfecting the technique over the next 40 years.

Buteyko Method involves a series of breathing exercises done in a specific manner developing correct body use, coupled with reduced breathing, simple life style changes and education about medication and it's use, especially that of bronchodilators.

The Buteyko Method does not involve stopping medication before there is a cessation of symptoms. It stresses that asthmatics need to keep their medication with them at all times decreasing only as the asthma symptoms decrease. Special emphasis is placed on continuing with preventer medication regardless of any reduction of symptoms, and that these should be reduced only with a doctors supervision. This is in line with current allopathic treatment of asthma.

In my experience doctors are only too happy to reduce drugs that can have side effects in the long term, providing their patients condition is improving. The results of a course are commonly a dramatic reduction in asthma symptoms, and a subsequent reduction in both reliever and preventer medication. These factors combine to provide asthmatics with a welcome improvement in the quality of their lives that proves to be sustainable. Very rewarding for both the client and practitioner.

I often get asked how I feel about working with a non evidence based method. Like most physiotherapists, and doctors for that matter, it seems more important to me to use methods that are none invasive, safe and patently work. However, I do think that hand in hand with getting on with the job, research and trials are of the utmost importance.

Most physio's (and doctors) are rightly sceptical of any "alternative" health options that have not undergone rigorous trials. As yet Buteyko has not undergone extensive research by the western medical establishment, and this does effect it's credibility. However, research is actively encouraged by Buteyko proponents and formal and informal scrutiny is welcomed from any health professional. This is because we feel research will only benefit the method as findings will be positive.

The first western article describing the Buteyko Method was published in the December 1998 edition of the Medical Journal of Australia. (MJA web site address: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/xmas98/bowler/bowler.html) The trial on the Buteyko Method in Brisbane showed an average 96% reduction in reliever medication and an average 49% reduction in preventor medication three months after the subjects had learned the Buteyko Method. Subjects also had a dramatic improvement in quality of life and reduced asthma symptoms.

These results are almost always duplicated in buteyko courses. Further trials are underway in New Zealand and Australia, and the largest study to date is now underway in Glasgow where 600 people will be taken through the method and followed up over the next two years. This follows a pilot study done in the year 2000 which I taught myself and showed the significantly good results we have come to expect.

We are fortunate in the U.K. in being able to call on the experience gained in Australia and New Zealand. Not only from a research point of view but also in organising Buteyko in this country to ensure standards and ethics are extended to patients by practitioners. Already training for prospective Buteyko practitioners is available in this country and it is important that this is to the highest standards with new practitioners having the help and on going support of an official body.

I am a member of the already established Australian Buteyko Institute of Breathing and Health who are very supportive in helping us to achieve high standards in this country. In this way I hope that Buteyko, having a solid base, will go from strength to strength.

Author: Wendy Haddock M.C.S.P. E-mail: buteyko@easynet.co.uk
Web address: http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~buteyko

Wendy is currently running workshops around the UK. Why not check the diary or drop her an email for more details.