Hello,
After struggling with my breathing for several months and trying various different treatments from my GP (and everything failing), I have stumbled across the Buteyko breathing technique which claims to do amazing things for asthma!
Has anyone ever tried this? Did it work? When did you see results?
Thanks all!
Hi,
Sorry to hear you're struggling with your asthma. What have you tried so far? It may be worth giving the AUK nurses a call to chat things through and see if you can work out why the treatments aren't helping you and what you can do. The helpline is 0300 2225800 M-F 9-5, or WhatsApp- 07378 606728 (same hours). They're very friendly and helpful.
This post may also help you to work out what seems to be asthma and what might be a breathing pattern disorder, which is very common in asthma and which Buteyko can help with for some people (non-Buteyko exercises from a physio can also help).
healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...
In terms of Buteyko itself: it's the only 'alternative' treatment approved on the NHS for asthma, as it has been shown to be effective for some people with asthma in reducing symptoms and even need for medication (some people found they could reduce steroids, with medical assistance/advice).
Some of the stuff you see online about Buteyko makes really exaggerated claims, can be a bit cult like, and tries to say you can fix asthma with it. There isn't a cure for asthma and it is much more than just a bad breathing pattern, so this isn't true - if someone's asthma seems to disappear entirely after using this method (rather than improving but still having underlying asthma), it probably wasn't asthma to start with. So be aware it can help but it's unlikely to be incredibly dramatic like some claim - however some people with confirmed asthma do really find it helps them and improves quality of life.
I tried it, with a respiratory physio who was trained as an official teacher of the method. It was a little helpful for some bad habits I had picked up breathing wise. On the other hand it wasn't any more effective for me than similar non-Buteyko breathing exercises, so I don't know if the method itself is the key, perhaps more just being aware of and trying to fix any unhelpful breathing patterns (see post above for details), which can be done with different methods.
I can't say it really massively helped my asthma personally, but as I said it does seem to have helped others more so it may be worth a try!
However, as I said above, there may be many reasons why your asthma isn't controlled at the moment and you should be sure to address those. Buteyko isn't a replacement for asthma medication, if the underlying asthma is the main problem.
Hello - thank you for taking the time to reply to me.
With the GP and my asthma nurse we have tried antibiotics, prednisolone, 2 new types of inhaler (fostair and relvar), montelukast and allergy tablets. None of which have made a difference. I've gone back to my original inhaler (sereflo) which I have been on for years, well controlled. Everything went down hill in March which is why the doctors suspect anxiety linked with dysfunctional breathing. I have spoken to my GP and he is referring me to a physiotherapist.
My peak flow is a normal 430 for my age and height, my blood oxygen is good and when they listened to my chest, they said only a slight wheeze. My doctors can't understand why my asthma is not getting better with those treatments, hence why they think it could be that I am in a bad habit of breathing wrong. I guess I will have to see!
I've done it on and off for years. That and diaphragmatic breathing can be helpful for building lung muscles but neither has improved my asthma. I do find the control pause in Butekyo to be accurate. When my asthma is bad I can't hold my breath for more than 15-20 seconds.
Yes - the physio who taught me told me that when I'd learned the method the control pause was a good way of quickly testing what asthma was up to, and it does seem to correlate well.
My cons at the time absolutely dismissed this ('not being able to do your breathing exercises properly doesn't mean your asthma is bad') but she didn't know or understand Buteyko, or to be honest asthma - she also told me all asthma could be controlled!
Oh if only it were the cast that all asthma can be controlled. This support group would be a lot less active! 
Maybe we should send doctors and nurses who say things like that here to read all our posts...
I have been doing Buteyko for the last year and found it to be extremely beneficial. I’ve had fairly significant symptom relief but certainly not ‘a cure’ for asthma so far. There are a lot of resources available, including many speech and respiratory therapists who claim to be familiar with the ‘technique’ or ‘breathing’ exercises. If you are serious about trying the real method I would suggest doing one of the in-depth courses from an expert. I’ve found it to be well worth it.
advice on breathing issues 
Breathing advice on NHS
Buteyko severe asthma is much better.
