Butekyo Asthma Practice - Safe & Effective Relief from Breathing Disorders

CLINICAL TRIALS OF
THE BUTEYKO METHOD
The largest ever clinical trial of Buteyko in the
world was conducted in Glasgow, Scotland. 2001 - 2003..

The trial was conducted over a two year period and involved 600 people with asthma. Results have been published and as you will see from the table below, The Buteyko Method produced exceptional results, consistent with previous clinical trials.

S92 HEALTH EDUCATION IN ASTHMA MANAGEMENT- DOES THE
BUTEYKO INSTITUTE METHOD MAKE A DIFFERENCE
JILL MCGOWAN
Education and Training Consultant, Acorn Nursing Agency Glasgow.
Background: Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Buteyko Institute Method of Breathing Retraining can reduce asthma symptoms, medication and improve quality of life. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of this method for individuals being treated for asthma.
Methods: 600 adult patients aged 18-69 years diagnosed and currently treated asthma with a symptom score > 1 per day was recruited to a randomized blinded controlled trial. This tested active Buteyko (Group 1) with asthma nurse education (Group 2) and continued medication control (Group 3). The main outcome measures were quality of life (SF36), activity, asthma symptoms, and medication reduction. Asthma symptoms and activity were measured by diary card scoring from 0-3
Results: of all who commenced study, data were available on 500 after 6 months, 384 after 12 months, and 384 after 24 months.

The participants involved in this study all experienced significant improvement in asthma with a reduction in symptom, medication and improvement in quality of life. This was maintained over the duration of the study and is similar to the results of Brisbane Study (Bowler S 1998 BMJ) and unpublished study by Dr G Spence G.P. in Shettleston Health Centre (Spence .G.).

The Glasgow Trial demonstrates the safe and effective benefits of The Buteyko Institute Breathing Retraining Program. The Buteyko Group were taught The Buteyko Institute Method of Breathing Retraining.

The Glasgow trial was conducted by B.I.B.H. practitioner Jill McGowan. Jill was invited to present these results at the British Thoracic Society Winter Conference in London on 4 December 2003.

The first clinical trial of Buteyko was conducted in 1994 at the Mater Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. The Brisbane trial produced very similar results to the Glasgow trial detailed above. Other trials of Buteyko have been conducted in New Zealand and Australia, and have all produced very similar results to the Glasgow trial.

The conclusion is that Buteyko is a safe and efficacious asthma management technique and has clinical and potential pharmaco-economic benefits.

It has proven difficult to attract funding for clinical trials into Buteyko, as all the research monies supplied to trial new forms of asthma management are supplied by the pharmaceutical industry. The pharmaceutical industry produce and distribute the current system of medications (drugs) for asthma.