Buteyko South Africa

Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko
(1923-2003)

Professor Buteyko was a Researcher and Doctor of Functional Diagnostics and discovered what he called the Disease of Deep Breathing. He taught clinicians how to help their patients using breathing modification as well as environmental and lifestyle changes. These bio-hacks are unconventional and highly individual.

The success of any new practice depends on whether the individual can incorporate those principles effectively and immediately without making drastic prescriptive changes to diet, medicine regimes, exercise routines or lifestyles that cannot be sustained.

Clinical trials

Studies show that using Buteyko Institute of Breathing and Wellness five day program (as offered by BIBH Instructors and founders, Jennifer Stark, Jill McGowan and Tess Graham in the 1990s and early 2000s) was able to reduce symptoms in a small group of asthmatics who participated in the studies in their respective areas:

1. Brisbane Mater hospital (blind randomised controlled trial conducted in 1995, published in Australian medical Journal in December 1998)
2. Gisborne Hospital New Zealand (published in the NZ medical journal Dec 2003)
3. Glasgow Infirmary UK (McGowan J, Health Education: Does the Buteyko Institute Method make a difference? Thorax, 58, Suppl. III, p. 28 December 2003).

In an efficacy and safety trial, a study was conducted in Canada and headed by pulmonologist, Dr Robert Cowie, to test for safety and efficacy of the Buteyko method. Jennifer Stark was a volunteer trainer who led the Buteyko group. Dr Cowie declared that the BIBH Method of Buteyko was an effective adjunct for uncontrolled, medicated asthmatics, as all the trial members had been able to effect some control over their condition without a rise in medicine use or emergency room visits.

The trials allowed the Buteyko method to be rated by the British Thoracic Society. To date, the Buteyko method is the only complementary health method with a proven track record and the ability to offer true adjunct assistance to people who are experiencing difficulties with asthma control.

Dr Jill McGowan (Glasgow)

Dr Jill McGowan is now a doctor, but in 2003 she was an NHS asthma nurse who funded the UK's first Buteyko trial with the sale of her family home. She had been an asthmatic who found significant benefit from using Buteyko's Methodology. She won the Great Scot Award and the Pride of Britain Award for her heroic efforts to reduce asthma mortality. She later assisted Buteyko to be taught as a preventive strategy for asthma, to children and their teachers in schools around the globe. Professor KP Buteyko also honoured her efforts to achieve fair recognition for Buteyko.