Buteyko takes my breath away.

 I have been learning Buteyko breathing. It may help dealing with allergies which are becoming more prominent each year. I was unable to continue with prescribed antihistamines as they gave me severe side effects. There must be a different way. So the Doctor unusually said “stop taking the tablets” and referred me to a wonderful teacher at the breathing clinic. Hopefully, I will avoid becoming asthmatic. I am told I am not asthmatic and I don’t want to be.

The exercises are a kind of mediation using “relaxed breathing”, that is taking very little breath for several minutes at a time during the exercise. It builds up Carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the system.

Unbelievable. This is in opposition to what we usually teach – e.g. take three deep breaths and relax on breathing out. Oxygen is good and CO₂ is a “bad” waste gas which must be exhaled.

How can it possibly work?

There is a great deal of technical information on the internet, so I am taking a very simplistic view. And please feel free to correct me on anything as I don’t think I am able to do into this scientifically enough! I want to keep it simple with just a couple of examples that are common knowledge and see if they fit into the Buteyko rationale.

1.     CO₂ is used in fire extinguishers to put out fire in that the oxygen which fuels the fire is removed. Would that do the same for excessive inflammation (fire) of the airways? Perhaps, and maybe it is this that helps diminish the oxidative stress & chronic inflammation in the body too. If there is a lack of oxygen, then hopefully the body will put what there is to good use instead of unnecessary inflammation and the creation of free radicals.

2.      Homeostatic (balancing) responses occur in the body. For example, when there is lack of light, the pupils dilate to take in as much light as they can. This dilation also true of the airways when “starved” of the usual amount of Oxygen (O₂). This certainly happens when you exercise and I guess it also occurs when reduced levels of oxygen are experienced through breathing less. 

So there you have it – two simple explanations for alleviation of excessive allergic responses and asthmatic relief.

After two months I am showing signs of improvement but it will be a lengthy process – an enjoyable one. The lessons have been tailored to my needs and thankfully with no mouth taping! It does get weird!!!!

update: Two months later and I seem to have mastered the art. I am now left to my own devices and can relax the exercise regime to once daily or even just now and then. In fact I am hardly breathing at all now.

 This all reminds me of two articles I posted years ago:

 Say no to O2

illness-saves-lives

And my Tarot Queen ...watch out

What do you think?

Further reading:

https://www.buteykobreathing.org/

Here’s a really thorough and referenced article I found by Rosalba Courtney on Buteyko:

Excellent article on Buteyko