Russian medical student Konstantin Buteyko, discovered In the late 1940's, through an observation that has changed the management and lifestyle of thousands of people with asthma, sleep apnoea, snoring and other breathing disorders. Buteyko noticed that the condition of patients in the acute respiratory ward deteriorated when their breathing rate increased. He also noticed that those who reduced or were able to get their breathing to the normal rate they began to recover. Buteyko's subsequent research and application of these observations allowed him to develop the breathing techniques that today bear his name.

Buteyko discovered that this “over breathing” , technical term is Hyperventilation, is the main cause of these conditions and what is done a Buteyko Course is a series of techniques, breathing exercises and education and lifestyle changes that CORRECTS this over breathing and will greatly improve, often in days snoring, asthma, sleep apnoea, sinusitis, congestion and increase your ability to do physical exercise resulting in less need for medications, greater energy levels and less dependant on drugs and machines.

The Buteyko Institute Method (BIM) teaches people to correct their breathing. Over time the breathing becomes dysfunctional resulting in an effective lack of oxygen. As a result our body tries to defend us and as a result gives us the asthma, sleep apnoea, nasal problems and many other conditions which we use medications or even machines to suppress the symptoms.

The Buteyko Method is not a breathing technique, it is a program and method to retrain and normalize your breathing pattern. This results in immediate improvement in asthma, sleep apnoea, snoring, emphysema, COAD, COPD, sinusitis, hay fever, rhinitis, blocked nose, allergies, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, panic and anxiety conditions, and many other respiratory problems.

When breathing is corrected, people report:

• For people with sleep apnoea using a CPAP machine, the need for CPAP is decreased or eliminated (as approved by their doctor)
• reduction in asthma symptoms & in the need for reliever medication
• unblocking of the nose and sinuses
• restoration of nasal breathing
• reduction or elimination of snoring and apnoea
• reduction in mucus production and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis
• Improved ability to cope with stress
• The immune system is improved, less colds and flu, with ability to recover quickly
• Improvement in skin conditions such as dry skin or eczema
• Normalisation of weight. People who are overweight tend to lose some weight, while those who are under weight may gain some weight
• Headaches and migraines are significantly reduced or eliminated
• Reduction in anxiety or panic attacks
• Thinking and concentration levels are improved
• Irritability and depression are reduced
• change in tongue position and occlusion
• stability to orthodontic work
• decrease in size of tonsils adenoids and polyps
• increased stamina and energy levels
• enhanced capacity for exercise and improved recovery rate

Effective - over 90% of course participants come off all asthma reliever medications within one week (medical trial results published in MJA Dec 1998).

Safe - the BIBH follows international best practice asthma medication guidelines.

Scientifically based - based on the standard medical principles of respiration, the normalisation of breathing and the Bohr Effect.

Outcomes
Improved sleep quality. Including reduction or elimination of apnoeas and snoring.

Safe and effective withdrawal from the need to sleep with the encumbrance of CPAP machines or dental appliances.

Significant reduction in or elimination of asthma reliever and preventer medications (the reduction of preventer medication is done in consultation with the client’s medical practitioner).

Significant reduction in, or elimination of asthma symptoms and attacks and also the relief of other respiratory disorders.

Increased stamina and energy levels, better work performance, and improved management of the symptoms of stress.

Who does the Buteyko Institute Method Help?
The BIM is suitable for children from 3 years of age and adults of any age. It is effective for people with all types and degrees of severity of asthma and sleep disorders, as well as people with other respiratory disorders such as emphysema, COAD, COPD, sinusitis, hay fever, rhinitis, blocked nose, allergies, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, panic and anxiety conditions.

Quality of Life
Every year many people with asthma and sleep disorders suffer respiratory infections, sore throats, physical incapacity, fatigue, time off work or school with a poor quality of life, ongoing financial expense and a deteriorating condition. Learning the BIM provides people with the knowledge and skills to get back their health and their life.

Thousands of people put up with these conditions. No one needs to. Most medications and treatments result in people becoming “customers” for life.

How do you learn the Buteyko Institute Method?
The Buteyko Institute Method is taught in courses consisting of five sessions of ninety minutes. Clients are taught how to retrain their breathing to enable them to breathe correctly when sleeping, exercising, speaking, eating, and performing all daily activities. Improvement occurs within the first 24 hours. Once the breathing is corrected it is easy to maintain.