Clinical Trials

Clinical practice shows that Buteyko breathing is effective for a wide range of breathing disorders including allergic rhinitis (hay fever), sleep apnoea, snoring, asthma, sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, COPD (emphysema), allergies, anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia.

However the focus has been on asthma with the publication of eleven small clinical trials to date. One trial for allergic rhinitis was conducted at Limerick Hospital in Ireland.

The Buteyko Institute (BIBH) has compiled case studies of sleep apnoea from clinical practice which is available to research institutes. The full BIBH Report is available as a PDF here: Sleep apnoea and breathing retraining - BIBH »

Follow this link to read an article in the Australian Nursing Journal on the report. Researchers interested in conducting research into the Buteyko Method for sleep disorders should contact the Buteyko Institute direct »

Summary of published Buteyko trials 1998 to date
1998 - Buteyko breathing techniques in asthma: a blinded randomised trial

A trial involving 39 asthmatics was conducted in Brisbane from January 1995 to April 1995. One group was taught Buteyko and the other was given conventional asthma education...
2003 - Buteyko Breathing Technique for asthma: an effective intervention

The study was carried out in 2000 and involved 38 asthmatics aged between 18 and 70. One group learned the Buteyko method while the other was given conventional asthma education and relaxation techniques...
2003 - Buteyko and Pranayama breathing exercises in asthma Nottingham City Hospital 2003

Ninety patients with asthma were selected for comparison of Buteyko and Pranayama breathing techniques. A Pink City Lung Exerciser (PCLE) was used to mimic Pranayama. Sixty nine patients completed the study...
2006 - Buteyko breathing technique in children: a case series

Twenty-six children were identified of whom 8 (aged 7–16 years) were eligible for inclusion; being previously diagnosed with asthma by their GP and using medication for asthma for at least 6 months with significant use of medication for asthma in the 2 weeks prior; no prior instruction in BBT; and no significant unstable medical condition...
2007 - Integrated breathing and relaxation training (the Papworth method) for adults with asthma in primary care: a randomised controlled trial

Eighty-five patients were individually randomised to the control group or to the intervention group receiving five sessions of treatment by the Papworth method. Both groups received usual medical care. Respiratory symptoms and mood scores were recorded at baseline, post-treatment (6 months after baseline) and at 12 months...
2008 - A Randomised Controlled Trial of the Buteyko Technique for Asthma Management

One hundred and twenty-nine adults 18-50 years of age with asthma were randomised, 65 to the Buteyko group and 64 to the control group. The control group was trained by a physiotherapist in breathing and relaxation techniques. One hundred and nineteen of the participants were followed up at six months...
2012 - Effect of Buteyko breathing technique on patients with bronchial asthma

Forty patients with bronchial asthma participated in this study, their age ranged between 30 and 50 years...
2012 - A Study of effects of Buteyko Breathing Technique on Asthmatic Patients

30 subjects with mean age of 30 years diagnosed as having asthma were randomly divided into two groups...
2013 - Small clinical study of Buteyko Method at Limerick Regional Hospital shows 70% reduction of Rhinitis in Asthma

Dr Adelola et al. from the Department of Otolaryngology at Limerick University Hospital in Ireland investigated the effectiveness of the Buteyko technique on nasal symptoms of patients with asthma...
Additional Studies

Ten studies to date have focused on asthma and one small study on Allergic Rhinitis. This has created the incorrect perception that Buteyko breathing retraining is primarily a management strategy for asthma alone. Professor Konstantin Buteyko first developed his programme for hypertension and his initial research focused on this...
Medical controversy about Buteyko studies in New Zealand

Publication of the first Buteyko trial for asthma in New Zealand in the NZ Medical Journal prompted a number of responses in that journal.
Researchers Shaun Holt and Richard Beasley questioned the science in a letter dated January 2004. Their criticisms focus solely on the study methodology. They make no mention of the significant reductions in asthma medication, improved symptom scores or the fact that the Buteyko group maintained airway function despite reducing medication.

Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials - (Enter 'Buteyko' in search box) »

We are seeing our ideas along with other progressive but previously rejected ideas as a foundation of future medicine.
Professor K.P. Buteyko

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