Asthma Free Naturally: Including the highly effective Buteyko Breathing Method [Paperback]

"Before, I missed football, parties and swimming. Now I am able to do everything I couldn't do."

Based on the life's work of Russian respiratory professor Konstantin Buteyko who developed a breathing programme to enable any asthmatic to take control of their condition naturally. Clinical trials at the Mater Hospital Brisbane, Australia showed that asthma sufferers who tried this method experienced a 90% less need for reliever medication, 49% less need for preventer steroids and a 70% improvement of symptoms within twelve weeks. This book contains all the exercises necessary to achieve this result too.

Asthma Free Naturally is well written, edited and illustrated. This book is designed to enable any asthmatic improve their condition from application of the Buteyko Method with as little as two weeks. Asthma Free Naturally also contains detailed information on diet, correct sports, correct sleeping and how to stop an asthma attack. There is also a special chapter for children.

This book is about taking control of your asthma safely and without the need for medication. You will read about how I transformed myself from an acute asthmatic with a permanent illness requiring daily drug intake - and hospitalisation from time to time - to a virtual non-asthmatic who is totally free from asthma symptoms, attacks ­ and medication.

You may not believe that this scenario is real. It is. I achieved it and any asthmatic can achieve it too. This non-medical treatment is based on the life¡¯s work of Russian respiratory physiologist, Professor Konstantin Buteyko, who developed a programme of exercises to foster correct breathing. The Buteyko Breathing Method is based on bodily processes, not on a placebo or any other effect. All persons with asthma can learn it and use it; the method is very simple, will entail minimum disruption to your life, and you will notice an improvement in as little as seven days. Like I said, you still may not believe this scenario is real. Believe it now.

Patrick McKeown, BA, MA (tdc)dip. Buteyko, was a chronic asthmatic for most of his life. When he applied the Buteyko breathing method, he freed himself from his asthma condition. As a qualified Buteyko practitioner, he is now just one of a few Western experts accredited and authorised by Prof Konstantin Buteyko to teach this method. His three clinics – Asthma Care – are in Dublin, Galway and Cork . His clinics and work have been featured on a huge amount of Irish media.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

There are three ways of controlling asthma. The first and most important is learning to breathe through the lungs - natural defence the nose - combined with correct breathing. The second is living a life balanced by proper nutrition, regular exercise and relaxation. The third avenue is using preventative and relieving asthma medication.

Think of it as a three-way junction where you, the person with asthma, can choose the direction. The first two avenues are like the scenic routes: they're entirely natural, proven and improve overall health, but require personal commitment and an investment of time and energy. The third avenue is the one most often travelled by people like you but it never addresses the root cause of your breathing problem. The third avenue also involves taking chemicals which are alien to your body. Sooner or later, your body fights back or submits to the continuous use of powerful drugs.

When I experienced the impressive benefits of the Buteyko Breathing Method, I wondered why more people didn't know about it or how to apply it to their own lives. I decided to explore the possibility of training so that I could teach this beautiful and simple method to asthma sufferers like myself. I found out that I could enrol at the Buteyko Institute of Moscow and, after many trials and tribulations, I started my training under Dr Andrey Novozhilov and Dr Luidmilla Buteyko.

Since I finished my training in March 2002, the knowledge I gained in Moscow has been complemented by my own research, by consulting with asthma specialists from different parts of the world, and my experience of working with asthma patients from all parts of Ireland at clinics and workshops that I now conduct.

The simple question is: does it work? In a word: yes. Some patients achieve excellent results effortlessly, but with others it takes a little more time and determination. The success of this therapy for every patient depends on the patient's ability to put the theory into practice. There is no big mystery - this therapy is based on normal body processes. Scientific trials have shown clearly that the Buteyko Method can be one hundred per cent effective in the treatment of asthma.

The only real key to the effectiveness of the therapy is that individuals are prepared to set aside the necessary time to learn and practice the exercises.
I commend those of you who, on reading this book, will decide to make that effort. I can honestly say that your investment of time and energy will be gratifying, and that it will transform your life ­ for the rest of your life.

I can hear you thinking that there's no such thing as a free lunch, and that there's always a catch. There is no catch this time. Once you learn how to control your own asthma, you are in charge of your own life and treatment. This therapy is about teaching you the skills to deal with your own asthma problem; my job is essentially to make myself redundant.

This book, written by a person with asthma for people with asthma, contains essential information to help you deal with your condition. Each exercise is a simplified version to make the contents as user-friendly as possible in the hope that you will be able to understand and appreciate this approach, and that you will be able to apply it practically to your own asthma problem.

Included is a special section for children who naturally will have difficulty understanding breathing patterns. Every child who comes to me is told how lucky he or she is to be learning a therapy as effective as this, a therapy that deals with what otherwise would be a life-long illness - without medicine, tablets, hospital visits or injections.