Clinical trials
There are several medical trials that Dr. Konstantin Buteyko conducted during his 50-year career of studying breathing and chronic conditions. Most of those have not yet been translated into English.
The studies in the West have focussed primarily on Buteyko and asthma. One study in New Zealand on sleep apnoea has not yet been published.
The first North American study was conducted at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary Alberta.An Albertan family donated $1 million towards this trial and two others after their son recovered from serious asthma using the Buteyko method.
Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society, 2006;3:A530
Results after applying Buteyko techniques for 6 months
- Asthma control improved from 41% to 75%
- Preventer usage – median reduction 39%
- Preventer usage – elimination of 21%
“ I’ve been astonished and also very pleased with the excellent result. There is no disruption of their life at all by their disease (due to Buteyko): normal activities; not waking at night; not needing to use any reliever medications. It’s just great...75% control is about as good as anyone has got in any study of asthma. The neat thing about it is that it has no side effects. It’s very safe. The Buteyko technique certainly has been shown to be an important adjunct to treatment.”
Dr Robert Cowie, Chief Respirologist, Foothills Hospital
Thorax Journal 2006 000:1-7doi 101136/thx2005 054767
C.A. Slader, H.K. Reddel, L.M. Spencer, E.G. Belousova, C.L. Armour, S.Z. Basnic-Anticevich, F.C.K. Thien, C.R. Jenkins. Sydney , Australia
Results after applying Buteyko techniques for 12 weeks
- Reliever usage – median reduction of 86%
- Preventer usage – median reduction of 50%
New Zealand Medical Journal Vol 119 No 1234 ISSN 1175 8716 May 2006
P.McHugh, B.Duncan, F.Houghton. Gisborne. New Zealand
Results after applying Buteyko techniques to children with asthma for 12 weeks
- Reliever usage – median reduction of 66%
- Preventer usage – median reduction of 41%
- Prednisone usage – 11 courses given 3 months before the trial
- Prednisone – 1 course given 3 months after the trial
Thorax Journal December 2003; Vol 58 Supplement III
J. McGowan. Glasgow , Scotland
Results after applying Buteyko techniques for 6 months
- Symptoms reduction – 98%
- Reliever usage – median reduction of 98%
- Preventer usage – median reduction of 92%
- New Zealand Medical Journal 2003;Vol 116 No 1187
P. McHugh, F. Aitcheson, B.Duncan, F. Houghton. Nottingham , England
Results after applying Buteyko techniques
- Reliever usage – reduction 100%
- Preventer usage – median reduction 41.5%
New Zealand Medical Journal 2002; Vol 116 No 1187 ISSN 1175 8716
P. McHugh, F. Aitcheson, B. Duncan, F. Houghton. Gisborne , New Zealand
Results after applying Buteyko techniques to children with asthma for 12 weeks
- Reliever usage – median reduction of 85%
- Preventer usage – median reduction of 50%
- Medical Journal of Australia 1998; 169:575-578
S. D. Bowler, A. Green , C.A. Mitchell. Brisbane , Australia
Results after applying Buteyko techniques for 12 weeks
- Reliever usage – median reduction of 96%
- Preventer usage – median reduction of 49%
- Minute Volume – median reduction of 32%
This information is adapted from Christine Bauman