Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe EssentialsHow to PracticeDeveloping a Daily PracticeHistory and Cultural SignificanceApps and Resources to Consult
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Essentials
How to Practice
Developing a Daily Practice
History and Cultural Significance
Apps and Resources to Consult
The breathing technique is designed to stop people from taking shallow chest breaths, which can lead to reduced oxygen levels and the overproduction of carbon dioxide. In many cases, Buteyko breathing can help manage asthma and respiratory issues in addition to other potential health benefits. Today, the technique is considered pseudoscience in many circles, and it is not an accepted complementary therapy for any condition, including asthma.
Buteyko Breathing Method: The Essentials
Buteyko breathing is thought to be beneficial for people who can’t typically get full breaths because of the way this technique uses the diaphragm.
Many benefits are associated with this type of breathing method, but there may also be some risks.
Possible Benefits
While results of many of the studies on Buteyko breathing have not been replicated, research does show that the technique may help with the following:
Buteyko Breathing and Lifestyle ChangesSome evidence suggests that people who practice Buteyko breathing may also implement other positive lifestyle changes to improve their overall health, including eating better, managing stress, and avoiding allergy triggers.
Buteyko Breathing and Lifestyle Changes
Some evidence suggests that people who practice Buteyko breathing may also implement other positive lifestyle changes to improve their overall health, including eating better, managing stress, and avoiding allergy triggers.
Possible Risks
While Buteyko breathing can be beneficial in some ways, there are risks in certain populations. For example, those withchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)should avoid the exercise because of how it calls for holding one’s breath.
Other Risks UnknownThere is very little research surrounding the risks of Buteyko breathing. If you have a chronic health condition, you should always check with your healthcare provider before starting Buteyko breathing.
Other Risks Unknown
There is very little research surrounding the risks of Buteyko breathing. If you have a chronic health condition, you should always check with your healthcare provider before starting Buteyko breathing.
COPD Exercise How-to: Pursed Lip Breathing
Buteyko Breathing Techniques: How to Practice
You should perform Buteyko breathing on an empty stomach or at least two hours after finishing a meal. This breathing technique helps you develop slower and deeper breaths, which can balance your breathing rhythms.
The steps to Buteyko breathing should be followed in this order:
Cardinal Rules for Buteyko BreathingThe guidelines for Buteyko breathing are:Keeping the mouth closedKeeping the back straightBreathing gently and silently
Cardinal Rules for Buteyko Breathing
The guidelines for Buteyko breathing are:Keeping the mouth closedKeeping the back straightBreathing gently and silently
The guidelines for Buteyko breathing are:
Breathing Techniques Just About Anyone Can Try
According to the Buteyko Breathing Association, to get the maximum benefits from this breathing technique, you should perform the exercise for 15 to 20 minutes three times daily for at least six weeks.
This will help you form a habit of the technique. The goal is to make Buteyko breathing a part of your daily life.
In the early 1950s, Dr. Konstantin Buteyko developed the breathing technique to address respiratory health. Buteyko was monitoring terminally ill patients before they died as a medical school assignment.
Buteyko Breathing TodayEven though Buteyko provided sound and promising results for the breathing technique, the research surrounding it dried up in the 2000s. Buteyko breathing is not considered a valid health treatment for any condition.
Buteyko Breathing Today
Even though Buteyko provided sound and promising results for the breathing technique, the research surrounding it dried up in the 2000s. Buteyko breathing is not considered a valid health treatment for any condition.
Many apps are available for people looking to get started with Buteyko breathing. Each offers different features, depending on the type. Some include:
Understanding Diaphragmatic Breathing
Summary
Buteyko breathing is a controversial technique with some evidence to support its benefits for people with asthma and anxiety. However, the method has some drawbacks, such as a lack of clinical evidence surrounding its benefits.
Talk to a healthcare provider before undertaking Buteyko breathing. This is especially important for people with chronic breathing conditions like COPD.
If you’re living with asthma or anxiety and want to try Buteyko breathing, ensure that you’re aware of its benefits and risks and have the go-ahead from your medical care team.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Illidi CR, Romer LM, Johnson MA, Williams NC, Rossiter HB, Casaburi R, Tiller NB.Distinguishing science from pseudoscience in commercial respiratory interventions: An evidence-based guide for health and exercise professionals.Eur J Appl Physiol.2023 Aug;123(8):1599-1625. doi:10.1007/s00421-023-05166-8Boston Medical Center.Podcast: The Buteyko breathing method.Vagedes K, Kuderer S, Ehmann R, Kohl M, Wildhaber J, Jörres RA, Vagedes J.Effect of Buteyko breathing technique on clinical and functional parameters in adult patients with asthma: a randomized, controlled study.Eur J Med Res.2024 Jan 11;29(1):42. doi:10.1186/s40001-023-01634-1Zeng H, Chen X, Xu Y, Zheng Y, Xiong H.Buteyko breathing technique for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction: Preliminary results from a randomized controlled trial.Am J Otolaryngol.2019 Sep-Oct;40(5):645-649. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2019.05.018Maleki A, Ravanbakhsh M, Saadat M, Bargard MS, Latifi SM.Effect of breathing exercises on respiratory indices and anxiety level in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.J Phys Ther Sci.2022 Apr;34(4):247-251. doi:10.1589/jpts.34.247Hassan EEM, Abusaad FE, Mohammed BA.Effect of the Buteyko breathing technique on asthma severity control among school age children.Egypt J Bronchol.2022;16(1):45. doi:10.1186/s43168-022-00149-3Buteyko Breathing Association.Buteyko breathing technique.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Illidi CR, Romer LM, Johnson MA, Williams NC, Rossiter HB, Casaburi R, Tiller NB.Distinguishing science from pseudoscience in commercial respiratory interventions: An evidence-based guide for health and exercise professionals.Eur J Appl Physiol.2023 Aug;123(8):1599-1625. doi:10.1007/s00421-023-05166-8Boston Medical Center.Podcast: The Buteyko breathing method.Vagedes K, Kuderer S, Ehmann R, Kohl M, Wildhaber J, Jörres RA, Vagedes J.Effect of Buteyko breathing technique on clinical and functional parameters in adult patients with asthma: a randomized, controlled study.Eur J Med Res.2024 Jan 11;29(1):42. doi:10.1186/s40001-023-01634-1Zeng H, Chen X, Xu Y, Zheng Y, Xiong H.Buteyko breathing technique for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction: Preliminary results from a randomized controlled trial.Am J Otolaryngol.2019 Sep-Oct;40(5):645-649. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2019.05.018Maleki A, Ravanbakhsh M, Saadat M, Bargard MS, Latifi SM.Effect of breathing exercises on respiratory indices and anxiety level in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.J Phys Ther Sci.2022 Apr;34(4):247-251. doi:10.1589/jpts.34.247Hassan EEM, Abusaad FE, Mohammed BA.Effect of the Buteyko breathing technique on asthma severity control among school age children.Egypt J Bronchol.2022;16(1):45. doi:10.1186/s43168-022-00149-3Buteyko Breathing Association.Buteyko breathing technique.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Illidi CR, Romer LM, Johnson MA, Williams NC, Rossiter HB, Casaburi R, Tiller NB.Distinguishing science from pseudoscience in commercial respiratory interventions: An evidence-based guide for health and exercise professionals.Eur J Appl Physiol.2023 Aug;123(8):1599-1625. doi:10.1007/s00421-023-05166-8Boston Medical Center.Podcast: The Buteyko breathing method.Vagedes K, Kuderer S, Ehmann R, Kohl M, Wildhaber J, Jörres RA, Vagedes J.Effect of Buteyko breathing technique on clinical and functional parameters in adult patients with asthma: a randomized, controlled study.Eur J Med Res.2024 Jan 11;29(1):42. doi:10.1186/s40001-023-01634-1Zeng H, Chen X, Xu Y, Zheng Y, Xiong H.Buteyko breathing technique for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction: Preliminary results from a randomized controlled trial.Am J Otolaryngol.2019 Sep-Oct;40(5):645-649. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2019.05.018Maleki A, Ravanbakhsh M, Saadat M, Bargard MS, Latifi SM.Effect of breathing exercises on respiratory indices and anxiety level in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.J Phys Ther Sci.2022 Apr;34(4):247-251. doi:10.1589/jpts.34.247Hassan EEM, Abusaad FE, Mohammed BA.Effect of the Buteyko breathing technique on asthma severity control among school age children.Egypt J Bronchol.2022;16(1):45. doi:10.1186/s43168-022-00149-3Buteyko Breathing Association.Buteyko breathing technique.
Illidi CR, Romer LM, Johnson MA, Williams NC, Rossiter HB, Casaburi R, Tiller NB.Distinguishing science from pseudoscience in commercial respiratory interventions: An evidence-based guide for health and exercise professionals.Eur J Appl Physiol.2023 Aug;123(8):1599-1625. doi:10.1007/s00421-023-05166-8
Boston Medical Center.Podcast: The Buteyko breathing method.
Vagedes K, Kuderer S, Ehmann R, Kohl M, Wildhaber J, Jörres RA, Vagedes J.Effect of Buteyko breathing technique on clinical and functional parameters in adult patients with asthma: a randomized, controlled study.Eur J Med Res.2024 Jan 11;29(1):42. doi:10.1186/s40001-023-01634-1
Zeng H, Chen X, Xu Y, Zheng Y, Xiong H.Buteyko breathing technique for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction: Preliminary results from a randomized controlled trial.Am J Otolaryngol.2019 Sep-Oct;40(5):645-649. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2019.05.018
Maleki A, Ravanbakhsh M, Saadat M, Bargard MS, Latifi SM.Effect of breathing exercises on respiratory indices and anxiety level in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.J Phys Ther Sci.2022 Apr;34(4):247-251. doi:10.1589/jpts.34.247
Hassan EEM, Abusaad FE, Mohammed BA.Effect of the Buteyko breathing technique on asthma severity control among school age children.Egypt J Bronchol.2022;16(1):45. doi:10.1186/s43168-022-00149-3
Buteyko Breathing Association.Buteyko breathing technique.
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