Asthma
Heal asthma - the natural way
FOR ASTHMA SUFFERERS
"The Natural Breath Method"TM (Buteyko)
BASED ON RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUES BY PROFESSOR
KONSTANTIN BUTEYKO
What is THE NATURAL BREATH METHOD?
The NATURAL BREATH METHOD is a drug free way
of controlling and managing asthma symptoms, as well as other
respiratory conditions such as rhinitis, bronchitis, hayfever
and other allergies like dust mites, animal hair etc. It is
a complementary, holistic therapy, which looks at the whole
person and can be learned in conjunction with using your medication
until you have taken control of your symptoms.
What will it do?
It will significantly reduce and usually eliminate
altogether the symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath,
asthma "attacks", coughing, fatigue, runny or blocked
nose, tight chest, sinusitis and so on - whilst at the same
time significantly reduce and usually eliminate altogether
reliance on the medication used to treat these conditions,
including steroids. Good news for those who are worried about
the long term health implications of daily usage of strong
drugs.
How does it work?
THE NATURAL BREATH METHOD works by training
you to breathe at the optimum level for good respiratory health.
The originator's, Professor Buteyko's assertion is that asthmatics
habitually overbreathe, or hyperventilate, which contributes
to asthma, but this hyperventilation is so ingrained, that
it is not noticed or taken account of by modern medicine. By
correcting breathing patterns, asthmatics can lead a normal
life without totally relying on drugs. Briefly, Carbon Dioxide
is not just a "waste gas" - but is vital to our health,
and by overbreathing, asthmatics lose too much carbon dioxide.
Their airways constrict and they feel asthma symptoms. As carbon
dioxide is a natural muscle relaxant, by keeping it in the
body for longer, the airways will relax, and symptoms will
go.
Will it work for me?
If you have asthma or any similar respiratory
condition, the answer is almost certainly a "Yes!".
Of course the method needs to be correctly learned. You need
tuition to learn the Method for full effect.
What about my GP?
We aim to work in conjunction with your GP.
When you book on a course, please notify your GP explaining
that we have accepted you as a client. You are never advised
to alter your current medication without discussing it with
your GP first. He will give you advice on correct use of reliever
and preventer drugs. What we do find is that by learning THE
METHOD, you no longer have the asthma symptoms, and therefore
your GP is happy to reduce your drugs.
My Asthma is under control - can the METHOD
still help me?
You may think you have control of your asthma,
but how often do you take your drugs, or how often do you become
short of breath or wheezy? Even mild asthma can be hugely improved
or eliminated by using THE NATURAL BREATH METHOD. Of course,
if you are totally content with relying on your drugs, do not
worry about the possible long term health implications, and
are happy with the ever increasing prescription charges, then
THE METHOD is not for you.
Having hayfever (not asthma)
Good news for you - THE METHOD is excellent
at relieving hayfever symptoms - runny eyes, running or blocked
nose, headaches, itching and so on. Also useful for other allergies
which affect the respiratory system.
How long will it take to work?
This depends on the severity of your symptoms,
your current medication and your application of the method.
People who have mild asthma, hayfever, rhinitis, sinusitis
etc, should see results within a few weeks, and significant
improvement after about a month. Improvement will continue
with practice at home, and symptoms should have mostly disappeared
after a couple of months.
Mild asthmatics are those who take reliever (salbutamol)
medication only occasionally and/or use steroid (preventer)
drugs at difficult times, but who are otherwise in control
of their symptoms, with no "attacks" requiring hospitalisation.
For those with more severe asthma, bronchitis
or emphysema, should start to feel an improvement within 3
weeks, see more improvement after 6 weeks, and see significant
results after two months. With continued practice and follow
up sessions, symptoms and reliever drug usage should be greatly
reduced (with full supervision by your GP).
More severe asthma is that which is not really
under control, with reliever medication needing to be taken
several times a day, steroids every day, nebuliser use and
asthma attacks. Also "brittle asthma".
What does it involve?
At its most basic level, the THE METHOD is a
series of breathing exercises, taught to you over a number
of 2-hour sessions, and then practiced at home. It will also
give advice on diet and general lifestyle to create a holistic
approach. To start with, you should keep records charting your
progress, and should practice the exercises several times a
day. This is until you reach a certain competence at the exercises,
and you start controlling your symptoms. Thereafter, you can
just do the exercises when you feel the need, maybe before
sport, when you have a virus or any time when you feel symptoms
appearing.
Does it work for children too?
Yes. Children have not had a long time in which
to learn to breathe incorrectly, so results are usually quicker
and even more effective. It can be successfully learned by
children as young as eight, with their parent's help and guidance.
Who is Professor Buteyko?
Konstantin Buteyko is a Russian Professor who
discovered during his time at the First Medical Institute,
Moscow, that how people breathe affects their health. In his
experiments spanning 45 years, he found that when asked to
overbreathe, patients developed unpleasant symptoms, but when
taught how to breathe correctly, these symptoms disappeared.
He experimented on himself, and devised a programme by which
a patient's breathing could be measured and then reconditioned.
When results of his first studies were presented to the Scientific
Forum at the Institute, his colleagues were stunned. Many did
not believe him, despite quick recovery of over 200 very sick
people. Buteyko then taught 200 medical specialists his method,
and soon they were all treating other patients. Official records
show that by January 1967, more than 1000 patients suffering
from asthma had been successfully treated and had fully recovered
from their conditions. Russian cosmonauts are fully trained
in Professor Buteyko's breathing method.
What are the Benefits?
- The reduction and usual elimination of asthma symptoms
- The end of complete reliance on drugs
- Improved quality of life
- Rediscovery of the ability to play sports
- Taking control of your asthma
- No more worrying about health implications of modern
drugs
- Relief from the stress of seeing your child gasp for
air
- Increased immunity system efficiency
- Better weight control
- Regularisation of metabolic processes
- Improved level of general health and fitness
Courses Available
We offer training of THE NATURAL BREATH
METHOD in modular form. Each class is about two hours
in duration, and will take everyone's individual symptoms
and condition into account. It also involves Holistic
Teachings, meaning, that we take the relationship between
Body, Mind and Spirit into perspective. You will need
four basic classes to correctly learn THE METHOD, and
then depending on the severity of your condition, if
needed, another one or two classes to give you sufficient
competence and confidence to continue practicing at home.
You will not be advised to stop taking
any medication without your GP's knowledge/consent.
If you cannot travel, we will try to arrange
tuition at your home. This is charged at a higher rate
with expenses as extra.
Investment
R3200 - Full Course consisting of four
classes. (Additional classes are charged at R650 per
class.)
A medical questionnaire will be given at
the start of the course, regarding the basics to give
us an idea of your current condition.
Disclaimer: All the information provided
in the courses and workshops is based on the extensive
work and research of Prof. Konstantin Buteyko as expressed
in various books and on the Internet. All information
is designed to assist you to become empowered to assume
greater responsibility for your health. The programs
outlined are not intended to replace conventional medical
treatment and you are advised to consult your physician
before, during and after any program of self health.
George Berkovits, the Sanctuary Of Soul and it's associates
cannot accept liability.
