About Suzy Beach.

Buteyko (pronounced Bew-tay-koe), the very word itself now evokes relief and gratitude. If you have ever experienced asthma either as a sufferer or a carer then you have finally heard the solution.

If asthma is already a big problem or even if it is not a problem yet Buteyko offers the best starting point to the ultimate solution.

I now believe that no matter where you have been with asthma, no matter what other treatments you have tried or are currently using, that learning the Buteyko Method can safely help.

To me the Buteyko Method and philosophy are a breakthrough, scientifically proven orthodox but drug free method for treating asthma and other over breathing complaints. As it is totally compatible with all of the current medically recognised preventative drug therapies it is very safe. It is disappointing that it has not already been received more warmly by the medical profession. A trial was conducted in December, 1994 January 1995 through the Mater Hospital, Brisbane by Professor Charles Mitchell and Doctor Simon Bowler. The results were released at the conference for Thoracic physicians society in Hobart in March 1995. After six weeks people from the group that had been taught the Buteyko Technique reduced their intake of Bronchodilators by 90 per cent and also steroid medication by 17 per cent along with an improvement in their quality of life. In contrast, the control group who were taught standard asthma treatments were able to reduce their medication intake by less than 5 per cent. Participants are also taught a very simple but extremly accurate method to assess and continually monitor their own health in regards to asthma. This practice stands on its own and is a far more effective and accurate indicator of a clients health than for instance that which a peak flow monitor can ever hope to achieve.

Having personally experienced a lifetime of asthma (40 years), I consider myself somewhat of an asthma expert in the sense that whether I wanted to or not I was constantly studying asthma and inevitably using myself as a human quinea pig for a wide range of medications and treatments just to get some relief and stay alive. My most dangerous experience was with Theophylline drugs. Assorted alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, homoeopathy and also diet and meditation certainly helped at times to improve my quality of life and assisted my survival in a big way until I was able to access the Buteyko Method. Now I can really learn to live again. it is very different without asthma as a constant companion.

After extremly negative experiences with standard medication, antibiotics and allergy vaccinations as a child, I tried going drug free from the age of 13 years to 17 years. I did not grow out of my asthma as had been hoped (my older brother had) so would just suffer through the acute attacks. At about the age of 18 years I begun regularly puffing on the 'wonder drug' Ventolin. I was to stay on this dangerous reliever reliant merry-go-round for the next 20 years. Not surprisingly the asthma went from acute to chronic, my allergies increased, I was hospitalised numerous times and by 1992 I had yet another near fatal attack.

At this stage I became involved with the Asthma Foundation and finally stabilised myself by taking maximum daily doses of inhaled cortico steroids (Preventative medication) as well as regular relievers. It was then that l first heard of the Buteyko Method. I was extremly sceptical at first having tried literally everything on offer and l was not going to get my hopes up about yet another 'get-well-quick' scheme. I am so glad now that I gave it a chance and I am very grateful to all the asthmatics who had already completed a Buteyko workshop who consented to let me "interrogate" them.

Initially, l was stunned by just how quickly my acute symptoms and therefore my need for reliever medication diminished. With an annual worldwide sale of 440.000.000 reliever puffers ( '94 statistics) that appears to be escalating, l do not think drug companies will be pleased to hear this so be prepared for this method to be intentionally discredited or at least the glowing results of the numerous scientific tests already done on Buteyko Method to be suppressed.

The truth is that the Buteyko method is simple and effective and results are far reaching and accumulative so long term results are brilliant.

I was personally stunned by how much emotional, for want of a better word, resistance l felt whilst doing initial exercises. I just did not know life without asthma and it took some adjusting. Luckily the results in themselves were motivating enough. Within a few months l was back in 'control' and extremly aware of how l was feeling and what to do and what not to do to reieve any symptoms the minute they arose.

l am grateful to the Brisbane based practitioner Pat Heinemann and his wife for their support and assistance. It was such a relief to meet people who really understand asthma and were capable of giving an empathetic response to all my fears, anxiety and suffering. To have this sort of validation and also access finally to a philosophy that was capable of giving rapid and drug free results was fantastic.

That was five years ago. ( update...A decade later and I'm still improving!) My general health and quality of life continues to improve. With the Buteyko Technique I am so much more aware of just how to avoid any asthmatic symptoms. I will always be potentially asthmatic but today l am totally drug and symptom free.

l am forever in debt to Dr Konstantine Buteyko for persevering with his ill received but no less brilliant findings on hyperventilation and the link with lowered levels of carbon dioxide and ill health such as asthma.

The Buteyko philosophy is a total breakthrough in asthma management and all asthmatics and hyperventilators should be encouraged to learn it.

The thought of all the people and especially the children who are sufferung unnecessarily with asthma make me more determined than ever to help in whatever way I can to let others know as much as possible about a wonderful method that has helped me, and thousands of others so profoundly.

1998 Update

I 1997 I was able to train with the Asthma Foundation of Qld. to become an Asthma Educator and also with the Buteyko Practitioners Association to a qualified Buteyko Therapist.

As my health and quality of life continue to improve on all levels its obvious that the Buteyko Method has had a very positive impact. I'm particularly enjoying being able to work and travel and my family are happy to share this remarkable improvement.
Of course over-breathing is not only related to asthma. Due to my previous incorrect breathing patterns I had also experienced years of severe excema, headaches, snoring, sleep apnoea, panic attacks, anxiety disorders, digestive problems, muscle cramping, ear and throat problems, neuralgia, chest pains for which I had been hospitalised, excessive mucus production and constant coughing. My chronic mouth breathing also contributed to expensive dental problems. However, asthma symptoms were by far the most frightening and debilitating.
I have spoken to so many people who have similar histories and like me they too had forgotten what it felt like to be well.
I am so grateful that I have been given the opportunity to overcome these problems and live in the solution.