Clinical Trials

It surprises many people to learn that, according to medical literature, no other treatment for asthma has ever achieved better results than Buteyko's Method.

Brisbane, Australia Buteyko Asthma Trial; MJA 1998

A trial involving 39 asthmatics was conducted in Brisbane from January 1995 to April 1995. One group was taught Buteyko and the other was given conventional asthma education.

Results after 12 weeks showed a 96% reduction in reliever medication and 49% reduction in preventer medication for the Buteyko group. This compared with a 5% reduction in reliever medication and no reduction in preventer medication for the control group.

Simon D Bowler, Amanda Green and Charles A Mitchell. Buteyko breathing techniques in asthma: a blinded randomised trial Medical Journal of Australia 1998; 169:575-578

See full text

Gisborne, New Zealand Buteyko Asthma Trial; NZMJ 2003

The most recent Buteyko trial to be published was conducted by Doctors at Gisborne Hospital and published in the Dec 12, 2003 issue of NZMJ.

The study which was carried out in 2000 involved 38 asthmatics from the Gisborne area aged between 18 and 70. One group learned the Buteyko method while the other was given conventional asthma education and relaxation techniques.

Results from the six month trial showed an 85% reduction in inhaled relievers and a 50% reduction in inhaled steroids for the Buteyko group. The control group showed a 37% reduction in reliever medication and no change in their preventer medication after six months.

Patrick McHugh, Fergus Aitcheson, Bruce Duncan and Frank Houghton Buteyko Breathing Technique for asthma: an effective intervention NZMJ 12 December 2003 V 116 No 1187

See full text on New Zealand Medical Association website

Glasgow, Scotland Buteyko Asthma Trial, UK Thorax 2003

The world's largest Buteyko trial to date was conducted in Glasgow and involved 384 asthmatics.

Preliminary results published in Thorax reports those patients who were taught the Buteyko Method showed a 98% reduction in reliever medication and a 92% reduction in preventer medication. All experienced an average of 98% reduction in asthma symptoms and improvement in quality of life.

Thorax British Thoracic Society Abstracts Dec 2003 Vol 58 supplement III

Link to British Thoracic Society press release

Future trials

Doctors at Gisborne Hospital in New Zealand conducted a Buteyko trial for sleep apnoea in November 2004.

A trial involving 228 asthmatics commenced in Calgary, Canada in September 2004.