Implication of Buteyko Breathing Technique in Asthmatic Population: A Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Complementary and experimental medicine is gaining interest in the treatment of asthma around the world. This study summarizes the literature on complementary and alternative medicine approaches that use breathing retraining, i.e Buteyko breathing technique (BBT) as a primary component. Aim: The aim of this research is to provide background for BBT, analyse the available evidence for its efficacy and evaluate the physiological framework behind it. Methods: The analysis of literature is carried out by studying papers from electronic databases such as Cochrane, Medline, Embase, AMED, PEDro, Google Scholar, Elsevier, APTA, Campbell, Web of Science, and Research Gate. Conclusion: Individual studies using BBT consistently showed a reduction in asthma medication use. In either of the BBT experiments, no significant difference in lung ability was found. BBT detractors argue that drug reduction can be due to the physicians' influence, which is difficult to determine. Longer follow-up is needed to show that the improvement in asthma treatment as measured by drug usage is sustained over a clinically appropriate time span.