WELCOME EDINBURGH & THE LOTHIANS
Hello, my name is Helen Kerrigan. I first became interested in using the
Buteyko breathing technique after my husband, John, was diagnosed with asthma three years ago. Having tried all the
conventional medicines prescibed by his G.P. which were increasing all the time, from relievers (e.g. Salbutamol)
to short and long acting bronchodilators, nothing seemed to work for any length of time. He was eventually rushed into
hospital with a severe asthma attack and finally put onto steroids, thank goodness for steroids, the only drug treatment that
actually addresses the inflammation in the airways thereby giving relief. Ahh! but you can't stay on steroids indefinitely,
so he was back on the same old round of, try this and that AGAIN. Then my daughter read an article on the Buteyko method,
we looked it up on the internet (as you do) we were amazed at what was being said about it, that asthma can be brought under
control using breathing exercises, my first thought was it CAN'T be that easy. I then read a book by Alexander
Stalmatski, called "Freedom From Asthma" and it did make sense. We eventually got the address of a therapist in the Borders
who was holding a course teaching the breathing technique (no-one seems to be based in Edinburgh or the Lothians).
We set off thinking 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'. In that session were four other people with varying degrees
of asthma, from mild to severe. Every one of them could feel an improvement after the second session. We were HOOKED.
DEFINITION OF BUTEYKO
The Buteyko method is the most effective drug-free approach to the management
of asthma and other breathing related problems, it is suitable for all age groups and severity and gives quick and consistent
results. The Buteyko method can easily be incorporated into the daily life of any person, it does not require you to perform
any sophisticated procedures. You can use the concept of it at anytime. It contains simple breathing techniques and logical
instructions to follow. There are five sessions on breathing which enable people to understand a concept of "normal breathing"
according to physiological norms.
