<p>The consensus among the healthcare professionals I have spoken with and contacted seem unanimous in agreeing that Buteyko is NOT a good idea for those of us with COPD. We already retain more CO2 than we should as it is and don’t need to try to retain more.</p>
<p>Its value for other conditions is somewhat controversial as well. I would carefully consider other more mainstream (and less expensive) options, such as imagery, progressive relaxation, meditation, and other things before spending the time and money on Buteyko. The course was $255 and basically has just a few exercises you could do on your own IF you believe the premises.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, there is very limited data on asthma and none I could find on any of the other 185 conditions it is claimed to help. The instructor we met was a very nice, personable person who had absolutely no medical training but was a very sincere person who devoutly believes in the technique. He says it helped him with his asthma when he had maxed out Western medicine and it helped another woman with COPD in our support group reduce meds and need to go to the ER/hospital.</p>
<p>The pulmonologists I have contacted agree that raising the CO2 levels for asthmatics is a BAD thing and what they have to counteract to help the patients to breathe in the ER. It doesn’t make sense to voluntarily RAISE the CO2 levels in the body by taking shallower, smaller breaths and holding the breath to them.</p>
<p>I just wish there were more good treatments for COPD, asthma and other conditions, but for now, I’ll just stick with exercise, yoga, meditation, and taking the meds that my docs & I have agreed are helping.</p>
<p>Will keep folks posted if we find something that works and has more data to support its safety and efficacy. I am very disappointed as it did indeed sound like such a great thing. I guess it still holds that, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” <sigh></sigh></p>