I’ve seen several claims over the years about someone or some entity which has developed breathing methods for curing asthma attacks without drugs, usually the description is rather vague and of course to get the real info you need to buy this book/DVD/ etc.
:dubious:I am skeptical at best, I have asthma and while yes you do learn to force air into your lungs after an attack or two it doesn’t help the attack at all. It is just a stop gap measure until you can get a rescue inhaler.
Anyone actually know about these supposed breathing methods in more depth? Did it work for you or not?
I can’t say for sure, but, either Paul Sorvino, or Danny Aiello, each one big time actors, in the 1990s, came up with some breathing method for asthma. Per the actor, whichever one it was, it was pretty close to miraculous, and, IIRC, he even wrote a book about it.
IDK but meditating monks and placebos can convince the body to do some pretty amazing things, so why not? The catch is, of course, it takes pretty intense concentration.
I would imagine it is definitely possible unless you have some rare form of asthma which is predicated on a genetic inability to produce some specific protein.
I know from experience an attack is damn fucking scary, but even without medication I’ve never actually died from one. Did people generally have fatal asthma attacks before inhalers? I’ve occasionally managed to get it under control mentally, but even when I couldn’t, it was just really really uncomfortable for a few hours.
Buteyko is the one I know about. They had been making representation to Lions clubs because they could “cure” asthma. Lions members got in cheap ($300). Mum, Dad and I did the course. I think that it is helpful in breathing issues related to anxiety (from personal experience) and snoring (mum’s experience). They lost me when they told me it would “cure” my depression.
I really don’t know about it’s effectiveness on asthma.
I can’t answer to these books’ techniques, 'cause I haven’t read them. But considering “breathing methods for asthma” in general, it depends on whether we’re talking about shortness of breath asthma or the airways are actually constricting asthma. It can be difficult to tell the difference without practice. Airway constriction will usually produce a “wheeze” - a whistling, musical sound.
If it’s “just” shortness of breath, then sure, breathing techniques can work well. Nurses teach pursed lip breathing all the time to COPD patients. I’ve also had luck with a breathing technique I learned in esoteric circles, called “The Fourfold Breath”. These techniques slow you down, help expel more air and allow for better oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange.
If you’ve got actual airway constriction, I’m going to suggest an inhaler or nebulizer. If there isn’t one around, I’ll show you how to do pursed lip breathing while we wait for someone to bring you some ma huang tincture, strong coffee or tea (caffeine is a not-too-shabby bronchodilator), but I’m going to be pretty nervous until your wheeze goes away.
If you have a history of really severe asthma attacks, I’m just going to save us all some time and call an ambulance. Yell at me later when you can breathe, dude.
Asthma isn’t all or nothing. If it’s mild, sure, try home remedies. If it’s severe, thank your gods that you live in modern times with modern medicine.
I used to have asthma, and was taught long and relaxed breathing movements. I would inhale quite slowly (over a few seconds) and exhale as slowly as I could (30-45 s). Doing this makes an attack much less uncomfortable and stressful. Stress can be a starting or aggravating factor of an attack, therefore this method could also help shortening an attack in the absence of medication. However, if the cause of an attack was definitely allergic (typically at night in a old house), this method would reduce the symptoms (which is a good start) but wouldn’t cure anything.
Desensitization got me rid of asthma. Cheers to the man with white coat and syringes !