 This book can change your life |
| Review Date: February 19, 2000 |
| Reviewer: Louise DeSalvo, New Jersey |
| I've written a book about asthma; thought I knew everything. And then I bought this book. Started the five day program with great cynicism. Let me say I've not had a day free from symptoms from a case diagnosed as "moderately severe" asthma for five years. After doing the program, stringently, and following the guidelines (except for the diet -- I only cut out milk products) -- I have no post-nasal drip; don't feel as if I'm drowning; sleep magnificently; have no shortness of breath, or tightness in my chest, and have more energy. I started to experience positive results the first day. Frankly, I don't feel I "have" asthma anymore, though I do take inhaled corticosteroids, at a very reduced rate. If you are disciplined, and if you're willing to invest time, read this book. It's the better of the two books available on this method. I listened to music or read in the intervals between doing the controlled pause -- a technique that's taught. The best investment in a self-help book I've ever made. |
*The* premier introduction to the Buteyko method!
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| Review Date: August 2, 1999 |
| Reviewer: Taiji 218, The Frozen North |
| If you have or ever have had any kind of respiratory problem in your life, or you know of someone who's had any kind of respiratory problem in their lives, BUY THIS BOOK! The Buteyko method of breath retraining promises to be the medical breakthrough of the next century, and this book is as good an introduction to the method as it gets. I began the book with a Control Pause of 8 and finished the book a week later with a CP of 30 and am looking forward to getting to 50 or 60. You'll have to read the book to understand about the Control Pause, but I'm willing to make the prediction that, in the years to come, the CP will be regarded as almost more valuable than the pulse in determining a person's overall state of health. The book's thesis--that carbon dioxide is not the waste gas we've all been taught it is, and that low-grade hyperventilation is at the root of an amazing number of health disorders--is one of those counterintuitive ideas that suddenly makes a lot of sense once its implications are thoroughly spelled out. That the book does. My only constructive criticism of the book is that it tends to be a little wordy in some parts, and occasionally repititious, but not so much that it becomes disagreeable. For us Yanks on the western side of the puddle, a bit more brevity would have been welcome. Nonetheless, this book is too important to let a few literary bumps stand in the way. Buy the book, read it, and begin practicing the exercises. Give yourself a week to try it on for size. You won't be disappointed. I most certainly was not. I'm feeling much better already. |
Excellent approach but you have to work at it.
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| Review Date: November 10, 1999 |
| Reviewer: Taiji 218, The Frozen North |
| In spite of what some of the previous negative reviewers have said about the book, the Buteyko Method is neither a "crock" nor is it "pseudoscience". The approach works, but you have to work at it. This book by Teresa Hale is an excellent introduction to the method-only recently brought into the US via Australia and England-that's been practiced over the past 40 years in the former Soviet Union. Some of the negative comments by previous reviewers are accurate. The book is a bit self-promotional and the claim that you can "cure" asthma in only five days is not quite correct. You can learn the method in three to five days, and in some cases even then experience significant relief from your respiratory symptoms. However, to raise your control pause to 50 or 60 as they recommend for optimal health will probably take you anywhere from a couple of months to a year to accomplish. The method can be difficult and uncomfortable to do, and continual practice is necessary. Nonetheless, the method works if you work at it. You may need to take a full Buteyko seminar rather than rely on the book alone. I suspect the negative reviewers either were expecting too much from a book alone, were looking for a quick fix, or had medical complications that would necessitate their taking the full seminar. The book even advises most people to take the seminar and not rely on the book for all of the answers. Some people's conditions require subtle modifications of the Method that only an experienced trainer can coach them in. Maybe they should take the course. In any event, I would most strongly encourage any of you out there who suffers from any kind of respiratory illness, from sinusitus to asthma, to buy this book, as I would recommend any of you who suffer from symptoms of stress or anxiety disorder--including panic attack-- to buy this book. Don't expect the exercises to be too easy, and don't expect a quick cure. Think about taking the Buteyko course if you need to. It'll set you back around $500. But as one who started off with a control pause of less than 10 and who now has an average control pause of 40 - 45, I will say the benefits in my case are obvious and worth it. My chronic sinusitus which I've had from childhood is cleared up entirely, as are my migraine headaches and most of my tendencies to overeat. I've lost weight and am continuing to lose. My ten year old son is even starting to practice the Method a little bit at a time. His sleeping is very much improved, and he no longer wakes up with a dry or a sort throat as he used to before. I cannot recommend this book to you enough. :-) |
Maybe a Miracle
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| Review Date: December 28, 1999 |
| Reviewer: J Perry, Southern California |
| I doubt there is anything out there which will work for everyone. This universe does not accept such sweeping absolutes. However, the results I have gleaned from this book are far and away above anything I have ever experienced. Having had asthma since I was 2, over 45 years, I have been through the gamut of alternatives, medical and otherwise. I've had allergy shots, was on prednisone for over 40 years, have been on various bronchial dialator medications, have had lung surgery, chest tubes, been on respirators at least 6 times over the past 15 years and tried a host of homeopathic, chiropractic, nutritonal and general supplement programs, as well as my chosen spritual path. Everything helped some. I began this program on November 5th. It is not a 5 day program, and the exercises for a severe asthmatic take a good 45 min a pop, not 20-30. I saw results almost instantly and have been off my inhaler since that time, with a couple puffs around Thanksgiving when I over-ate (note here that the longest I have gone without an inhaler is about 12 hours). I have been able to fully go off Theophylline and Brethine as well. As for exercise, I was exercising for over an hour a day and am now even less winded afterwards. A visit to the snow, about 6000 feet altitude, caused no discomfort, though over the summer, prior to the program, a trip to Sequoia was accompanied by a constant shortness of breath. Currently, the only medication I am using is Pulmicort (newer inhaled steroid). I am off all my oral meds. This has never happened. What does the future hold? This is all so unprecedented, I do not know. The program takes diligence and a willingness to do it. If you are really in communication with your body and/or have a good health practioner, you could do quite well. I showed the book to my pulminary specialist as well as my chiropractor/homeopath. Both were impressed, but the MD a bit more conservative in his interest. This book is not perfect, dietary guidelines I took with a grain of salt. For more info you may want to check out the Buteyko method. This text is written for the layman and does a good job. Read it more than once, as there is a lot of data. |
Recommended by a leading CFS MD (Cheney)
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| Review Date: December 30, 1999 |
| Reviewer: Lauren Lassesen, Puget Sound, Washington |
| Based on a recommendation by Dr. Cheney, I read the book and found it a bit self-promotional but it contained clear scientific explanation for what was happening. It has significiantly improved my CFS and my husband's CFS. In fact, we both suffered "herx" (die-off) effects from doing it. It is NOT the easiest technique to learn, but it is effective and cleared up a persistant sinus infection that I have had for years, and corrected my husband's chronic snoring.... You will not be "cured" in a 5 days, it is 5 days to learn the techniques that may eventually lead to a cure... PS>> The diet is VERY important... |
Unbelievable
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| Review Date: June 21, 2004 |
| Reviewer: , |
| I took the Hale Clinic course with Alexander Stalmatsky, and after 30+ years of asthma I am at the very least symptom free. You wouldnt believe the other health benefits from learning to breath less unless you experience them first hand. The one thing I will say is that it takes effort and time to unlearn your current breathing patterns. So don't expect it to be easy or fast. You need to give it months. The key to the approach is practicing shallow breathing interspersed with different types of pauses. While I think everyone would benefit from taking a course or consulting with a professional, some may be able to learn it just by reading this book. Though I would recommend connecting with others doing it, for support and help with the nuances. There are online support groups on yahoo. |
Finally something that helps!
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| Review Date: October 4, 1999 |
| Reviewer: , |
| I have learned from this book to control and stave off asthma attacks and to help control panic attacks! It's a great book. I don't know who that person is who wrote that terrible review below, but obviously his respitory condition is so minimal he can't stand to sit thru an intelligent text that could help him. Buy the book and watch it work in only a few days. It's almost to amazing to be true, but it works! |
Brilliant! - all asthma sufferers must try this out.
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| Review Date: January 16, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Gekko, Los Angeles, CA |
| The idea presented in this book is so simple and radical, I read with severe skepticism. But I made an agreement with myself to give the 5-day program a try anyway. Well, it works! You truly get results in 5 days - but you have to commit to it. It's worth it. It hasn't cured my condition, but it has had a significant impact. I'm confident that if I continue to practice the breathing technique, and follow the other recommendations in the book about dietary adjustments, drinking habits, etc, the effects will continue. |
This book has the actual exercises, some do not
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| Review Date: May 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Crayolagirl, San Diego, CA |
| This book has the actual Buteyko exercises, whereas some of the books that talk about the Buteyko method, just tease you and never get around to giving you the exercises (Freedom from Asthma). It also has little pictures and charts to help you be more self-disciplined with the program. I do not know if it works yet, as I've barely started and have severe asthma. I'll write again later. |
Asthma Control Technique
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| Review Date: November 5, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. Alexander, |
| This is an outstanding book! I have been having some asthma symptoms, adult onset, and it was frightening to say the least. With this material I learned a different way of breathing, I learned the connection between panic and anxiety and asthma so as to be less frightened, and I simply feel better. I think everybody should read this, and not just those with asthma or emphysema. I didn't realize that the body won't die from an asthma attack unless medications are being used which alter the body's response to asthma. That fact in itself took a lot of fear out of my breathing difficulties, thus helping me to breathe easier. |
'Breathing Free' by Teresa Hale
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| Review Date: February 20, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Victoria Shepard, California, USA |
| This book teaches the reader to use the basics of the Buyteko breathing method to aleviate allergy and asthma symptoms. I already had an understanding of this approach, so implementing the breathing exercises was not difficult. As promised on the cover, I did experience a dramatic change, not in the asthma, but in the allergies. After the first day, my sinus problems cleared up considerably. For the first time in years, I can breath without mucus obstruction. I have tapered off two allergy medicines already. In fact, I did not know I had so many sinus issues until I did the breathing sets in the book. My lack of improvement in the asthma was not the book's fault. I had been for two years a nose breather and was taping my mouth at night to prevent mouth breathing. This immediately decreases asthma symptoms because the body is expelling less carbon dioxide, a necessary element for good health. However, unless this is accompanied by additional Buyteko exercies, the asthma will eventually worsen again, as mine did. If you are serious about pursuing Buyteko, read this book and find a qualified practitioner who teaches breath holds (also known as "pauses" in the Buyteko world.) Although the reduced breathing or relaxed breathing works for some people, it was not sufficient for me. A slightly more aggressive approach actually speeds along the recovery from asthma. After finding a competent Buyteko teacher at "[...]", the asthma symptoms are gradually subsiding. This book is defintely a good step toward controlling lung issues. |
Headache relief with understanding
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| Review Date: July 30, 2010 |
| Reviewer: sheri louis, |
Debilitating headaches and nothing I could do! ...until I picked up the book Breathing Free by Teresa Hale of London's Hale Clinic. I wasn't even reading it for myself ... I am not asthmatic; my cardiovascular system is involved. This book thoroughly explains my dilemma and walks me through a solution (the Buteyko Breathing Technique). What's more, I've gone from a CP of 10 to 30 in a short time. I'll have trouble till the culprit ozone (ethanol gas, some air purifiers, etc) is removed from our airspace but my live has been greatly eased. I have never read a more helpful book; thank you Teresa Hale! sl
PS I'm on my third reading :-) |
This book can save your life
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| Review Date: May 2, 2000 |
| Reviewer: , |
| Thank god for such people as Thersa Hale. If you will follow the instructions in this easy to read book it can save your life. |
The missing link!
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| Review Date: February 10, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Adrienne J. Priebe, Palmyra, New York United States |
As an asthma and allergy sufferer, I had tried everything to alleviate my asthma without being dependent on prescription medication. I had already exercised regularly, maintained a wheat-, dairy-free and mostly organic diet, took vitamins and mineral supplements regularly and still my asthma plagued me daily.
The concepts presented in this book are so utterly simple that I felt foolish for not knowing! I am completely in awe of the fact that no doctor I visited, in my 29 years on this planet, saw my constant mouth-breathing as a problem. Although I performed the exercises in this book, all I really had to do was retrain my breathing and voila! I haven't needed a fast-acting inhaler in almost a month.
Asthma is a manifestation of a NUMBER of problems that also stem from improper diet and lack of exercise, as well as improper breathing patterns. They ALL have to be changed to be successful at combatting this condition.
I am amazed at the number of people who shrug off this kind of information without even trying it! If you are an asthmatic and you are taking drugs that aren't helping, what exactly do you have to lose by trying some non-invasive breathing techniques and moving towards a healthier lifestyle?! |
if you want to take control of your asthma without medication
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| Review Date: September 25, 2005 |
| Reviewer: R. B. Geller, Fairfax, VA USA |
This book has allowed me to get off of all medication. The concepts are deceptively simple and laid out so they are very easy to follow, cookbook style.
It is so simple stupid. But ten days later, after a lifetime of perpetual medication, asthma and allergies, I am free from taking all medication, and yesterday I ran for 15 minutes with no asthma.
If this sounds appealing, read the book. What do you have to lose? |
good info, but can also be found from other sources
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| Review Date: February 21, 2000 |
| Reviewer: , |
| There is a lot of detailed information here about diet and techniques to use to better specific respiratory problems, but much of the information is just a compilation or refinement of things the alternative health traditions have been doing for ages. Check out the book "Science of Breath" by Swami Rama, or books on nutrition by Rudolph Ballentine, Amadea Morningstar, Andrew Weil, etc. This book can give you something to start with, but it's best used as a doorway to go back to the source, the traditional healing modalities which have been practiced for centuries. |
Negative reviews of this book are not based in fact
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| Review Date: December 24, 2002 |
| Reviewer: Ken McCarthy, New York |
| I really can't fathom the negative reviews of this book or the Buteyko Method itself. This is a well written, well researched popular introduction to an important therapeutic methodology. The methodology was developed by a distinguished Russian physician, an MD, and is fully supported both by basic physiology and numerous clinical trials. It is a widely accepted therapy in many countries including Russia, the UK and Australia and at least one US hospital has fully integrated it into its respiratory the r apy department. To say that the therapy is "out there" is a reflection of the ignorance of the reviewer, not reality. As for the supposed "dangers" of mouth taping shut to train nose breathing, this is not an uncommon practice and in fact a special a dh esive is marketed by 3M for this purpose (3M micropore mouth tape.) It does not stick firmly, can be removed painlessly and is available from pharmacists and at hardware stores. Informed criticism is one thing, but before slamming a book, it would be g ood for reviewers to get their basic facts straight.
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Breakthrough for Exercise Induced Asthma Sufferer
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| Review Date: December 16, 1999 |
| Reviewer: kathy utter, |
| My seventeen year old basketball player/severe exercise induced asthma sufferer had just about given up. After pulmonary function tests, puffers, etc., I found this book.........Read it and within two days, she was feeling the relief. The book is not perfect...but the message is one every person with breathing difficulties should see and try. I'm grateful.....No more meds. |
Breathing free
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| Review Date: December 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Allan E. Schultz, Reno, Nv |
I read this book then recommended to my spouse and daughter who both have breathing problems. My daughter with asthma and spouse with COPD and emphasyma.
They took the reading serious and have been practising the exercises.
The service from Amazon was terrific, came before the time table which was nice.
Thanks for the book. |
Not yet sold
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| Review Date: July 8, 2004 |
| Reviewer: , |
Only scientific test of this system I could find is at www.mja.com.au/public/issues/contents.html. Click 7/21 Dec 1998, go to Alternative Medicene,click Buteyko Breathing Techniques in Asthma. Their tests showed it did not increase breathing capacity. Suggest you read the report for yourself.
I have found helpful Paul Sorvino's book "How to be a former asthmatic." Totally different approach. Perhaps one of the keys is for asthmatics to learn they can control their breathing, whatever method they use. |
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