Russell, his wife Jenny and son Robert moved from Queensland to New Zealand in January, 1994. They brought with them the revolutionary new Buteyko method for controlling asthma. Russell's own testimony to it's effectiveness is as amazing as any of those thousands of people he has successfully treated himself.
As a child Russell was prone to bronchitis, which developed into asthma in his teenage years. When he was 17 he had 5 major attacks and was hospitalised, but after drug treatment his condition stabilised. He had no further significant problems until, in his early thirties, he had to have major surgery and was in hospital again for some considerable time. After having Ventolin prescribed for a slight wheeze, his problems really began.
"I was using one whole Bricanyl puffer a fortnight, and lots of Ventolin," he says of that time. "I would have to keep a puffer in each of my work vehicles, as well as at home and in the office. I developed countless allergies. If I drove into town I had to wear a mask to stop myself inhaling the dust and fumes."
His increasing sensitivity and allergic reactions made Russell's and his family's lives a misery. The foods he could safely eat were reduced to only millet, beef and a few vegetables and fruits. He was not able to wear nylon clothing, or have any plastics, perfumes or strongly scented cleaning agents in the house. The carpets were ripped up and replaced with vinyl, and three times a week cleaners would come in to thoroughly dust the house. Every two months it was sprayed for dust-mites.
Robert's life was also overshadowed by asthma and the associated drugs,
It was Jenny who, after seeing a television advertisement, persuaded Russell to attend a Buteyko course. "It seemed too simple to work," she says, "but we were desperate. We had no other options."
Russell reluctantly enrolled for the course, and started learning from Alexander (Sasha) Stalmatsky BSc. who had worked under Professor Buteyko for 14 years. The second day of that course was the last time he took Ventolin. He was soon able to wean himself off steroids, and now he takes no drugs at all. His allergies disappeared, and his life quickly returned to normal. "The Buteyko method gave me back my life," he says.
A while later Russell was asked to consider becoming a Buteyko tutor himself. His considerable experience as a registered coach for the Queensland Amateur Athletics Association and qualifications in sports medicine made him an obvious choice. He accepted enthusiastically.
He now has thousands of patients successfully treated to his credit, and hopes that many more people here in New Zealand will make use of Buteyko Breathing so they can live their lives to the full.
