Fact: - 1 in 4 people suffer from asthma in this country.
Fact: - 1 in 3 Maori people suffer from asthma.
Fact: - asthmatics have doubled in the last decade, and will continue to double in the next.
Fact: - 80,000 New Zealanders use medication for their asthma every day. These statistics are simply astounding. Are we going to sit back and accept this as the norm, or is there something better that we can do for asthmatics in this country without the dependency on drugs that is prevalent today.

Well actually there is. Thanks to Russell Stark there is an impressive alternative to drug dependency for asthmatics in New Zealand. If you suffer from asthma, or have a loved one who is a sufferer then you need to know about Buteyko.

Buteyko is a new concept here in New Zealand, and Russell is one of only two Buteyko practitioners in the country. In the 18 months that it has been here over 600 people have been taught the Buteyko technique. 120 people have learnt the technique in Hastings so far. There is a 90% success rate, which means that patients can reduce their medication by 90%, and the amount of times they have asthma.

Buteyko is designed to normalise the breathing of asthmatics. In very simplified terms Buteyko teaches asthmatics to monitor their condition accurately, to overcome attacks without the use of drugs and finally prevent the onset of an attack. Basically there are three significant factors that contribute to asthma, they are diet, the environment in which we live, and stress. The body's response to allergies is to go into stress which increases the breathing rate. This in turn lowers the level of carbon dioxide which causes bronchial constrictions, and eventually asthma attacks. Additionally, asthmatics breathe an average of about 14 litres of air per minute, normal people breathe 5 litres. Quite simply asthmatics breathe too much and this is where their problems are. Buteyko research has found that the rate at which we breathe is solely determined by carbon dioxide levels. If one does not have enough levels then the body is not correctly regulated. Accordingly, the more a patient over breathes the worse their asthma becomes. Russell explains further that, "The bronchioles in our lungs are composed of smooth muscle. Over breathing lowers the carbon dioxide levels in the body which then constricts this smooth muscle. The Buteyko technique teaches asthmatics to breathe less and to reduce air flows to that of a normal level. If the patient can increase 80% of their required carbon dioxide level then the constriction will stop."

Buteyko teaches asthmatics that they can control asthma through a series of shallow breathing exercises. This is the exact opposite to mainstream theories of deep breathing for asthmatics, however this diaphonic breathing actually lowers carbon dioxide levels rather than increases them. An advantage of the Buteyko technique is that a patient can tell in advance if he or she is about to have an attack and can therefore take preventative measures through breathing exercises to prevent the attack.

The biggest response to the Buteyko teachings has been from the 30+ year age group. There is a small number of children even though there are twice as many asthmatic children as there are adults. "It is actually easier to teach children than it is to teach adults, and it is even more worthwhile to 'nip it in the bud' as they can learn the technique at an early age and significantly reduce drug dependency for the rest of their lives," says Russell, "although it is important that parents continue to monitor children." He really believes it is extremely important to teach the Buteyko method to children and is offering special rates for the program.

Russell travels all over New Zealand teaching the Buteyko technique and running seminars to educate people about the program, this is also combined with workshops which actually teach patients how to use Buteyko as an asthma preventative. Every six weeks or so he is in the main centres. There are workshops in Hastings every 5 - 6 weeks. These workshops run for six days, for an hour and a half a day. The costs involved range from $370 to $650. "If the NZ Asthma Foundation would support us then the costs of the workshops would be halved." Russell states.

Having been an asthmatic himself, Russell hasn't had to use his puffer for about 2 years. His son was also a chronic asthmatic and is so much much better, so Russell is living proof that Buteyko works. He really believes in the technique and is now trying to promote Buteyko to the medical profession. He ran a professional seminar recently, and sent invitations to 400 general practitioners and only two out of all of Hawke's Bay turned up.