Buteyko breathing for lymphedema?

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pandorashealth
pandorashealth Member Posts: 14
edited September 2015 in Lymphedema

Hi all,

I was re-reading this study this morning and noticed something I didn't remember from the last time I read it:

http://www.normalbreathing.com/nb-word/A-Paschenko...

Quote from study: "Seven (13.2%) of the patients in the control group suffered from edema in their upper extremities. The same symptoms were present in 9 (13.4%) patients of the main group. However, unlike the control group, their edema disappeared with the elimination of deep breathing."

If the Buteyko method could help lymphedema, then it shouldn't matter that the study was originally published in Russian: Therapists should look into it!

If I had lymphedema (I don't, but I struggle with high altitudes, wear a sleeve when flying, and believe I'm at risk for it), I'd be trying this right now, today, starting this second. A nontoxic, inexpensive, noninvasive therapy that could free me from compression garments? Yes, please!

Mentioning it in case any of you want to give it a try. (Not to mention the mortality reduction they found.)

Best wishes, awesome people!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2015

    Hi Pandora-

    Welcome to the community, and thank you for sharing this!

    The Mods

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited September 2015

    What exactly is "reduced breathing"? It seems like it is taking shallow breaths which is exactly the opposite of what I've been told to do for LE. Deep belly breathing is supposed to stimulate the lymph nodes in the abdomen and help move the lymph along. So I'm confused by this.

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited September 2015

    Hello, Pandorashealth, and welcome!

    Interesting reading, though the translation could use an edit or two. Buteyko was a Ukranian who fought in WWII, then took medical training, specializing in blood pressure issues. He developed the Buteyko breathing method, patented it in Russia, and used it (under great duress from the rest of the medical/scientific community) in the treatment of asthma, where hyperventilation (especially during an asthma attack) is a serious problem. The author of the above study was a disciple of Buteyko. It was published in the Ukrainian National Journal of Oncology in 2001. I have no idea if it's peer reviewed or not. The Buteyko Method has practitioners in the US and now claims to treat at least 150 medical conditions, including such diverse issues as diabetes and sleep apnea. As to access to specific treatment details, those are available only at cost: they offer courses for breathing trainers, CDs and DVDs, books, and therapy by their trainers.

    Glennie, I think the confusion about "reduced breathing" has to do with hyperventilating, which affects not only asthma sufferers, but anyone dealing with a stressful situation--which cancer sure is! The point is to reduce this hyperventilation, or too-rapid breathing rate. That's a worthwhile goal for anyone, certainly for those of us dealing with a chronic condition. So, slower breathing rate seems to be the goal, not necessarily "shallower" breathing. And the Buteyko method (like yoga) claims to normalize that slower breathing rate over time, with practice.

    In the case of other stressful conditions, slower breathing, abdominal breathing and relaxation are linked to better quality of life and possibly to positive physiologic changes. With lymphedema we do have the added physiologic issue of stimulating the lymph system, so--all good.

    Breathe!

    Hugs,
    Binney

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited September 2015

    Ahhhh, slower breathing. I took reduced breathing to be shallower breaths. Thanks for setting me straight!

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited September 2015

    I agree with binney that the translation was not as good as it might have been. Looking at the Normal Breathing website also, I found it interesting but confusing. Made me think about how little research I have seen published from the former USSR...

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  • pandorashealth
    pandorashealth Member Posts: 14
    edited September 2015

    Thanks for the welcome, Mods and binney! Yeah, the translation is not perfect, but I think it looks promising. Russia has some cool things we've not adopted here in the States, like phages to complement antibiotics.

    Glad you found it interesting!

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  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited September 2015

    Sodo we try this type of breathing or stick to my deep belly breath. I haven't researched this method yet.

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