Mouth breathing can cause above normal secretions in the mouth, damaging both the teeth and the gums.....particularly the gums.
Yes, that was my primary interest. I have had some gum problems and I'm trying whatever I can think of to keep them stable. I've already reduced my exercise to a level where I can breathe through my nose.
Buteyko's stuff sounds pretty weird and since I don't have asthma, I'm not about to jump in, but I will try the tape just out of curiosity.
I can understand your reaction. I was never a proponent for outside the box medicine until I came down with asthma. And then I became desperate. In two years, I went from being very active physically to virtually housebound. When I was diagnosed, the MDs gave me three different inhalers at two puffs each six times per day and a pill to take daily. Much of the time they were mostly ineffective and only provided minor relief. I was able to go back to the gym but was wiped out after 30-60 minutes.
Upon doing buteyko a year ago May, I was able to reduce my inhaler usage from three to mostly one and sometimes two; from twelve puffs to 4-5. I hope after completing the last segment of the buteyko method, I can wean myself off all inhalers. And btw, I can do a two workout easily and could do more but I don't need to be THAT in shape. <g>
If you read carefully the thesis on breathing by Buteyko, you will see the supporting evidence is hardly anecdotal but very scientifically proven through exacting standards. In fact, it is amazing how well Buteyko's thesis is supported by science. Remember, he was an engineer and scientist first before becoming a doctor. And its amazing how he was able to take various bodily functions and tie them directly into the functioning of the respiratory system.
When the buteyko breathing method came out of Russia, it hit New Zealand and Australia first. In spite of NZ having the cleanest air in the world, it has one of the highest incidence of respiratory problems per capita. So much for pollution causing asthma.
For MDs in Australia to prescribe the buteyko method, they required clinical trials be done much like a medicine derived from a drug. The method passed the trials with flying colors and Australian MDs prescribe the buteyko as a matter of course.
I tell you all this so that you don't pass off the buteyko method as simply another example of holistic medicine with sometimes questionable results. If there was that concern, I don't think the method would be in the American Journal of Asthma. And you find that there are people practising portions of the method without knowing about buteyko. For an example, I had to exchange a jacket last fall. The woman waiting on me was fairly sick and was coughing a lot. I suggested that it would help her cough to only breath thru her nose. She did a double take........my mother said the same damn thing this AM. She told me her mother was a nurse and they found that patients got better faster by breathing through their noses. I was astounded.
Its like the X files...........the truth is out there......you just have to look for it. ;~))
ted |
