Is the Buteyko Oxygenation Therapy a Better Cancer Cure Than Foods and Diets?

Since this question was asked on different forums, Icomplete agreement with dozens of western
decided to write this article. To my knowledge, noneprofessional oncological studies (cancer-tissue hypoxia
of the previous or current medical doctors wholink). Moreover, oxygenation-based observations are
practice the Buteyko therapy (over 200 people)more accurate since they provide a simple measure
claimed that this therapy can cure cancer. However,of cancer development (for worse and for better).
there are certain clinical observations and knownWe see that all available evidence, clinical observation
scientific facts that I am going to briefly review here.and scientific research show that cancer
All available physiological evidence, starting from thedevelopment is based on tissue hypoxia, not on
Nobel Prize discovery of Dr. Otto Warburg, who in hispresence or absence of herbs, functional foods,
speech "The Prime Cause and Prevention of Cancer"vitamins, or other substances in diet. (Only when we
(1966) said, "In every case, during the cancerare truly deficient in any essential nutrient, correct
development, the oxygen respiration always falls,supplementation improves the health state and
fermentation appears, and the highly differentiatedincrease body oxygenation. This effect can be easily
cells are transformed into fermenting anaerobes,measured.)
which have lost all their body functions and retainThe modern approach to cancer among many people
only the now useless property of growth andin alternative health area is almost the same as the
replication" until all available modern research, indicatesapproach of most doctors in relation to disease and
that low body oxygenation in the body is still thedrugs. Instead of the medication or pill, it is suggested
prime cause of cancer.to use various supplements, herbs, colloidal silver,
The central test of the Buteyko oxygenationenzymes, etc. to fight cancer. For this mental
therapy and the main tool of the patient or studentapproach, the person with cancer becomes an
is stress-free breath holding time, which accuratelyinnocent victim of the vicious disease and the
reflects body oxygenation. [Exhale normally, pinch thesupplement (herb, enzyme, vitamin, substance, etc.)
nose, close the mouth, and measure your breathplays the role of the savior. It is the same situation
holding time but only until the first stress oras with medical drugs: innocent patients, treacherous
discomfort. At certain moment of time, thisdiseases, and a doctor-savior on a white horse
discomfort starts to grow and, if one releases thedelivering the magic medical pill.
nose at this moment, the test is correct and theMoreover, reduced brain oxygenation, due to heavy
breathing pattern does not change: it is the samebreathing, makes cancer sufferers very susceptible
after the test as before it.]to this "sweet supplement" myth when they
A typical Buteyko doctor had hundreds, sometimesparticipate in never-ending games searching for the
thousands of patients who learned the oxygenationcure. When the old savior (medical drug or
therapy to variable degree (starting with less than 20supplement) disappears or gets unpopular, the new
s for early morning oxygenation and going up to 30,savior is immediately found or anticipated. Why are
35, 40, 60, 90 etc. seconds). There were nothese fantasies so popular? Because these myths
systematic cancer studies since the Buteyko methodcreate an illusion of innocence and "re-assure" current,
is focused mostly on about 15-20 other commonphysiologically abnormal lifestyle of the sick person.
diseases (like asthma, heart disease, bronchitis,This has nothing to do with physiology of the human
epilepsy, sinusitis, insomnia, etc.) However, it is knownbody, cancer pathology, and health, because the
that presence of any chronic condition is a risk factorperson can eat tones of herbs and vitamins, drink
for cancer. Hence, hundreds of Russian Buteykocanisters of colloidal silver, and do thousands other
patients with cancer experienced correspondingpromoted things, but if the oxygenation remains
developments (see below), while none of Russianbelow 20 s (e.g., due to mouth breathing, or sleeping
Buteyko doctors could make cancer cure claimson one's back, or due to lack of physical activity, or
based on a few or even several cases in the owndue to inflammation and cortisol deficiency, etc.), no
practice. When all these cases are gathered togethercancer improvement will take place. Hence,
and their conclusions are the same, then we canprevention of mouth breathing 24/7, prevention of
speak about the following clinical findings.sleeping on one's back, correct posture 24/7, physical
These doctors consistently observed that whenactivity with strictly nasal breathing, eating only when
index of body oxygenation gets up to 35-40 s,truly hungry, and many other lifestyle factors and
tumors start to disappear.hidden physiological obstacles (cavities, intestinal
It is not a surprise then that Doctor Buteyko, basedparasites, fungal infections, etc.) are more important
on these persistent observations in relation to cancersince these, real factors address the foundation of
and other diseases of civilization, stated that 60 s ofcancer: low body oxygenation.
oxygen in the body should be the norm of ideal"Oxygen content in the organism can be found using
health, since about 150 chronic diseases, cancera simple method: after exhalation, observe, how long
included, are incompatible with this physiological state.the person can pause their breath without stress"
[You cannot have 60 s of oxygen in the body 24/7Soviet Physiologist, PhD (Physiology), MD Konstantin
and tumors at the same time.]Buteyko.
When oxygenation is below 20 s, even for 30 min,"Therefore, I emphasize, the fact established long
inflamed tissues and tumors are likely to grow.ago, or the law: the less the depth of breathing, the
When the breath hold is less than 10 s, the immunemore oxygen is delivered in the organism, and vice
system offers little resistance even in the blood.versa, the deeper the breath, the less oxygen is
Sepsis and metastasis are possible.delivered in the organism." Dr. Buteyko speaking
These observations are rather simple and they are inabout breathing patterns.