Close Your Mouth: Buteyko Breathing Clinic Self Help Manual

by Patrick McKeown

Close Your Mouth is a self-help book containing complete instructions to apply the Buteyko Method for asthma, coughing, wheezing, breathing problems and nasal congestion.

The Buteyko Method can be learned by children and adults alike. It is supported by twenty clinical trials. Trial results within twelve weeks
✔ 70% less coughing and wheezing
✔ 90% less need for reliever (rescue) medication and
✔ 50% less need for preventer medication 

The author, Patrick McKeown, is one of a few persons directly accredited by the late Professor Buteyko to teach his method to others. In 2002, Patrick founded the renowned Buteyko Clinic International to enable children and adults worldwide to improve their asthma control and significantly reduce their need for asthma medication. The Buteyko Method empowers children and adults by re-educating their breathing in order to manage and significantly reduce their asthma for the rest of their lives. Close Your Mouth is the Buteyko Clinic Instruction manual given to each attendee of Patrick's clinics. It is written in a simple style that can easily be understood and applied daily. Since its publication Close Your Mouth is in the top 10 best-selling self help books for asthma on Amazon.

'It absolutely is unbelievable. I have been on my drugs for fifteen years and to think that something as simple as this and as cheap as this and effective could be widely available. Everybody should be doing it. Give it a go, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.'
Jean McConnell - school teacher with asthma.
The Buteyko Method has been described as one of the most important medical discoveries of the 20th century. You will find the information in this book compelling and life changing.

For further information about the work that we do, online resources, and links to clinical trials, please visit buteykoclinic.com

Genres: Health, Self Help, Nonfiction, Medical, Audiobook, Science

140 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2004

About the author

International best-selling author of The Oxygen Advantage and creator and master instructor of the Oxygen Advantage® technique, Patrick McKeown is widely regarded as one of the world's leading breathing re-education experts.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really fascinating and amazing. Everyone with a nose needs to read this book. Why does no one tell us we're doing it all wrong? And why wasn't this in my respiratory physiology texts? And no, it's not about taking deep breaths. It's about REDUCING our pathological over-breathing. The cool thing that sets it apart from other alternative therapies, is that there are measurements (timing breaths) that you can take to determine your level of dysfunction and track your progress. So you don't tend to keep doing it for months while wondering if you're really getting better or if it's just wishful thinking. So I've started the most delicate exercises b/c my Control Pause is 8 seconds (terrible). Already, I'm able to breathe through my nose most of the time. It was in a near-constant state of blockage for the past few years at least, not to mention the unbearable burning that came along with nasal breathing. I even woke up this morning with my mouth closed, which is a huge step to healing the asthma/reactivity if this truly winds up working for me. I'll upgrade it to 5 stars if I actually get use of my lungs back. And I'll owe this (deceased) Buteyko guy big-time, b/c at this point I can't jog even a few steps, walk briskly, squat, lift anything over 10 lbs, or climb more than one flight of stairs slowly, without major shortness of breath. And still, my asthma is much less debilitating than many of the people who have reportedly healed with this method. I'm really not clear on a lot of the simplified physiology in the book, and would like to learn more, but for now we shall see how it goes. I'm pretty excited, as long as I can get past this stage where symptoms get worse for a period, reportedly due to a "cleansing reaction."

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

- we're all hyperventilating / overbreathing
- create air shortages on breath out to rebalance CO2
- activate the diaphragm to draw air in deeper
- take shorter (shallower) breaths to minimize O2 volume
- breathe slower (5.5 in , 5.5 out) AND less (hold on exhale)

[Josh Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a crash course in the Buteyko Method. The exercises are clearly defined and I've used them and noticed improved breathing and energy level. I think the approach is fascinating and the science behind it is sound. It is good as a supplement to The oxygen Advantage also by the same author.

[Yates Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Buteyko technique is extremely interesting and has been effective for me to improve sleep and energy levels. I had come across this technique before but did not understand some key features and so missed the point.

I recommend reading this book but a few leasons from a trainer would be much more useful.

Please watch out on these points:
- emphasis is breath control, exercise which loses it is not as good
- key is to hold breath after exhale, empty lungs, stomach, mind (relaxed) and recover with control
- if you can make small breaths on the border of control and air hunger you get change
- it is a very slow process of inprovement needing hours every day (but you feel much better from it)

[Rintin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only just started the exercises and haven't yet made significant change in my dysfunctional breathing, but I highly recommend this book. It is extremely easy to read and understand. The Buteyko method, and rationale for it, appear to be scientifically sound. You can read the whole book, and incorporate the exercises easily into your daily life, within a day. If you give it a try, you could begin to feel better, like... immediately. Most pharmaceuticals can't even offer that kind of rapid efficacy.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book if you're having breathing problems/ chronic hyperventilation. Even when you don't have asthma.
The breathing exercises are explained in detail and I felt a difference after my first set.

[steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. Worth a read if you want to breath well and improve your CO2 tolerance - makes me want to give freediving another go.

[Ralph N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fascinating book for any asthma, mouth breather, or sleep apnea sufferers. Useful applicable advice that you can apply right away.

[Yor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tratase de un libro sobre los fundamentos de la respiración y la importacia de ejercicios respiratorios correctos por medio de la área nasal, así como podría ser un apoyo para aquellas personas que sufren de Asma, o otras dolencias respiratorias.

Frases que quisiera recordar:

"In other words, the oxygenation of your brain significantly decreases when you breathe heavily. It is no coincidence that symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and poor concentration, etc. are common among asthmatics as chronic over-breathing is contributing to them all."

[Roberto Bovina · Rating 4 out of 5]

breve manualetto di 50 pagine, in cui viene spiegato il motivo per cui molte persone soffrono di asma, che viene trattata con medicinali che in certi casi possono addirittura essere letali. Il metodo Butyeko a parte, e la sua validità nel ridurre l'iperventilazione, ho trovato molto informativo questo libro, dopo aver letto "The oxygen advantage" dello stesso autore. In entrambi infatti sono contenuti dati riguardo la corretta respirazione, attraverso il naso e non con la bocca, con la spiegazione scientifica alla portata di qualunque lettore.

[Lauren Quebedeaux · Rating 1 out of 5]

Questionable science, poorly written with some poorly edited spacing and egregious citations, this self help book equates breathing through the nose as a MORAL good. "Close Your Mouth" makes a number of pseudoscientific claims that if there is any credible evidence backing up these exercises, it's so polluted with woo, I can't recommend this book for anyone. 🚩🚩🚩

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, succinct book on the Buteyko method. Has some small variation of exercises to do that are different from the previous book I read. If you want more history of Dr. Buteyko and the method I would choose a different book, but this one's good for the basic how-to info.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who used to do breathing exercises because of nasal problems, this book was a welcome reminder of the process with different exercises depending on the specific need. I will keep this so that I can restart what I lapsed from.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the message, but think the application is a little too extreme.

[Aditya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book in my childhood

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best guide to the Buteyko method, to overcome Asthma. I read it some years ago and I recommend it as the easiest straight forward book.

[Sina Beni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this book

[Marius Heje Mæhle · Rating 4 out of 5]

En enkel og god innføring i Buteyko puste-teknikk, spesielt egnet for å redusere astma og allergiproblemer.

Bakgrunn: Vi puster generelt for mye
Hvorfor vi over-puster: diett (overspising), snakker for fort, stress, for lite trening, puster tungt, astma, høye temperaturer

Tips:
- Svømming er bra for pustetrening pga det skaper ett behov for pusting
- Pust mindre - og pust rolig og stille
- Pust med nesen

Trening: Gjør Control Pause (CP) øvelser (se screenshots)
- Lag ett behov for luft når man gjør øvelsene
- Varm godt opp
- Ro ned pusten før øvelsene
- Mål din CP før og etter trening
Søvn:
- Pust med nesen og gjør øvelse 15 min før søvn
- Ikke spis 2 t før leggetid
- Hold soverommet kaldt
- Sov på venstre siden
- Sov med lukket munn (sov med teip)
Diett
- Ta magnesium (citrate) supplement
- Vanlig å være intolerant mot: sjokolade, melk, egg, ost, krem, hvete, syrlig mat og rødvin
- Drikk mye vann
- Unngå over-prosessert mat

Redusere CP
1. Lukk munnen - stopp sighing - pust rolig, gjesp med lukket munn
2. Praktiser redusert pusting
Tren med riktig pusteteknikk

[Abdullah Mothana Obadi Ali Al Yemen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think is really good little book full of information, it help me a lot with my problems. I will keep this book with me all the time and keep referring back to it. I keep in my bag, I will reading more book on this work and looking forward for work from Patrick Mckeown I hope I get the change to go meet him at one of these conferences.

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Krótka i treściwa. Trudno mi ocenić wartość merytoryczną. Na pewno nie jest to cudowny lek na astmę, a jedynie technika wspomagająca, więc tytuł książki jest w mojej ocenie manipulacją. Mimo wszystko jednak co szkodzi spróbować? A nóż poprawi komfort życia. Moja ocena to 3/5.

[~☆~Autumn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kristin Stewart should read this one soon.

However, this point is pointless unless you have sinus surgery.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Information was good but very redundant.

[Elaine]

Informative.

[Karlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but tedious