In the late 1940's Russian medical student Konstantin Buteyko made an observation that has changed the treatment and lifestyle of thousands of asthmatics. Buteyko noticed that the condition of patients in the acute respiratory ward, deteriorated when their breathing rate increased. He also noticed that those who reduced or normalised their breathing rate began to recover. For the next 30 years Dr Buteyko researched hyperventilation and the effect it has on the human body.

Buteyko's research describes why people hyperventilate, why it continues to self-perpetuate and how to reverse the cycle. The technique has been accepted as mainstream treatment for asthma and it has been taught to over one million people in the Soviet Union.

An Australian businessman, who was hospitalised during a trip to Russia, was treated with the Buteyko technique. His condition improved dramatically and he subsequently arranged for one of the Russian Practitioners to go to Australia to teach the technique there. The Buteyko method is now widely used in Australia and New Zealand and is becoming known in America, Great Britain and other parts of Europe.