Konstantin Buteyko

Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko
Born	January 27, 1923, Kyiv, Kyivshchyna, Ukraine
Died	May 2, 2003 (aged 80), Moscow, Russia
Nationality	Ukrainian
Education	M.D. from First Moscow Medical Institute in 1952
Occupation	Physician and medical researcher
Known for	Buteyko method
Notable works	The Method of Volitional Elimination of Deep Breathing (1960)
Website	https://buteykoclinic.com/

Early life

Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko was born on January 27, 1923, in Ukraine, which at the time was part of the Soviet Union. He grew up during a period of political upheaval and rapid industrialization. In his early years, Buteyko showed an aptitude for technical and scientific subjects and initially pursued studies related to engineering. His education was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the Soviet armed forces. The war experience, including exposure to injury and medical care, later influenced his decision to study medicine.

Education and career

After the war, Buteyko enrolled at the First Moscow Medical Institute (now I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University), one of the most prestigious medical institutions in the Soviet Union. He graduated in 1952 with a degree in medicine. Following graduation, he undertook postgraduate training in internal medicine and worked under prominent Soviet clinicians.

Buteyko pursued a career as a physician and medical researcher, primarily within state medical and scientific institutions. He later obtained the degree of Candidate of Medical Sciences, a postgraduate research degree roughly equivalent to a PhD. His clinical work focused on patients with chronic respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, particularly asthma. Over time, he became increasingly interested in the physiological role of breathing patterns and blood gas regulation.

Notable/unique

Buteyko is best known for developing what later became known as the Buteyko Breathing Method. In the early 1950s, he proposed a theory that many chronic diseases were linked to chronic hyperventilation, leading to abnormally low levels of carbon dioxide in the body. Contrary to prevailing medical views, Buteyko argued that carbon dioxide played a vital physiological role in oxygen delivery and smooth muscle regulation.

Based on this hypothesis, he developed a system of breathing retraining that emphasized reduced breathing volume, nasal breathing, breath control, and relaxation. The method was initially applied in clinical settings, particularly for asthma patients, and later expanded to other conditions. His ideas attracted both support and criticism within Soviet medical circles, as they challenged established respiratory physiology models and treatment approaches.

Although the Buteyko method was known within the USSR during his lifetime, its international recognition increased primarily in the late 20th century, particularly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Practitioners in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom adapted and promoted the method, leading to wider public awareness. Buteyko himself remained closely associated with clinical research and teaching until his later years.

Death

Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko died on May 2, 2003, in Moscow, Russia.

Published works

"The Method of Volitional Elimination of Deep Breathing" (1960)

References

More on Soviet medicine