Dr. Artour Rakhimov's Contributions to Breathing Retraining

Dr. Artour Rakhimov has made numerous independent and original contributions that have clarified, developed and systematized the Buteyko method and breathing retraining process in relation to specific details. (Note that some of these ideas could previously be suggested and/or used by others.)

Theory

* Suggested that acute hyperventilation is a fundamental human reflex/instinct that developed during the time when prototypes of human lungs were evolving and forming (about 2.5 billion years ago) so that any stressful situation, digestion, search for food, mating, playing, or other activity required more oxygen, which could be obtained only by breathing more since primitive air had less than 1% O2 and over 7% CO2

* Suggested the importance of nasal breathing due to its auto-immunization effects (trapping of pathogens with the mucus layer in sinuses, their drainage into the stomach, killing or weakening of these pathogens in the stomach, penetration of these weakened or dead pathogens and their remnants into the blood stream due to the intestinal permeability effect, and auto-immunization or teaching the immune system to produce specific anti-bodies) vs. mouth breathing, which favors penetration of pathogens in the lungs and blood and the spread of infections

* Suggested that development and existence of many chronic diseases is a dynamic process: the main damage is usually done during morning hyperventilation only and it is counteracted by restorative or normalizing processes during the remaining part of the day, therefore making discovery of pathological processes by scientists, researchers and doctors difficult

* Systematized physiological changes that take place at 10, 20 and 40 s CPs

* Suggested the link between cancer stages and the CP

* Suggested an approximate link that relates the duration of sleep to the CP

* Explained the paradox of why voluntary hyperventilation does not improve the BHT for the sick (less than 20 s CP), especially for the severely sick (less than 10 s CP)

* Suggested that for many people the Krebb or citric acid cycle is reversed when the CP drops below 20 s and blood lactic acid concentration increases above normal values. This causes cellular acidity, formation of free radicals, and production of cellular damage in the human organism

* Suggested that less than 40 s CP means a state of chaos for the human organism (It is known from the “chaos” theory that the regular/periodic behavior of the system becomes chaotic after the second bifurcation point. Since 10, 20, 40, and 80 s CPs are the main thresholds where certain significant physiological changes take place, and these numbers are part of the geometrical progression with a ratio of 2, the second bifurcation point, 40 s CP, is the point after which the chaos starts. Hence, the human body is in a state of chaos when the CP is below 40 s. However, it is beyond the scope of this book to dwell on further details.)

* Suggested that physiologically the diaphragm is a Nature’s 24/7 "lymphatic pump" for the vital organs located under it.

Practice

Breathing retraining program:

* Suggested that for each student at each moment in time, there are 1 or 2 lifestyle factors or parameters which are the main obstacles: if they are addressed, the student will experience quick improvement in parameters; if they are ignored and other factors are addressed, no improvements are to be expected (This leads to the idea of a priority of actions in breathing retraining.)

* Systematized the requirements for breaking 40 s CP threshold

* Described 3 independent signs that appear after breaking through the 40 s CP threshold: over 40 s morning CP; proper GI signs (no soiling, no odor, no coating on the tongue, etc.); and 4-4.5 hours of sleep naturally

* Suggested giving free choices and experimentation to students vs. forceful or pushy “encouragement” in relation to lifestyle changes

* Summarized situations when the CP test does not reflect the health state of the person (carotid body resection, curarization, near-fatal states, sleep apnea, and loss of CO2 sensitivity)

* Described disadvantages of short or crash courses (no feedback, less trust and limited final results)

Breathing exercises:

* Developed and tested the DIY breathing device and breathing exercises with the use of this device

* Outlined 6 preliminary requirements for breathing exercises

* Suggested a criterion (20 s CP) for the existence of an automatic pause during reduced breathing: if one has less than 20 s CP, there are no pauses during the reduced breathing and respiratory frequency during the reduced breathing is higher than at rest; if the CP is more than 20 s, then there is a period of no breathing during reduced breathing (inhalation - exhalation - pause) and breathing frequency during the reduced breathing becomes lower than during spontaneous breathing

* Developed practical CP-related recommendations in relation to posture for breathing exercises

* Suggested to use belts for the reduced breathing sessions in order to prevent chest breathing and to make learning easier

* Specified criteria in order to choose optimum breathing exercises for heart/hypertension patients

Physical exercise:

* Suggested the previous day exercise and next morning CP link

* Developed the minimum-amount-of-exercise table (which amount of physical exercise is required to achieve a certain morning CP level)

Sleep – morning CP:

* Systematized factors that are to be addressed for higher morning CP

* Suggested fish oil deficiency – next morning CP link

* Specified conditions for sleeping in sitting position (over 75 degrees angle)

* Established a criterion for when mouth taping is not necessary (20 s CP) so that the students view it as a temporary measure

* Established a criterion when prevention of sleeping on one’s back is not necessary (20 s CP) so that the students view it as a temporary measure

* Suggested that chronic large morning CP drop can cause the inflammatory resonance effect that can lead to spread of inflammation on larger areas, in comparison with steadily low CPs

Diet and supplements:

* Suggested the zone displacement effect due to functional foods and supplements

* Suggested and developed a 3–day test for checking main nutritional deficiencies (fish oil, Ca, Mg, and Zn)

Thermoregulation:

* Developed general practical recommendations and RB conditions in relation to thermoregulation (20 s CP)

* Developed clear requirements for taking cold showers safely

Posture:

* Established a zone where 24/7 correct posture maintenance is crucial for further CP growth (20-28 s CP)

Specific health conditions:

* Suggested criteria for eating simple sugars (when to resume) for students with GI Candida overgrowth

* Outlined factors that contribute to loss of CO2 sensitivity and suggested a program for its restoration

* Suggested conditions for possible appearance of new allergies (20 s CP)

* Suggested conditions for symptoms related to sinusitis, rhinitis, or blocked nose (20 s CP)

* Suggested dust mask for students with irregular night breathing (to normalize sleep pattern and prevent Cheyne-Stokes breathing or apneic episodes)