To compare the effects of breathing exercises (BE) or Yoga (Y) on the course of bronchial asthma we studied 36 subjects with a mild disease. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups. 2 of them participated in a 3 weeks training program of BE or Y while the third group rested without any additional treatment (control group, C). At the end of the training period the patients were asked to practise BE or Y on their own. Drug therapy and lung function parameters before and after a beta 2-agonist metered dose inhaler (albuterol, ALB) were recorded prior to the training program and in 4 weeks intervals for 4 months thereafter. The response to the beta 2-agonist was documented continuously in 28 patients. The mental state of the patients was elucidated by questionnaires. Prior to the study a significant effect of inhaled ALB on the FEV1 was shown without any significant between group differences. Both, BE and Y, caused a significant amelioration of the mental state but only the BE induced a significant improvement of lung function parameters compared to the individual baseline values. The FEV1 increased significantly by 356.3 +/- 146.2 ml (p < 0.05) and the VC by 225.0 +/- 65.5 ml (p < 0.01). These long-term changes were not significantly different from the actual response to ALB. BE decreased the RV significantly by 306.3 +/- 111.6 ml (p < 0.05), an effect significantly higher compared to the beta 2-agonist (p < 0.01). BE in combination with ALB caused an additive effect. In conclusion, BE and Y both ameliorated significantly the mental state of the asthmatics but only BE led to a significant long-term improvement of lung function parameters.

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