Fasting refers to complete abstinence from food for a varying length of time. The
word is derived from the old English, ‘feastan’ which means to fast, observe, be
strict.
Fasting is nature’s oldest, most effective and yet least expensive method of treating
disease. It is recognized as the cornerstone of natural healing. Dr. Arnold eheret,
the originator of the mucusless diet healing system, describes it as “nature’s only
universal and omnipotent remedy of healing” and “nature’s only fundamental law of
all healing and curing”.
The practice of fasting is one of the most ancient customs. It is followed in almost
every religion. The Mohammedans, the Buddhists, the Hindus and many other have their
periods of strict fasting. The saints of medieval times laid great stress on this
method.
Fasting in disease was advocated by the school of natural philosopher, Asclepiades,
more than two thousand years ago. Throughout medical history, it has been regarded
as one of the most dependable curative methods. Hippocrates, Galen, Paracelsus and
many other great authorities on medicine prescribed it. Many noted modern physicians
have successfully employed this system of healing in the treatment of numerous diseases.
The common cause of all diseases is the accumulation of waste and poisonous matter
in the body which results from overeating. The majority of persons eat too much
and follow sedentary occupations which do not permit sufficient and proper exercise
for utilization of this large quantity of food. This surplus overburdens the digestive
and assimilative organs and clogs up the system with impurities or poisons. Digestion
and elimination become slow and the functional activity of the whole system gets
deranged.
The onset of disease is merely the process of ridding the system of these impurities.
Every disease can be healed by only one remedy – by doing just the opposite of what
causes it, that is, by reducing the food intake or fasting.
By depriving the body of food for a time, the organs of elimination such as the
bowels, kidneys, skin and lungs are given opportunity to expel, unhampered, the
overload of accumulated waste from the system. Thus, fasting is merely the process
of purification and an effective and quick method of cure. It assist nature in her
continuous effort to expel foreign matter and disease producing waste from the body,
thereby correcting the faults of improper diet and wrong living. It also leads to
regeneration of the blood as well as the repair and regeneration of the various
tissues of the body.
Duration
The duration of the fast depends upon the age of the patient, the nature of the
disease and the amount and type of drugs previously used. The duration is important,
because long periods of the fasting can be dangerous if undertaken without competent
professional guidance. It is, therefore, advisable to undertake a series of short
fasts of two or three days and gradually increase the duration of each succeeding
fast by a day or so. The period, however, should not exceed a week of total fasting
at a time. This will enable the chronically sick body to gradually and slowly eliminate
toxic waste matter without seriously affecting the natural functioning of the body.
A correct mode of living and a balanced diet after the fast will restore vigour
and vitality to the individual.
Fasting is highly beneficial in practically all kinds of stomach and intestinal
disorders and in serious conditions of the kidneys and liver. It is a miracle cure
for eczema and other skin diseases and offer the only hope of permanent cure in
many cases. The various nervous disorders also respond favourably to this mode of
treatment.
Fasting should, however, not be resorted to in cases of diabetes, advanced stages
of tuberculosis and extreme cases of neurasthenia, long fasts will be harmful. In
most cases, however, no harm will accrue to fasting patients, provided they take
rest, and are under proper professional care.
Methods
The best, safest and most effective method of fasting is juice fasting. Although
the old classic form of fasting was a pure water fast, most of the leading authorities
on fasting today agree that juice fasting is far superior to a water fast. According
to Dr. Rangar Berg, the world-famous authority on nutrition, “During fasting the
body burns up and excretes huge amounts of accumulated wastes. We can help this
cleansing process by drinking alkaline juice instead of water while fasting…Elimination
of uric acid and other inorganic acids will be accelerated. And sugars in juices
will strengthen the heart…Juice fasting is, therefore, the best form of fasting”.
Vitamins, minerals, enzymes and trace elements in fresh, raw vegetable and fruit
juices are extremely beneficial in normalising all the body processes. They supply
essential elements for the body’s own healing activity and cell regeneration and
thus speeding the recovery. All juices should be prepared from fresh fruit immediately
before drinking. Canned or frozen juices should not be used.
A precautionary measure which must be observed in all cases of fasting is the complete
emptying of the bowels at the beginning of the fast by enema so that the patient
is not bothered by gas or decomposing matter formed from the excrements remaining
in the body. Enemas should be administered at least every alternate day during the
fasting period. The patient should get as much fresh air as possible and should
drink plain lukewarm water. The total liquid intake should be approximately six
to eight glasses.
A lot of energy is spent during the fast in the process of eliminating accumulated
poisons and toxic waste materials. It is, therefore, of utmost importance that the
patient gets as much physical rest and mental relaxation as possible during the
fast. In cases of fasts in which fruit juices are taken, especially when fresh grapes,
oranges or grapefruit are used exclusively, the toxic wastes enter the blood-stream
rapidly, resulting in an overload of toxic matter, which affects normal bodily functions.
This often results in dizzy spells, followed by diarrhoea and vomiting. If this
physical reaction persists, it is advisable to discontinue the fast and take cooked
vegetables containing adequate roughage such as spinach and beets until the body
functioning returns to normal.
The overweight person find it much easier to go without food. Loss of weight causes
no fear and the patient’s attitude makes fasting almost a pleasure. The first day’s
hunger pangs are perhaps the most difficult to bear. The craving for food will,
however, gradually decrease as the fast progresses. Seriously sick persons have
no desire for food and fasting comes naturally to them. The simplest rule is to
stop eating until the appetite returns or until one feels completely well.
Only very simple exercises like short walks may be undertaken during the fast. A
warm water or neutral bath may be taken during the period. Cold baths are not advisable.
Sun and air baths should be taken daily. Fasting sometimes produces a state of sleeplessness
which can be overcome by a warm tub bath, hot water bottles at the feet and by drinking
one or two glasses of hot water.
Benefits
There are several benefits of fasting. During a long fast, the body feeds upon its
reserves. Being deprived of needed nutrients, particularly of protein and fats,
it will burn and digest its own tissues by the process of autolysis (breaking down
of fat stores in the body in order to produce energy). But it will not do so indiscriminately.
The body will first decompose and burn those cells and tissues which are diseased,
damaged, aged or dead. The essential tissues and vital organs, the glands, the nervous
system and the brain are not damaged or digested in fasting. Here lies the secret
of the effectiveness of fasting as a curative and rejuvenative method. During fasting,
the building of new and healthy cells are speeded up by the amino acids released
from the diseased cells. The capacity of the eliminative organs, that is, lungs,
liver, kidneys and the skin is greatly increased as they are relieved of the usual
burden of digesting food and eliminating the resultant wastes. They are, therefore,
able to quickly expel old accumulated wastes and toxins.
Fasting affords a physiological rest to the digestive, assimilative and protective
organs. As a result, the digestion of food and the utilization of nutrients is greatly
improved after fasting. The fast also exerts a normalizing, stabilizing and rejuvenating
effect on all the vital physiological, nervous and mental functions.
Breaking of Fast
The success of the fast depends largely on how it is broken. This is the most significant
phase. The main rules for breaking the fast are : do not overeat, eat slowly and
chew your food thoroughly; and take several days for the gradual change to the normal
diet. If the transition to eating solid foods is carefully planned, there will be
no discomfort or damage. The patient should also continue to take rest during the
transition period. The right food after a fast is as important and decisive for
proper results as the fast itself.