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Fasting
refers to complete abstinence from food for a short or
long period for a specific purpose. 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
recognised as the cornerstone of natural healing. Dr.
Arnold Eheret, the originator of the muscusless 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
Mohammedan, the Buddhists, the Hindus and many others
have their periods of strict fasting. The saints of
medieval times laid great stress on this method.
Fasting indisease 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 utilisation of this
large quantity of food. This surplus overburdens the
digestive and assimulative 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 assists 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 fasting can be dangerous if
undertaken without competent professional guidance. It
is, therefore, advisable to undertake a series of short
fasts of two to 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 offers 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 restored to in every
illness. 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 ofthe 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 ... Elimina tion 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 renegeration 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 when
thirsty. Fresh juices may be diluted with pure 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, therfore, of utmost importance that the
patients 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 finds 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 simples 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 benefit 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 or self-digestion. But it will not
do so indistriminately. 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 utilisation of nutrients is
greatly improved after fasting. The fast also exerts a
normalising, stablising and rejuvenating effect on all
the vital physiological, nervous and mental functions.
Breaking
of Fast
The success of the fast depends largely on hos 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.
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