Fasting

naturopathy fasting, vrat, upwasa chikitsa

1. Introduction
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. In Sanskrit ‘
Vrath’ means ‘determination’ and ‘Upavasa’ means ‘ near to God’.
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 Ehret, the originator of the mucus less 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. The common cause of all diseases is the
accumulation of waste and poisonous matter in the body which results from overeating

Definition
• Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of
time
• Medical context-the metabolic status of a person who has not eaten overnight
• The metabolic state achieved after complete digestion and absorption of a meal.

Importance of fasting
1. Fasting is voluntary abstinence from taking any kind of food for definite time, in order to give
rest to digestive system.
2. In naturopathy, the toxins and morbid matter accumulated in the body is the cause of disease.
3. During fasting body eliminates the toxins and morbid matter with a greater speed.
4. It improves the vital power or vital economy because the energy engaged in eliminating the toxins
and morbid matter is saved.
5. It is the cheapest mode of treatment in nature cure.
6. Fasting can help reverse the ageing process, and if we use it correctly, we will live longer, happier
lives. Just three days a month will do it.
7. Your body will have a chance to heal and rebuild its immune system by regular fasting

2. 8. You can fight of illness and the degenerative diseases so common in this chemically polluted
environment we live in.

Types of fasting
1. According to duration -
a. Short duration: 2-5 days
b. Intermittent-1-2 days
c. Long duration-more than 10 days

2. Depending on the purpose of fasting
a Political
b. Religious
c. Therapeutic

3. Depending on the method of fasting
a. Dry fasting-without drinking water
b. Water fasting-only with water
c. Juice fasting-nursing only juice
d. Fruit fasting-with eating fruits
e. Mono Diet fasting-by using single type of food

4. Depending on condition
a. In healthy person
b. In acute illness - fast till the disease subside and person has sense of lightness
c. In chronic illness- short fast (3-5days) is indicated with proper interval. Positive food is given
during the period of breaking fast.

3. Method of fasting
The duration of the fast depends upon the age of the patient, the nature of the disease and amount and
type of drugs previously used. It is some times 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. No harm will
accrue to fasting patient provided they take rest and are under proper professional care.
Water, juices or raw vegetable juices are used during fast. The best, safest and most effective method is
lime juice fasting/ juice fasting. Although the old classic form of fasting was pure water fast, most of the
leading authorities on fasting today agree that juice fasting is far superior to water fast. According to Dr.
Rangar Berg, the world famous authority on nutrition, "During fasting the body burn 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 juice 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 normalizing 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 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 n the body.
Enermas should be administered at least every alternate day during the fasting period.
Fasting is considered after the meal has been digested. If Feeling of hunger is there, one should drink
water during the breakfast.
The success of the fast depends largely on how it is broken. The main rules for break in 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.
After completion of fast, small quantity of light food, fruits, juice, coconut, water, vegetable soup, dilute
butter milk etc, should be taken in breaking the fast. When digestion power increases normal food can
be taken.

Beginning of a fast
a. The patient should get as much fresh air as possible and should drink plain lukewarm water when
thirsty

4. b. Fresh juices may be diluted with pure water.
c. A person is assumed to be fasting after 8-12 hours after intake of food
d. Post-absorptive state - Metabolic shifts of fasting begin as absorption of a meal is complete (typically
3-5 hours after a meal).
e. Diagnostic fast refers to prolonged fasting (from 8-72 hours depending on age) conducted under
medical observation

Signs of elimination of toxins during fasting
a. Formation of gas, due to disintegration of old putrefied matter.
b. Cotton mouth and expulsion of morbid matter in mouth.
c. Bed breath, due to expulsion of morbid matter through respiratory tract.
d. Coated tongue, due to deposition of eliminated toxins.
e. Elevated body temperature.

Changes during a fast
Many of the fasting changes we experience are related to the body's cycles incurred during the fast.
1. Elimination cycle-
Headaches, Dizziness, Inability to focus, Fatigue, Depression & or anger, White strands of mucus
found in stool, Runny nose, Watery eyes or pink eyes, Loss of Sexual desire
2. Reparation cycle-
From day 3 to 14 depending on diet, there is a feeling of a certain burst" of energy, High
stimulation, The body will eliminate, Dead or dying cells, Excessive fat tissue and trans-fatty
acids, Hardened mucus from the lungs and sinuses, Toxins in the bloodstream, spleen, liver,
kidney, cells and tissues, Excess cholesterol
3. Replenishing cycle-
It is important that we replace vital minerals in the body during this period. Replenishment
occurs around day 15 until you "break" the fast. These minerals will gear the body into an
adjustment mode that helps to strengthen cell walls, restore the immune system, and prevent
the body from diseases

5. Benefits of fasting
1. To dissolve & eliminate toxins, congestion that have formed in any part of the body
2. To cleanse the kidneys & the digestive system
3. To purify the glands & cells throughout entire body
4. To eliminate all unusable waste & hardened material in joints & muscles
5. To relieve pressure & irritation in nerves, arteries & blood vessels
6. To build a healthy blood stream
7. To keep youth & elasticity regardless of age
The main indications for the use of medical fasting:

- Hypertension I-II degree;
- Neurocirculatory dystonia in hypertensive and mixed type (limited amount of NTSTS hypertensive type -
there is the possibility of orthostatic collapse);
- Coronary heart disease, angina strain I, II and III functional classes;
- Chronic obstructive bronchitis;
- Bronchial asthma;
- Lung sarcoidosis stage I and II;
- Chronic gastritis with secretory deficiency and hyperacid state, gastroduodenitis;
- cholecystitis and chronic pancreatitis;
- Biliary dyskinesia, irritable colon syndrome;
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and inflammatory dystrophic genesis;
- neuroendocrinal violations of chronic uterus inflammation;
- Adenoma of the prostate;
- Alimentary-constitutional, hypothalamic obesity;
- Resistance to drug therapy;
- Skin allergy (chronic allergic dermatosis, neurodermatitis, psoriasis, eczema);
- Neuroses, depression, continuous sluggish schizophrenia ;
- food and (or) medical allergies.

Contraindications to the use of medical fasting:

Absolute contraindications:
- Marked a deficit of body weight (more than 15% of the proper values);
- Malignant tumor;
- Active tuberculosis of the lungs and other organs;
- multiple bronchiectasis;
- Systemic blood diseases;

6. - Diabetes mellitus type I;
- Thyrotoxicosis ;
- Violations of the heart rate and (or) the conductivity of any genesis;
- state after moved large-focal myocardial infarction;
- impaired cardial function II B - III degree;
- Chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver;
- Chronic renal and kidney failure of any genesis;
- Trombophlebitis

Relative contraindications:

- Coronary heart disease with rhythm disorders and impaired cardial function above A phase II;
- Expressed hypotension;
- gall-stone disease;
- Urolithiasis;
- ulcer of stomach and duodenum;
- Chronic venous insufficiency;
- Diabetes mellitus type II;
- Gout;
- condition of fever ;
- Pregnancy and lactation period;
- Children's and old age of patients.
Scientific findings
Prominent among the physiological effects conferred by fasting (Calorie Restriction and
Intermittent Fasting) are the following: increased insulin sensitivity that results in reduced
plasma glucose and insulin concentrations and improved glucose tolerance, reduced levels of
oxidative stress as indicated by decreased oxidative damage to proteins, lipids and DNA,
increased resistance to various types of stress including heat, oxidative and metabolic stresses
and enhanced immune function.
Both gross and cellular physiology is profoundly affected by caloric restriction (CR) or
intermittent fasting (IF) regimes. With respect to gross physiology there is of course a
significant reduction of body fat and mass, which supports a healthy cardiovascular system and
reduces incidents of myocardial infarction. In addition to cardioprotection a greater tolerance
to stress is induced in the liver, the nutrient core of homo sapiens. The presence of alternative
energy stores such as ketone bodies (e.g. β-hydroxybutyrate) enable homo sapiens to survive
additional stresses of life. Excessive and deleterious blood glucose is curtailed by an enhanced
sensitivity to insulin (Ins) and glucose and its utilization as an energy source.