BASICS OF THERAPEUTIC FASTING
Fasting, a practice with a tradition dating back thousands of years, is more than just a temporary change in diet. It is a conscious decision to give the body a break from everyday food intake in order to promote internal cleansing and regeneration processes. Historically, fasting was often practised for spiritual reasons, but has become increasingly important in modern medicine as a means of preventing and treating various illnesses. Therapeutic fasting differs from other forms of fasting in its therapeutic orientation and holistic approach, which not only focuses on physical aspects, but also on mental and emotional regeneration.
In its historical development, fasting has played a central role in various cultures and religions, often associated with spiritual cleansing and meditation. In the modern health landscape, however, therapeutic fasting is increasingly recognised as a therapeutic tool. It is valued for its ability to help the body detoxify, promote self-healing, strengthen the immune system and improve mental focus.
Unlike diets, which are often aimed at weight loss, therapeutic fasting focuses on promoting inner health and well-being. While diets often involve calorie restriction and specific food targets, therapeutic fasting is about giving the body a break from food processing, leading to deep physical and mental renewal. This ‘reset’ can be used as a reboot for healthier eating and lifestyle habits.
In this section, we explore the various facets of therapeutic fasting, its historical roots and its application in today's health landscape to provide a comprehensive understanding of this practice.
DEFINITION AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THERAPEUTIC FASTING
Therapeutic fasting, often referred to as therapeutic or medical fasting, is the voluntary abstinence from solid food and stimulants for a limited period of time, often under medical supervision. Historically, fasting has its roots in many cultures and religions around the world and has often been used for spiritual cleansing and self-reflection. In the 20th century, the German doctor Otto Buchinger introduced therapeutic fasting to modern medicine, using it to treat chronic illnesses and promote general health.
Dr Erich von Weckbecker suffered from severe kidney disease and had been abandoned by clinical medicine. In his search for a cure, he combined Buchinger therapeutic fasting with Kneipp therapy and was thus able to overcome his longstanding kidney disease. Inspired by Otto Buchinger, Franz Xaver Mayr and Are Waerland, he founded a clinic for therapeutic fasting in 1958, which he ran together with his wife Annemarie until his death in 2005.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THERAPEUTIC FASTING AND OTHER FORMS OF FASTING
Compared to other fasting methods such as intermittent fasting or diets for weight loss, therapeutic fasting is characterised by its holistic therapeutic-medical approach. It not only focuses on physical health, but also integrates mental and spiritual elements. While intermittent fasting, for example, is often aimed at optimising metabolism and weight loss, medical therapeutic fasting focuses on promoting the body's self-healing powers, cleansing toxins (known as ‘detoxification’ and ‘purification’) and mental recovery.
