It's Only Natural
Chapter XVII
Fasting-Pros And Cons
Of all the methods used by the natural physician, no method is as powerful nor as controversial as the fast. More disorders of the human economy can be overcome by the fast and its variations than by any other single therapy. Yet the fast is but rarely used by most practitioners because so few are trained in the proper technique and procedures needed to obtain the best results.
Types of Fasts
We use three basic types of fasts at our Centers. The first is the relatively short fast, which is recommended during most acute conditions. This is used during influenza, childhood diseases, colds, and other acute conditions, particularly when the body temperature is elevated. In these acute disorders, we usually recommend a modified fast in which fruit juices diluted one to one with un-fluoridated and un-chlorinated water are prescribed.
The second, and most common, type of true fast is the short complete fast, which is used to overcome a large variety of chronic disorders. This type of fast, which usually lasts five days to two weeks, is often repeated every few months until the results desired in a specific disease are obtained.
Last, at times nothing but the extended fast, lasting three weeks to three months, will serve our needs. This is the most powerful of all the fasts, but it is most difficult to undergo and must be handled with great care, even by the most accomplished physician .
The Rationale Behind Fasting
One of the reasons fasting, particularly in chronic diseases, has never found much favor with orthodox physicians is that it depends on an intelligence in the body that most of them are not prepared to accept. This intelligence, which homeopaths and naturopaths call the vital force and which has been called innate by chiropractors, must be accepted as fact for an adequate understanding of fasting. The true naturalist reasons in this fashion. There is, he says, within the body a force at work, constantly striving to preserve and strengthen our being. This force attempts to control the various mechanisms and chemical reactions of the body in such a way that life is perpetuated and the organism functions in the most efficient manner under the circumstances it finds itself in.
If one believes in a just and loving God, such an assumption is easily accepted, for surely if God is as wise and as benevolent as He must be, He would devise an organism that has the ability to constantly work for its own betterment. The natural healer, therefore, accepts, as a basic premise of his method of treatment, that within the body there is a force sufficiently potent to correct the infirmities and diseases that may affect it. When this inner vital force does not heal, the natural physician reasons that it must be impeded by adverse circumstances and it is the physician's duty to discover the reasons for this failure and to correct them so that the vital force can continue its healing ways.
From long investigation, the naturalist believes there are only a few reasons why the vital force may become so inhibited. First, it can't perform properly if it doesn't have the necessary nutrients with which to carry out its duties. Second, its action will be sluggish if it is heavily encumbered with congesting matter clogging its functioning life lines. Third, it can't fulfill its duties if it is being poisoned by harmful emotional pressures that can produce a nearly constant drain on its already strained abilities. Last, and particularly germane to this subject, it can't do its job in some instances unless it is given a free hand and unobstructed opportunity to proceed to a salubrious conclusion.
To fulfill these four specific needs of the vital force, the natural physician first attempts to discover any deficiencies that may exist within the patient's system. Then, by the selection and administration of proper foods, and if necessary specific nutritional substances, he supplies the body with the needed materials the vital force requires to establish normal functioning and overcome the ailment.
In selecting a diet for his patient, the natural physician carefully restricts the menus to foods that don't congest and that will therefore enable the various body eliminative channels to be as free as possible under the circumstances of the basic disorder. Concurrently, the natural physician also uses whatever therapeutic methods he thinks best to aid the body in its decongesting attempts.
If necessary, he counsels the patient on proper mental attitude to be fostered during the cure, so that the patient's own thought and emotional processes won't impede the vital force in its work.
The three foregoing methods of aiding the vital force are in themselves adequate to cure many chronic ailments. Some, however, are too stubborn to give way to this simple, but basic, schedule and they may require the fourth to be implemented. The fourth, as you remembers is a proper opportunity and environment in which to work.
If some severe chronic conditions are to be cured by the vital force, it must have nearly unimpeded control of the body- that is, it must have the ability to adjust to the various mechanical, chemical and electronic mechanisms of the body with the least possible interference from the outside. With our present degree of understanding, this is best accomplished by the fast.
If we look at the fast in this light, we are in effect saying to the vital force, "Here, vital force, I give you back your body. I shall sustain it only with water, which is neutral and necessary to keep the cells from dehydration. I won't put into the body any drugs that you will have to fight, nor will I give it any food that you may or may not need at this time. I will therefore not force you to use your energies to digest substances that I have chosen but that you may not desire. So here, dear instrument of God, take this body, use all your strength and energies to make it whole. I won't interfere until you, through the various signals that you may give me, indicate that you once again want me to give the body food and other substances that you may require."
I realize that such an approach must seem naive to those unaccustomed to natural methods. However, such a view is based on sound scientific fact. In the body, millions of chemical and electronic changes occur every second. To say that man is able to understand and control all these reactions is impudence in the extreme. The vital force of the body alone is capable of the intricate integrations of actions needed to re-balance the system to overcome many chronic diseases. Man's attempts to control body function in these ailments have nearly always met with long-term disaster.
In the much less complicated world of animal and plant ecology, man has recently discovered that in almost every instance where he has attempted to use his intelligence to control Nature, he has done far more harm than good. Many hardheaded scientists now agree that only when man works in harmony with Nature is the greatest benefit for him and his environment to be realized. Now that we have finally realized such a truth in the external world, it is to be hoped that we realize that this knowledge is even more applicable to the internal world of our own bodies.
The character of most chronic diseases is entirely unknown to even the greatest of physicians, including those in the natural field. The ignorance of physicians about the fundamental cause and nature of chronic ailments is profound. After reading many thousands of medical articles over the years, I find the authors all too often end their detailed description of the disease with an apologetic statement something like this: "The actual cause and fundamental mechanisms of this disease are entirely unknown, however, and it is hoped that future research will better clarify this rather embarrassing situation." Although these exact words may not be used, this spirit of their thought is repeated time after time in medical textbooks. These are not the books given to the lay public. Any physician with an honest heart readily admits the extent of our ignorance about the true cause and cure of chronic diseases.
Our knowledge of acute diseases isn't that sure and unshakable either. We are told that various bacteria and viruses cause disease, yet all we really only know is that these bacteria are present in these diseases. If we inject these bacteria into healthy people, some will become sick and some will not. Is the disease really caused by the bacteria, or are bacteria scavengers that, according to many naturalist physicians, are simply the agents used by the body to cure the real disease? If the system is weak enough, a disease may take hold by the installation of an infective agent and yet in many persons it does not.
Why then does one man get a disease and another not? No physician knows for sure. If we took out of this body the vital healing force and left the full care and healing of our diseases to our physicians, I'm sure the human race would have perished thousands of years ago. Ben Franklin once said, "God cures the disease, but the doctor takes the fee." Although this may not be entirely true, it is not entirely facetious.
The true nature of practically all ailments, acute or chronic, is known only to God and the inherent healing power in man. The only diseases that man can be entirely sure of are the ones that he has created himself by poisoning his food, water, air and the medications he takes. Therefore, if this healing force alone has a full understanding of the disease, isn't it only rational that in the attempt to overcome this disease, we give this all-knowing healing force every opportunity to function and exercise to its fullest ability? This we do by the fast.
Here and here alone do we free this vital force from all outside interference and let it do with the multitude of body functions as it will. During the fast, the wise and dedicated physician sits at the feet of this great internal power and watches its working with awe and admiration. He is a willing servant, ever ready to help this force if it gives the slightest hint of such need. Being a good and dutiful servant, however, the physician knows all too well not to interfere in his Master's affairs until commanded.
The Procedure of the Fast at
Our Healing CentersThe first type of fast, the semi-fast, carried out in acute conditions, is simple. We place the patient with a fever on a diet of half water and half fruit juice mixed. The patient is allowed as much of this solution as he desires and this routine is continued until his temperature returns to normal, at which time the patient is placed on a general eliminative diet of fruits and vegetables, a little lean meat or fish and perhaps some cottage cheese or yogurt, until full strength returns. Then he can return once again to the Basic Maintenance Diet. In children with extended fevers, it is sometimes necessary to add food of an eliminative type once the fever has dropped below 100°. In most cases, though, the fruit-and-water solution is all that is necessary until the temperature returns to normal.
The General Fast
The short fast for chronic conditions is the most common of the general fasts, the extended fast is handled exactly as is the short fast, except that additional laboratory measures must be taken as precautions by the physician.
In conducting the general fast, one must always have in mind the objectives. The purpose of this fast is not to lose weight, to increase spiritual enlightenment or to feel better immediately, for those who fast often feel worse at various periods during it. The purpose of the healing fast is to balance the body chemistry, to cleanse the body from abnormal and deleterious congestions and to cure certain physical infirmities and diseases that may be present in the body. Every thought of the physician during the fast should be directed toward these purposes by helping the vital force in every conceivable way. To this end, he must not forget the four fundamental needs of the vital force. These four needs must be met before and during the fast or his success will be incomplete.
In our Centers we never start patients on a fast without a previous period of preparation. Patients about to fast are first given a thorough general physical and laboratory examination. Where time allows, we also request a hair test, vitamin and mineral analyses, and other specific methods of analysis (see Chapter I).
If we find the patient is a good candidate for the fast and is in need of it, we place him on a high-nutrient diet supplemented with colloidal nutritional elements, in an effort to saturate his body with all the materials that the vital force may need later in its healing and repair. While this nutritional build-up is being accomplished, we attempt to decongest and cleanse the body through a variety of natural methods. Tissue de-sludging massage, herbal colonic therapy, body manipulation and a variety of special hydrotherapy methods all may be used to produce a system as decongested and as circulatorily efficient as we can obtain.
During this time, the patient is also counseled on the basic purposes of the procedure he is about to undergo. The nature and purpose of the fast are explained to the patient as I have explained them here. They are also taught of the temporary adverse feelings and emotions that may come with the proper functioning of this internal vital force. During the fast itself, we provide these patients with reading material to help put their mind in the proper constructive attitude so as to make the greatest possible constructive use of this method.
After the patient has been adequately prepared-which may take anywhere from a week to a month, depending on the condition to be overcome and the original status of the patient-the fast is begun.
Although most authorities agree that the most effective fasts are carried out with only water to drink, there is much debate about the type and amount of water that should be used. Some authorities believe in forcing fluids; others believe in restricting the amount taken to an absolute minimum. Some physicians opt for distilled water, others suggest spring water and still others make no recommendation at all.
In our Centers, we have used each of these methods successfully depending on the specific patient. In general, we invariably follow a course of moderation. Forcing fluids seems useful only during acute conditions and only rarely is such a method necessary or even useful in fasting for chronic ailments. Some physicians believe that the fast is more productive if fluids are restricted to a bare minimum. They believe that in this way the body is able to wring out the various toxic substances from the body. There may be some truth in this, but on the other hand, when fluids are restricted it is difficult for the kidneys and bowels to carry on their proper elimination processes.
In fasts with restricted water intake, it is possible that permanent damage may be done to the kidneys. I therefore restrict this method to highly selected patients and then only for a very short period. To force or restrict fluids is an attempt to control the vital force and this is counter to our basic purpose. I therefore conduct most fasts by allowing the patient to take water as directed by the vital force through the agency of thirst. If the body needs more or less water for a better healing, I let it tell us.
Much more debate centers around the type of water given than the amount. Some physicians believe that unless a fast is conducted with the use of distilled water, no real improvement is to be expected. These proponents seem to forget that the fast has been used as a treatment from the beginning of mankind. It is in fact one of the instinctive healing procedures of all animal life. It worked for early man and animals and as far as I know none of these ever used distilled water.
Although certain types of conditions may benefit from distilled water intake during the fast, I generally recommend that high quality spring water be used. I make this suggestion partially from clinical observation and partially from a philosophic viewpoint. Clinically, I have used distilled, spring, and well water, and results from spring or well water have always equaled, if not excelled, those from distilled water.
Philosophically, I believe that by offering the body an unnatural product-distilled water-we are in a sense again attempting to influence the vital force in a negative manner, by introducing substances into the body that may cause the vital force to make adjustments not to the best benefit of its objectives. By using distilled water, which tends to disturb the mineral balance of the body, we take away from the vital force things it may need, thereby destroying the balance the vital force is attempting to establish and preserve.
Effects That Occur During Fasts
It takes at least three days for body functioning to come to a standstill and accept the fact that the patient is giving the vital forces full control of its own organism. Although a certain amount of cleansing and decongesting takes place in the first three days, no real healing of chronic ailments is ever accomplished this early. During these first three days, the patient usually has some problem with hunger, or rather I should say, with appetite. Having built up a habit pattern of eating two or three times a day, the body doesn't easily adjust to a changed pattern. Once the third day is past, an entirely new phase is entered and hunger usually ceases to be a problem. The body becomes almost self-sufficient and from the fourth day on the patient usually feels as if he could continue the fast forever.
Weight loss during a general fast is evident, but it is much less than one might anticipate, because the body makes every effort to economize its necessary functions and there is very little wasted energy.
During the fast, we usually have our patients rest a great deal. We want to conserve as much body energy as possible for the vital force to use as healing power. If there is much activity, this deducts from the healing ability of the body.
Some authorities recommend total bed rest during the fast. We find this unnecessary and actually detrimental to the patient's economy. Certain body functions, particularly those of the kidneys in calcium metabolism, are upset by a continuous reclining position. The patient is allowed, however, as much rest as he desires during a fast. There may even be periods, for a day or two, when the patient desires complete bed rest. This is allowed, as the vital force may at certain times during the fast withdraw practically all the body energy to the internal environment to overcome a particularly difficult problem.
Patients vary greatly in their feelings and the symptoms displayed during the fast. Some of our patients state happily that they have never felt as well in their lives as during their fast. Others may display a variety of unpleasant symptoms. It isn't unusual for a variety of skin eruptions to develop during the healing fast, because this is one of the best ways the body has of casting off toxic substances. Any disagreeable reaction associated with such eruptions is rapidly controlled by the use of one of the other physical therapeutic methods available at our Centers.
High blood pressure usually drops during a fast, whereas low blood pressure often increases to normal levels. The blood pressures of all patients are watched carefully during fasting. If the level drops too low, the fast is broken.
Urine examinations are made daily, and blood samples are taken whenever the need arises. Most patients tend to show acid bodies in the urine (ketosis) after a few days of fasting. If this is kept within moderate levels by the vital force and if the patient is in good physical and emotional shape, we usually don't become overly concerned. On the other hand, if the ketone levels begin to rise above the allowable range, or if the patient begins to feel overly tired or ill, we add very small amounts of pure cranberry juice to his water. In almost all instances, this slight amount of juice-as little as 1/4 of a cup a day-corrects the ketosis and gives the patient a feeling of well-being. By following this method, it is possible to extend fasts in some patients far beyond what might have otherwise been advisable.
I realize that by adding cranberry juice, even in this very small amount, we break the philosophic rules I laid down for fasting. Experience has shown, however, that the results of the fast seem unaffected by the use of cranberry juice. Without this juice, it would be necessary to stop some fasts far sooner. The benefits of the longer fast far outweigh any slight inhibiting effect the cranberry juice might have.
Most of our general fasts last anywhere from five days to two weeks. If the condition, though chronic, is of fairly recent origin, a single fast of this duration may be sufficient for its eradication. For more deep-seated conditions, however, it may be necessary to use several of these short fasts to accomplish our full purpose. We usually allow a month to two months between fasts and generally each ensuing fast is made longer than the last. With each healing fast, the patient's health improves and he becomes all the more an advocate of this ancient, but unique, method of cure.
The extended fast, that is a fast extending from three weeks to three months, is occasionally used. It requires a very specific type of person-one who is heart and soul sold on fasting-to undergo the rigors of this procedure. We, at our Centers recommend it only rarely. I believe that most who use the extended fast could produce the same results from a series of short fasts. It must be admitted, however, that a few specific conditions seem to respond only to the extended fast. This treatment must be carefully handled, and is one of the most intricate and arduous tasks a patient and physician can undertake.
The Breaking of the Fast
Every physician, who has his patients fast, has his own favorite method of breaking the fast. At our Centers, we are rather conservative and use some of the more ancient techniques.
When the patient has fasted sufficiently, I suggest that he begin the breaking period by taking diluted fruit juices with his water on the first day. On the second day, he may take the juices straight if he so desires and small amounts of solid fruit or vegetables are added. If he responds well to this food, yogurt, cottage cheese and a small amount of raw almonds or sunflower seeds are allowed on the third day. On the fourth day, the patient is allowed fresh fish, vegetables, nuts, and fruits. On the fifth day, he is returned to the Basic Maintenance Diet, unless there is a reason for keeping him on a semi-eliminative regimen.
The breaking of the fast is usually handled adequately by the foregoing regimen. For some of more delicate constitution, it may be necessary to extend this period or to use a variety of specific substances to aid the body in preparing itself for food once again. These special cases must be individually controlled by the physician.
Some Parting Thoughts on Fasting
Short fasts of three to four days can be carried out by almost any patient at home without any complicated repercussions. Such fasts are useful and often exhilarating and they can help overcome certain uncomplicated congestions and minor disorders. They are not adequate to eliminate serious or long term chronic ailments, however.
Fasts longer than three to four days should be done only under the supervision of a physician trained in this therapy. Once one passes into the fourth day of a fast, it is possible for the body to produce a wide variety of eliminative reactions that must be handled by someone knowledgeable in their nature, otherwise adverse effects could result from the patients misunderstanding of these reactions .
Some early authors on fasting thought that the fast should continue until the breath becomes sweet, the tongue clean, and the mind clear. In some chronic disorders, the patient would die before this objective is reached in a single fast. There is no sure guide for knowing exactly when a fast should be broken. This is another reason why any fast more than three or four days should be attempted only under proper supervision.
A question often asked me is: "If a fast is so useful and powerful to eliminate disease, why doesn't every doctor use it?" The answer is disarmingly simple. The fast is little used by most physicians because they are not taught about it, they have had no experience with it in their practice or in hospitals and, of course, since it requires no medication, no drug company is going to sponsor research into its effectiveness.
Few doctors without such outside influence are oriented in this age of medical complexity to fathom the powerful influence of the fasting method. Even if they had the inclination or knowledge to conduct a fast, few physicians have the physical plant available to carry it out satisfactorily. The medical profession has generally restricted healing to two establishments-the crowded office and the hospital. The fasting patient needs daily observation and a quiet serene environment in which this technique can be carried out. This certainly can't be done in a physician's office and few hospitals would accept such cases because they believe their beds can be put to much better use for the severely ill. The medical establishment is not geared emotionally or physically to use fasting in any form.
Years of private practice have taught me that many patients are not properly served by the office and hospital practice of orthodox medicine. Many patients can't be adequately treated in the office or home, but they don't require or benefit from the antiseptic, sterile, extremely costly hospital environment. This is one of the main reasons we have built our Healing Sanctuary. We have here on fifty country acres a facility where patients can stay in nice homey rooms that resemble a luxury motel more than a hospital or sanitarium. These rooms are directly connected with a vast treatment center so that the patients can be checked readily each day by their physicians, but with seclusion and privacy an integral part of their environment. In this atmosphere, the true fasting method can be carried out with ease and safety, and perhaps this is one reason our fasting treatments prove so successful.
An old friend of mine and a great physician, John B. Bastyr, of Seattle, once told to me, "Fasting will cure every disease of mankind if only the patient lives long enough." The purpose of the physician is to see that the patient not only lives through the fast, but also that the fast is conducted so that its deep penetrating healing is best directed.
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