THERAPEUTIC 
FASTING 
BY ARNOLD DEVRIES 
COPYRIGHT © 1963 BY ARNOLD DE VRIES 
 
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, 
must not be reproduced in any form 
without permission. FOURTH EDITION 
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
Published by Chandler Book Co., Box 75923, Los Angeles 5, California   2  TABLE OF CONTENTS 
I Forms of Fasting______________________________________________3 
II A Short History of Fasting_____________________________________4 
IlI Physiological Reactions to Fasting_____________________________7 
IV Efficiency of Fasting________________________________________15 
V The Complete Fast___________________________________________34 
VI Safely of the Fast___________________________________________40 
VII Symptoms of the Fast________________________________________45 
VIII Supervising the Fast_______________________________________53 
IX Breaking the Fast___________________________________________60 
X Living after the Fast__________________________________________66 
Bibliography__________________________________________________74   3 I Forms of Fasting 
THE TERM, fasting, implies total or partial abstinence from food or water for 
any of a number of reasons. Thus one may refer to fruit fasts, vegetable fasts, milk 
fasts, water fasts and many other types. As the different reasons for fasting are 
considered, other divisions may be given — religious fasting, professional fasting, 
physiological fasting, pathological fasting and accidental or experimental fasting. A fruit fast is abstinence from fruit; a vegetable fast is abstinence from vegeta-
bles; a milk fast is abstinence from milk; a water fast is abstinence from water, and 
similar fasts may be defined accordingly. Religious fasting is abstinence to de-
velop spiritual thought or fulfill a religious rite. Professional fasting is abstinence 
for purposes of notoriety and publicity. Physiological fasting is normal inanition in 
nature, such as the hibernation and seasonal abstinence of certain animals. Pathological fasting is associated with organic derangements which make one un-
able to take or retain food. Accidental or experimental fasting is forced inanition 
among man or animals for purposes of scientific investigation. These are the recognized forms of fasting. Yet, there is another, and perhaps 
much more important, classification which is seldom given mention or even known 
about. This is therapeutic fasting — total abstinence from all food, but not water. The purpose of therapeutic fasting is the promotion and restoration of health. It is 
associated with experimental and physiological fasting in the sense that studies of 
the latter provide the knowledge and information which make therapeutic fasting 
possible. Therapeutic fasting is not the result of any particular new scientific discovery,   4 but rather has proceeded to its present development as the result of centuries of 
experimentation, observation and study. It is today the culmination of a large 
number of scientific investigations and discoveries which have reached their cli-
max during the past century. Fasting for therapeutic purposes is thus an impor-
tant, though in popular conception, almost unknown, phase of the modern science 
of medicine, and as such it is the subject of our present inquiry and analysis. II A Short History of Fasting 
THE ORIGIN OF FASTING for illness perhaps dates back the development of 
the present forms of animal life. Among undomesticated animals it is a common practice to fast when ill, though 
this is of course an instinctive procedure rather than a planned therapeutic meas-
ure. The first records of human fasting for the remedy of disease go back to the 
ancient civilizations of Greece and the Near East. Both Plato and Socrates are 
said to have fasted for 10 days at a time to "attain mental and physical efficiency." Pythagoras fasted for 40 days before taking his examination at the University of 
Alexandria, and then he also required his pupils to fast before they could enter his 
class. The ancient Egyptians were said to treat syphilis with their fasting cures, 
and the great Greek physician, Hippocrates, prescribed fasting during the critical 
periods of disease. Asclepiades and Thessalus employed fasting; Celsus is said 
to have used it in the treatment of jaundice and epilepsy, and the Arab physician, 
Avicenna, prescribed fasting for three to five weeks at a time. Later Tertullian 
wrote of fasting, and Plutarch said: "Instead of using medicine better fast a day." 5 During the sixteenth century, the renowned Swiss physician, Paracelsus 
claimed that, "Fasting is the greatest remedy." In the seventeenth century, Dr. 
Hoffman wrote a book entitled, Description of the Magnificent Results Obtained 
Through Fasting in All Diseases. Dr. Anton Nikolai followed in the next century 
with recommendations of fasting instead of food for those who were ill. Later Dr. Von Seeland, of Russia, wrote: "As a result of experiments I have come to the 
conclusion that fasting is not only a therapeutic of the highest degree possible but 
also deserves consideration educationally." In Germany, Dr. Adolph Mayer as-
serted that "fasting is the most efficient means of correcting any disease," and Dr. 
Moeller wrote that "fasting is the only natural evolutionary method whereby 
through a systemic cleansing you can restore yourself by degrees to physiologic 
normality." It has been during the past century that the greater portion of scientific 
data has been gathered. Both Europe (in particular, Germany) and America have 
contributed heavily to the research on experimental and physiological fasting. Hundreds of publications have been the result of this work and they provide thor-
ough and exact knowledge regarding many phases of fasting. Among the best 
known research scientists who studied fasting were: Sergius Morgulis, Professor 
of Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine; Professor 
Child, of the University of Chicago; Herbert Sidney Langfield, of Harvard Univer-
sity; Dr. Frederick M. Allen, of the Rockefeller Institute; Francis Gano Benedict and 
Ernest G. Ritzman, of the Carnegie Institute; Luigi Luciani, Professor of Physiol-
ogy at the University of Rome; and Victor Pashutin, Director of the Imperial Mili-
tary Medical Academy of pre-revolutionary Russia. Other scientific studies of fast-
ing have been made by N. Pyaskovski, W Skorczewski,, N. J. Sands, A. Cleghorn, 
N. Morozov, P B. Hawk, P F. Howe, O. S. Soltz, C. A. Stewart, S. R. Wreath, C. 
M. Jackson, L. H. Hyman, N. Zuntz, Roger et Josue, Miescher, Mansfield,   6 Rosenfeld and many others. All told, during the past century, hundreds of scien-
tific workers in many countries have added to our knowledge of the biological im-
portance of fasting. In contrast to these scientists, who were concerned primarily with developing 
laboratory data from studies of experimental and physiological fasting, chiefly 
among animals and to a lesser extent among humans, we have the other men of 
science who were concerned with the clinical and therapeutic phases of fasting. They supervised tens of thousands of fasts, and as a result discovered the exact 
effectiveness of fasting as a remedy for specific diseases. Among these physi-
cians were many of the nineteenth century, in addition to those now practicing. They include, among others: Dr. Isaac Jennings, Dr. Joel Shew, Dr. Russell 
Thacker Trail, Dr. Robert Walter, Dr. Henry S. Tanner, and Dr. Edward Hooker 
Dewey. The experience of these men was followed in the twentieth century by that 
of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard; Dr. Hereward Harrington; Dr. Eugene A. Bergholtz, 
of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Dr. John M. Tilden, of Denver, Colorado; Dr. William 
Howard Hay, of Mount Pocana, Pennsylvania, and Dr. George S. Weger, of Red-
lands, California. Today Dr. Herbert Shelton, of San Antonio, Texas, carries on the 
important work, and Doctors Esser, Benesh, McEachen, Gross, and Scott are also 
making important contributions. History thus affords evidence of the considerable amount scientific and clinical 
work done to determine the effects fasting. The therapeutic measure is not a new 
and untried method, but on the contrary has been recognized for centuries and 
has been studied by some of the most brilliant minds in the science of medicine 
and related fields. The importance of these studies may be readily seen upon ex-
amination of the unique record of fasting, as regards its curative influence in the 
case of many specific diseases. A careful scientific appraisal of therapeutic fasting   7 may then be of significance to both the physician and layman. IlI Physiological Reactions to Fasting 
THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION of the forms of human pathology are 
governed by the physiological and chemical reactions that are taking place. Any-
thing that induces such reactions plays a role in determining the state of human 
health. Whenever food is withheld from consumption beyond the usual period in 
the case of man or other animals there are certain changes in the function, chemi-
cal reactions and life processes of the cells and tissues. It is these changes which 
give fasting its therapeutic properties. By considering the physiological reactions to 
fasting we can thus gain an understanding of the reasons which determine its 
therapeutic value. Of great importance among the physiological effects of fasting is rejuvenes-
cence — the acquiring of fresh vitality and renewal of youthful characteristics to 
the cells and tissues of the body. Evidence of such regeneration comes from 
many quarters and is particularly impressing with respect to experimental work 
done with the various forms of lower animal life. Such work may then be given first 
consideration. The British scientist, Prof. Huxley, has carried out experiments with young pla-
naria, more commonly known as earthworms. He fed an entire colony of these 
worms their usual foods. One of the worms was isolated from the rest and fasted 
at periodic intervals. In all other respects its diet and mode of life were similar to 
those of the other worms. The isolated worm lived while 19 generations of worms   9 the nucleus. Morphologically, therefore, the cells composing the entire organism 
assume a more youthful condition. They resemble more the embryonic cells in this 
respect, and this may account for the expansive growth which they display under 
the proper nutritive regime." One of the characteristics of old age is a decrease in the metabolic rate. It is in-
teresting to note, in this connection, that fasting produces rejuvenation by inducing 
a permanent increase in the metabolic rate. In experiments conducted at the Hull 
Biological Laboratory of the University of Chicago, both dogs and humans were 
fasted for extended periods. In fasts of from 30 to 40 days a five to six per cent in-
crease in the metabolic rate was observed. Of course rejuvenation does not occur in man to the extent that it does in the 
lowest forms of animal life. However, the effects of rejuvenescence are neverthe-
less very noticeable in the case of human fasting. Dr. Carlson and Dr. Kunde, of 
the Department of Physiology in the University of Chicago, placed a 40 year old 
man on a 14 days fast. At the end of the fast his tissues were in the same physio-
logical condition as those of a 17 year old youth. In reference to fasting Dr. Kunde 
remarks: "It is evident that where the initial weight was reduced by 45 per cent, 
and subsequently restored by normal diet, approximately one-half of the restored 
body is made up of new protoplasm. In this there is rejuvenescence." It may also 
be pointed out that quite possibly much of the remaining part of the body not lost in 
weight may also undergo significant changes of rejuvenescence as a result of 
fasting. Mention may also be given to the case of the late Mahatma Gandhi, who was 
well known for his numerous fasts. On May 18, 1933, when Gandhi was in the 
tenth day of fasting, he was examined by his physicians. One of the physicians 
stated that "despite his 64 years, from a physiological point of view the Indian   10 leader was as healthy as a man of forty." The outward manifestations of regeneration are quite noticeable in many cases 
of fasting. The rejuvenating effect upon the skin in particular is important. Lines 
and wrinkles become less apparent, and blotches, discolorations and pimples 
tend to disappear. In the words of Dr. Shelton: "The skin becomes more youthful, 
acquires a better color and better texture. The eyes clear up and become brighter. One looks younger. The visible rejuvenation in the skin is matched by manifest 
evidences of similar but invisible rejuvenescence throughout the body." Literally the word, autolysis, means self-loosing. In physiology it is used to de-
note the process of digestion or disintegration of animal tissue by ferments and 
enzymes which are generated by the body cells themselves. Thus it is a process 
of self-digestion or intracellular digestion. Autolysis forms a normal part of the physiological activities of the body. The ac-
tion of enzymes upon such substances in the body as glycogen, fatty tissue and 
bone marrow, in preparing these materials for entry into the blood stream, is nor-
mal autolysis. Likewise when an abscess "points" to the surface of the body to 
empty its contents, autolysis was involved when the flesh between the abscess 
and the surface was digested by enzymes. While recognizing the existence of autolysis as a common fact of everyday life, 
it has been generally believed that the process could not be made subject to hu-
man control and put to practical use. Though it has been understood that abnor-
mal growths in the body might be absorbed through self-disintegration, the pro-
found change in metabolism necessary to bring about such autolysis has been 
thought to result only in very rare cases following such conditions as extreme 
cachexia, the puerperium, or menopause. Such conditions, not always being 
within the realm of voluntary control, and only occasionally producing the changes   11 in question, offer no method whereby autolysis can be instituted at will and put 
under control. A complete revolution in such orthodox concepts necessarily follows considera-
tion of fasting. The fact is that fasting, in producing a profound change in metabo-
lism, serves as an immediate inducement to the development of autolysis and can 
thus act as a control of this process. This is no new discovery in physiology, but 
has been recognized for over a century by those who employed fasting. In the 
early part of the nineteenth century, Sylvester Graham wrote that "it is a general 
law of the vital economy" that "the decomposing absorbents always first lay hold 
of and remove those substances which are of least use to the economy; and 
hence, all morbid accumulations, such as wens, tumors, abscesses, etc., are rap-
idly diminished and often wholly removed under severe and protracted abstinence 
and fasting." During the fast, the body has the opportunity to redistribute its nutritive supplies 
— the surpluses and non-vital supplies being consumed and utilized first. The ab-
sorption of normal muscles and tissues on a fast is readily observable, and the 
flesh, blood and bone of a tumor, being less important to the needs of the body, 
are absorbed much more rapidly, with the essential tissues being utilized in nour-
ishment and the remainder permanently removed. On the fast the assimilative powers of the body are increased. This is shown 
both in the improvement of the blood during the fast and the rapid assimilation of 
food after the fast. Patients who suffer from conditions such as anemia, with either 
an insufficiency of red blood cells or an excess of white cells, are generally nor-
malized by fasting. In some cases fasting has brought about an increase in the 
number of erythrocytes from only one million to the normal five million count. The 
explanation lies in the improvement in assimilation which the fast affords. The iron   12 and other elements which are stored in the body are taken up by the blood and 
used. Prior to fasting, general physiological inefficiency prevented this. Perhaps 
this also explains why dental decay is often arrested during the fast. In some cases 
teeth that were loose become firmly fixed in their sockets while fasting, and swol-
len, inflamed and bleeding gums are also restored to health. The improvement in 
assimilation during the fast actually brings about recovery of certain "deficiency" 
diseases. Assimilation after the fast is at the highest possible level. Kagan observed that 
after rabbits were fasted 17 days they gained 56 per cent in weight on a diet 
which, under usual conditions, would barely be sufficient to maintain a state of 
equilibrium. People who are chronically underweight in spite of eating very heav-
ily, often gain weight to the normal level after a fast, even though large quantities 
of food are not taken. The improved assimilation enables the body to utilize more 
of its food intake. It may be mentioned that it is really a normalization of assimilation which occurs 
on a fast. Patients who fast to rid themselves of excessive weight may gain weight 
to normal after the fast, but that is usually where the gain ends if nutrition is proper. Thus both people who assimilate too much of food intake, and those who assimi-
late too little, are helped by fasting. Fasting affords the organs of the body the closest possible approach to a com-
plete physiological rest. Many organs are overworked and overstimulated, and 
hence weakened, rough the constant use of defective foods and excessive quanti-
ties of foods. During a fast, the necessary work done by the organs is reduced to 
the lowest possible minimum. As there is no further intake of food, assimilation in 
the body only involves the redistribution of the elements already stored there. Thus 
the organs are given a chance to recuperate and restore their vital powers. Repair   13 of damaged structures may take place. Broken bones, wounds and open sores 
heal much more rapidly. If inflammation is present it tends to subside. The body 
undergoes a general healing process. Associated with physiological rest of an organ is increased elimination. This, 
according to some observers, is the most important advantage of fasting. Part of 
the energy which should normally be devoted to the work of assimilation may, dur-
ing a fast, be used to expel the accumulations of waste and toxins. Decomposing 
food in the digestive tract, which is often an important source of toxins, is quickly 
eliminated. The entire alimentary canal becomes almost free from bacteria. The 
nourishment of cells on a fast is first derived from the less essential tissues and 
portions of impaired and diseased tissue. The surplus material on hand is utilized 
first. The effusions, dropsical swellings, fat, infiltrations, etc., are absorbed with 
great rapidity on a fast. The body thus gradually releases itself from a former bur-
den of superfluous and waste material. Increased elimination of toxins is noted on the very first days of the fast. The 
breath becomes very offensive, and the skin may also emit an offensive odor, 
possibly because of greater eliminative effort on the part of both the lungs and 
skin. Catarrhal eliminations usually increase during the early days of the fast, until 
towards the end of the fast elimination is completed and recovery occurs. The 
toxicity of the urine is increased, perhaps due to greater elimination via the kid-
neys. In some cases, considerable waste material is lost through the process of 
vomiting. Of course each of these symptoms does not occur in all cases, but there 
is always some outward indication of increased elimination. The primary elimina-
tion, however, brought about simply by internal absorption and autolysis, is not 
apparent in outward reactions, except perhaps the loss of weight and general 
weakness. 14 A marked improvement in nervous and mental function occurs on the fast. Max 
Nordau declared that "Pessimism has a physiological basis;' and it may also be 
said that even the most severe forms of mental aberration usually have a physio-
logical basis. Under the usual circumstances of civilized life, with its nutritive in-
adequacies and its inclusion of chemical stimulants and depressants, both in the 
food supply and as drugs for the treatment of disease, there is a tendency to the 
reduction of nerve energy, or enervation as it is called. The capacity of the brain is 
also impaired, giving rise to an assortment of nervous and mental diseases. While 
fasting, all enervating influences are discontinued and the entire nervous system 
and brain undergoes the same physiological rest that the balance of the body ex-
periences. Nerve forces are restored and mental powers are improved. The ability 
to reason is increased. The powers of attention and association are quickened 
while memory of past events is often recovered. Dr. Tanner and others even testi-
fied to the development of psychic powers during the fast, which Dr. Tanner felt 
explained "why the old prophets and seers so often resorted to fasting as a means 
of spiritual illumination." Fasting thus serves many purposes in terms of physiology and chemistry. It pro-
duces rejuvenation of tissues, induces autolysis of abnormal growths, improves 
the powers of digestion and assimilation, reestablishes normal chemistry and se-
cretion, affords the organs of the body a physiological rest, increases elimination, 
promotes nerve energy recuperation, strengthens the mind, and perhaps im-
proves function in various ways which we do not yet understand. Obviously these 
factors are of considerable importance in determining the physical condition of the 
body. They may mean the difference between strength and weakness, health and 
disease, and perhaps even life and death. 15 IV Efficiency of Fasting 
ON THE BASIS of our knowledge regarding the physiological effects of fasting, 
we are justified in assuming that, theoretically at least, fasting should be a very ef-
ficient therapeutic agent. However, important as this is, it is not enough. A meas-
ure may be theoretically correct, and have a logical and reasonable basis in all re-
spects, and yet in the treatment of disease it does not fulfill expectations. Thus it is 
necessary that fasting be given thorough consideration from the standpoint of sta-
tistics and available records of its use in the treatment of diseases of all types. The employment of fasting for therapeutic purposes has been very extensive. There are a number of prominent physicians who can be referred to, each of 
whom has had experience in conducting thousands of fasts. Among these is Dr. 
Herbert M. Shelton, who has conducted over 30,000 fasts at his institute ranging 
in length from a few days to as many months. This record involves more experi-
ence with fasting than that of any other living physician, and perhaps also exceeds 
that of any physician of history. The work of the renowned Dr. William Howard 
Hay, while director of the great Pocana Haven sanatorium in Mount Pocana, Pa., 
included the supervision of several thousand fasts. Dr. George S. Weger listed the 
number of patients who were treated at his sanatorium at approximately 5,000. The experience of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard covered nearly 2,500 patients. For 
decades Dr. John M. Tilden treated patients at his fasting institute in Denver, Colo-
rado, and the large Bergholtz Clinic, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded by Dr. 
Eugene A. Bergholtz, published the case histories of many of its thousands of 
fasting patients. Other physicians have likewise been active in this work, each   16 conducting scores, hundreds or thousands of fasts, and they have reported the 
detailed results of their experiences with fasting. Most of the patients who have been treated at fasting institutes and sanatoriums 
had for years suffered from ill health. Many of them tried all other forms of healing 
— drugs, surgery, manipulation, massage, artificial fever treatments, electrical 
treatments, autosuggestion, etc. — all to no avail. Finally, as a last resort they de-
cided to try fasting. Heart disease, cancer, ulcers, colitis, asthma, sinusitis, arthri-
tis, tumors, gall bladder infection and other ailments, which are seldom completely 
and permanently remedied by orthodox means, were common among the afflic-
tions of the patients. Yet the percentage of recoveries has been amazingly high — exceeding that 
resulting from the use of any other therapeutic measure. Many patients, after suf-
fering for years from so-called incurable ailments, have been completely restored 
to health. All physicians caring for the fasting patients have pointed out the un-
usual efficiency of the fasting treatment. Dr. Shelton, for instance, has reported 
that 95 per cent of the patients at his institute have recovered health or claimed 
benefit, and others who have made lengthy observations of his patients under 
care do confirm that the treatment is highly effective. Some of the most important statistics on the subject of fasting come from Dr. 
James McEachen, who applied fasting in the treatment of 715 cases of disease 
during the period from August, 1952 to March, 1958. All fasts were carefully su-
pervised under ideal conditions in McEachen's sanatorium near Escondido, Cali-
fornia. The only limitation in the efficiency of treatment was that many patients did 
not have time to fast long enough or often enough to obtain maximum benefit. Yet, in 294 of these cases, there was very great improvement or complete recov-
ery; in 360 cases there was moderate benefit, and for the remaining 61 cases, no   17 improvement at all was noted. Thus the average percentage of improved or reme-
died cases was 88.4 per cent. On the following chart, the diseases treated by Dr. 
McEachen are listed, along with the numbers of those responding, and not re-
sponding, to care. TABLE 1  
Disease Number Cases Im-Case Cases or Reme-Not High Blood 141 141 0 
Colitis 88 77 11 
Sinusitis 67 64 3 
Anemia 60 52 8 
Hemorrhoids 51 48 3 
Arthritis 47 39 8 
Bronchitis 42 39 3 
Kidney Disease 41 36 5 
Benign Tumors 38 32 6 
Heart Disease 33 29 4 
Asthma 29 29 0 
Ulcers 23 20 3 
Hay Fever 19 17 2 
Goiter 11 11 0 
Pyorrhea 8 6 2 
Gallstones 7 6 1 
Cancer 5 5 0 
Multiple Scle-4 3 1 
Cataract 1 0 1   18 At Pawling Health Manor, in Hyde Park, New York, fasting has been extensively 
applied in the care of the sick. Dr. Robert R. Gross, director of the sanatorium, has 
provided vital statistical data pertaining to this work, covering a time period from 
August of 1957 to July of 1963. Altogether, Dr. Gross lists 484 complete recover-
ies, 163 partial recoveries and 31 failures for 68o cases of disease under care. This indicates a recovery rate of 71.2 per cent, a partial recovery rate of 24.2 per 
cent, and a failure rate of 4.6 per cent. Dr. Gross reported that a considerable 
number of patients did not remain in the sanatorium long enough to fast a suffi-
cient duration of time or as often as recommended when more than one fast was 
required. This was considered largely responsible for many of the patients who 
improved, but did not fully recover, or patients who were not helped at all. The 
emotional states and cooperation extended by different patients also varied con-
siderably and affected the final outcome of the fasts. In addition, there was not al-
ways continued contact with patients long after leaving the sanatorium, so some 
benefits, which are derived months after the fast, could not be recorded. Taking all 
of these factors into account, the successes attained were quite remarkable. The 
important data covering these cases is displayed in full in the chart which follows. TABLE 2     
Disease Number Cas Cases Cas
 Case Recov-Im- Not 
Dyspepsia 21 18 3 0 
Pyorrhea 20 8 12 0 
Asthma 19 16 0 3 
Eczema 18 11 4 3 
Benign Tu-18 14 3 1 
Insomnia 17 13 2 2   19 Ulcers 14 8 2 4 
Diabetes 14 12 0 2 
Kidney Dis-12 10 0 2 
Sinusitis 12 9 0 3 
Gallstones 11 6 0 5 
Anemia 11 7 0 4 
Gonorrhea 8 8 0 0 
Poliomyelitis 8 6 0 2 
Appendicitis 6 6 0 0 
Epilepsy 5 3 0 2 
Acne 5 3 0 2 
Multiple 4 0 2 2 
Tuberculosis 2 2 0 0 
Dr. William L. Esser has observed several thousand fasting cases under con-
trolled conditions at his Florida sanitarium. Although detailed data for all of these 
cases has not been published, Dr. Esser has furnished statistical information per-
taining to a sampling of 155 patients, upon which very careful records were kept. Among these patients, a total of 31 different types of disease were treated. These 
included, among others, ulcers, tumors, tuberculosis, sinusitis, pyorrhea, Parkin-
son's disease, heart disease, cancer, insomnia, gallstones, epilepsy, colitis, hay 
fever, bronchitis, asthma and arthritis. The length the shortest fast was five days; 
that of the longest fast was 55 days. In many cases the length of the fasts was re-
stricted by time and financial limitations, with only about 20 per cent the patients 
remaining in the sanatorium long enough to as long as recommended. 20 Of the 155 patients, 113 were completely restored to health; 31 were partially 
recovered, and 12 patients were not helped at all. Thus the rate of complete re-
covery was 71 per cent; of partial recovery, 20 per cent, and of failure, 9 per cent. In new of the character of diseases treated, this represents a very high degree of 
efficiency, as compared to other therapeutic measures. Sinclair collected statistics of people who had fasted without professional super-
vision. In some cases their diseases were diagnosed by physicians but the fasts 
were usually undertaken on the patients' own initiative. The fasts covered 117 
people; the total number of fasts taken was 277, and the average number of days 
per fast was six. Ninety of the fasts exceeded four days in length, and six were 30 
days or longer. Many of the fasts lasted only a few days. One hundred of the 117 people reported complete recovery or some benefit 
from fasting, indicating a total percentage of slightly more than 85 per cent who 
were helped. A total of 116 diseases, of 30 different types, were listed as com-
pletely or partially remedied. As some of the people suffered from more than one 
disease, the number of diseases helped was higher than the number of patients. Of those who were not helped, about half had fasted only a few days and some of 
the rest gave wrong breaking of the fast as the reason for the failure. The thera-
peutic record of fasting can be further seen in considering the use of this measure 
in the treatment of a number of specific diseases. Prognosis in the case of many eye diseases is good if fasting is employed. Nu-
merous cases of visual defects have been completely remedied by fasting, though 
some mechanical defects cannot be corrected of course, and certain eye ailments 
require aid which fasting cannot give. When the muscles of the eyes suffer from a 
lack of tone, strength, flexibility, suppleness and coordination, special eye exer-
cises will give more benefit than fasting, though fasting may be used to supple-  21 ment this treatment. Among the eye conditions for which fasting is often a specific remedy are cata-
ract, congestion of the conjunctiva, catarrhal and granular conjunctivitis, glaucoma, 
iritis, keratitis and stye. Early cataract generally disappears on the fast; advanced 
cases may disappear, but recovery is much less certain. Dr. Shelton records one 
case in which blindness of one eye (due to cataract) completely disappeared on a 
fast of 18 days. Dr. Gerald Benesh reports equal success in treating a complete 
cataract, which yielded to a 21 day fast. The forms of conjunctivitis require only 
cleanliness and fasting for recovery, with short fasts in acute cases and long fasts 
in chronic cases. When glaucoma exists, the hardness of the eye tends to disap-
pear, with the excessive fluid being absorbed, on fasts of two or three weeks in du-
ration. In advanced cases, when complete atrophy is present, the prognosis is not 
favorable, with blindness the usual result. Iritis, keratitis and stye need only fast-
ing, cleanliness and rest, with recovery the general rule unless previous 
suppressive treatment leaves permanent damage to sight. Respiratory ailments respond quickly to the fast. Hay fever improves in virtually 
all cases without any change of climate. Patients with catarrh recover on the fast, 
although eliminations may increase temporarily on the early days of the fast. Pol-
yps, which may be present, are absorbed; the thickened membranes return to 
their normal thickness, though the atrophied structures of advanced catarrh cannot 
he rebuilt. Sinusitis responds readily to the fast; only a few days of fasting will 
bring relief in some cases; in others long fasts may be necessary. Chronic laryngi-
tis yields quickly to the fast. Chronic cases of asthma usually attain much relief 
within just a few days of fasting, with complete recovery in a matter of weeks. Those asthmatics who are unable to sleep lying in bed and consequently sleep in 
a sitting position are usually relieved sufficiently within 36 hours without food to   22 sleep in bed. Dr. Benesh refers to different patients recovering from severe and 
longstanding asthma on fasts of different duration. One case required two fasts of 
15 and 21 days; another responded to several short fasts of 2, 5, 6 and 7 days; 
the third fasted 26 days, and two fasts of 23 and 26 days were necessary in the 
most advanced case. Of the hundreds of asthmatics treated by Dr. Shelton with 
fasting, only three failed to recover. Congestion of the lungs is rapidly and safely 
remedied in all cases through fasting, and bronchitis responds equally well to 
treatment. The most important respiratory disease, tuberculosis of the lungs, has 
often been treated with the fast. In the vast majority of cases the prognosis is very 
favorable. While fasting, the tubercular cough usually becomes very mild or alto-
gether disappears. In some cases much improvement occurs on the fast, followed 
by complete recovery during a period of proper nutrition with adequate fresh air 
and careful exposure to sunlight. A short fasting period is usually given preference 
in tuberculosis cases because of the difficulty some patients have had in gaining 
weight after long fasts. Yet, a number of patients have recovered during long fasts 
and then rapidly returned to normal weight. It is possible that the difficulties which 
occurred in other cases were due to poor control of the dietary after fasting. Various forms of goiter have been helped by fasting. When simple goiter exists, 
the enlargement tends to subside to normal during the course of the fast. If the 
disease has reached the stage where the soft goiter becomes a form of tumor, 
called an adenoma, improvement or recovery is still possible without surgery, al-
though a longer period of abstinence may be required. Even when the goiter dis-
plays rapidly developing evidences of toxicity, as in exophthalmic goiter, there is 
positive hope for the patient. Dr. Weger stated that "almost without exception, ex-
ophthalmic goiter is curable without surgery." Dr. Tilden also pointed to the ease 
of curing exophthalmic goiter with fasting. The cures in these cases are of special   23 importance because they remove the supposed need for surgical removal of nine-
tenths of the thyroid gland or treatment with dangerous drugs in order to aid the 
patient. In addition, there are no adverse side-effects or after-effects associated 
with the fasting treatment of goiter. Fasting is important to all patients with pernicious anemia. Dr. Tilden remarked 
that "cases of pernicious anemia taken off their food will double their blood count in 
a week." Dr. Weger reported a less rapid increase and referred to one case in 
which hemoglobin increased 50 per cent and white cells were reduced 50 per cent 
on a 12 day fast. Dr. Hay's experience also was satisfactory, and he reported that 
of 102 pernicious anemia patients he treated with fasts of "generally two weeks or 
more" in duration, only eight failed of initial recovery. Some who relapsed, due to 
an eventual return to poor dietary habits after the first fast, once again fasted and 
recovered. Dr. Hay stated that for most of the first two weeks of fasting, the blood 
count would continue to fall in some patients. But then the microscopic picture 
would begin to show "new round erythrocytes with regular edges, no crenations or 
irregularities, and soon there is noticeable increase in number of these with grad-
ual disappearance of the adventitious cells present in the beginning." And during 
the succeeding days of fasting, the blood count would gradually return fully to 
normal. Another blood disease, leukemia, which has never, in recorded medical history, 
yielded to the usual methods of treatment, responds favorably to fasting. Leuke-
mia is generally associated with an excess of white cells in the blood, an impair-
ment of the cells of bone marrow, and in some cases, impairment of the lymphatic 
glands, with enlargement of the spleen. It was Tauszk who discovered that the 
number of white cells in the blood decreases on the fast, and since then Dr. Weger 
has reported the same thing with respect to his patients. Soltz, Meyers, Roger and   24 Josue have described the changes fasting produces in the bone marrow, and Prof. 
Morgulis states that "the chemical changes of the marrow are most profound" while 
fasting. Prof. Morgulis also refers to the "rather abrupt diminution of the spleen" 
which occurs on the early part of the fast. Mann, Drip and Miescher have also 
studied fasting animals and pointed out the important effect which fasting has on 
the spleen. In view of these facts, it is not surprising to hear that both Dr. Weger and Dr. Til-
den report good results in treating leukemia with fasting. Dr. Shelton reports that 
his experience with leukemia, though limited, has shown satisfactory results. Re-
covery, however, is not often immediate while fasting, but proceeds gradually after 
the fast during a period of correct nutrition and frequent sunbathing. Dr. Tilden 
claims that if patients suffering from leukemia in its advanced state "get well in six 
months or a year" they are "going very rapidly toward recovery." Fasting is of supreme importance in the treatment of all cases of poliomyelitis. In the acute form the prognosis as regards life is good, with a much lower death 
rate than follows either the Kenny treatment or orthodox treatment. Cases of per-
manent disability are almost unknown when fasting is employed, with all paralysis 
rapidly disappearing within a weeks in most cases. In an average of 98 per cent of 
all recovery is complete while fasting or shortly after the fast. When chronic ante-
rior poliomyelitis is present the prognosis is less favorable, though further degen-
eration is usually checked and the life is prolonged. Bulbar paralysis, a less com-
mon form of poliomyelitis, may end fatally no matter what form of treatment is 
given. Fasting, however, still gives best chance of recovery and prolongation of 
life. The dreaded disease, multiple sclerosis, has been treated successfully with 
fasting. Dr. Shelton states that "much progress may be expected in a great num-  25 ber" of late cases of this disease, even though recovery is not fully complete. Dr. 
Richard Geithner, of the Blaubeuren Sanatorium in Germany, reported that three 
multiple sclerosis patients "who agreed to the fasting-cure were free of paralysis 
after 18 to 21 days of fasting." One of these patients had a new episode of paraly-
sis after the fast, which, in turn, was cured by another fast of 14 days. During the 
following three years of observation, there was no recurrence of paralysis. Literally thousands of abnormal growths have undergone dissolution and ab-
sorption on fasts. Shelton, Hazzard, Tilden and Rabagliati, among others, report 
many such cases. Armstrong, of England, declared that he had "seen lumps in 
female breasts, treated to a fast, some after diagnosis by experts, the bulk after 
self-diagnosis, and to disappear, on water only, in from four to twenty days." Macfadden remarked that his experience had shown "beyond all possible doubt 
that a foreign growth of any kind can be absorbed into the circulation by simply 
compelling the body to use every unnecessary element contained within it for 
food." Whereas most abnormal growths that have disappeared while fasting have 
been benign tumors, a considerable number have also been diagnosed as malig-
nant. Dr. Shelton states that he has seen cancer patients "become free from all 
pain in twenty-four hours to three days when the drugging was discontinued and 
all feeding stopped." He also reported actual recovery of one case which had pre-
viously been diagnosed as cancer in as little as three days of fasting. Of course 
longer fasts are required in most instances of suspected cancer, and Dr. Hazzard 
recorded a case in which 45 days of fasting were required before recovery was 
complete. Another experienced worker in this field, Dr. Rasmus Alsaker, super-
vised "the return to health of many individuals diagnosed as having cancer of the 
stomach" with the fasting treatment, although he did not discount the possibility of   26 mistakes of diagnosis in these cases. As a rule the chances of recovery from cancer depend largely upon the stage of 
the disease and the history of previous therapeutic treatment. In early cancer, 
which has not been treated with surgery nor radiation, and which has not involved 
the prolonged use of pain-killing drugs, the prognosis is frequently favorable. The 
slow absorption of the neoplasm of cancer can then be expected in many cases. In certain cases there is not complete absorption, though further growth may be 
checked. If the neoplasm of cancer has been broken with exploratory or therapeu-
tic surgery, with release of cancer cells to other parts of the body, and if tissues 
have been weakened with extensive X-ray therapy, the chances of recovery are 
markedly lower. If, in addition to these adverse factors, the patient has been kept 
under a state of sedation until he is suffering more from the effects of drug addic-
tion than cancer, we find the least favorable prognosis. However, even when can-
cer is in its hopeless stage, fasting may be considered of some value in reducing 
pain and bringing the patient to a more comfortable end than could otherwise oc-
cur. Fasting is of exceptional value in the treatment of appendicitis. Recovery gener-
ally takes places within a few days to two weeks of fasting. The advantage of fast-
ing over surgery cases, especially those which are most severe, is seen by the 
fact that the mortality rate in cases of acute, gangrenous, ruptured appendicitis 
with peritonitis is only 1.43 per cent when the operation is deferred. Immediate op-
erations under the same conditions have provided a mortality rate of 10.64 cent 
(Reference: Journal of the American Medical Association, Dec. 5, 1936, page 
1910). Further, the average death rate in all forms of appendicitis when surgery is 
resorted to is 2.3 per cent, with 16,000 of an average of 520,000 patients dying 
annually in the United States. The efficiency of fasting in such cases is shown by   27 the experience of Dr. Hay, who treated over 400 patients who were afflicted with 
acute and chronic appendicitis. In nineteen cases the appendix had already rup-
tured. Yet complete recovery occurred in every case without a single failure or fa-
tality. In no instance was surgery resorted to. Each patient was fasted until recov-
ery complete. Fasting has been used with success in the treatment of various forms of sexual 
disorders and venereal diseases. Dr. Hazzard points out that the bacillus of gonor-
rhea "cannot long exist if the products of elimination are normal, and if cleanliness, 
especially of the female, is properly observed." She states that the "irritating symp-
toms of local venereal infection yield to treatment (fasting) in a few days, and con-
valescence brings no supervening annoyance as expressed in urethral stricture, 
prostatic congestion, etc." Regarding syphilis, Dr. Shew wrote that "The hunger-cure is nowhere more ap-
plicable." The great medical authority, Dr. Robert Bartholow, also pointed out the 
value of fasting in such cases. Dr. Shelton states that "without exception" his pa-
tients with syphilis "have gotten well in four to eight weeks under hygienic care." Dr. Tilden refers to recovery from syphilis "in from six weeks to two months without 
aftermaths of any kind" when the fasting treatment, followed by correct diet, is em-
ployed. Dr. Weger claims that the "local lesions of the first-stage heal with star-
tling rapidity' and that "pharyngeal, labial, and buccal ulcerations frequently disap-
pear before the tenth day of fasting." In treating diseases of the female reproductive system, fasting relieves conges-
tion, removes infection, relaxes tissues and restores tone to the affected area. Abnormal growths of the womb tend to be partially or completely absorbed during 
the fast. The supposed need for surgical operation, with its attendant dangers and 
disadvantages, is thus reduced or eliminated when diseases of the female organs   28 occur. In such simple conditions as painful and excessive menstruation, fasting is 
also of distinct value. Dr. Hazzard stated that "From one to three day's abstinence 
from food will correct excessive menstruation, and, when no mechanical defect is 
present relief is obtained within twenty-four hours when the flow is accompanied 
by pain." Diabetes was first treated with fasting by the famous French clinician, A. Guelpa, 
of Paris. Dr. Guelpa noted that fasting for three or four successive days rendered 
the urine of patient with severe diabetes sugar-free, and effected pronounced im-
provement in the state of health, with no aggravation of the disease in any case. The American physician Dr. Heinrich Stern, was next to treat diabetes with fasting 
and reduced nutritional intake, and his many hundreds of patients as a rule re-
sponded favorably. Dr. Stern found though there were certain cases of the sever-
est types of diabetes "which no amount of fasting would render sugar-free." the 
majority of patients "cease to excrete sugar within forty-eight to sixty hours;' with 
an occasional patient fasting six days or longer before the glycosuric symptom 
disappeared. In approximately seventy-five per cent of all cases the urine also rendered free 
from ketones, though this required a longer period of fasting. Dr. Frederick Allen, 
of the Rockefeller Institute, has also employed the "starvation treatment" of diabe-
tes, and his important work with fasting and restricted diet in 1915 effected a 60 
per cent reduction in deaths from diabetic coma. Also treated in many instances by fasting is the serious disease, epilepsy. Sev-
eral decades ago Dr. Rabagliati noted that fasting "seems to be of very great effi-
cacy in the treatment of epilepsy." In 1932 Dr. C. Clemmessen came to a similar 
conclusion as a result of his work at the Hospital for Nervous and Mental Diseases 
in Dianlund, Denmark. On the basis of 155 fasting treatments for epilepsy, Dr.   29 Clemmessen found that in the great majority of cases, fasting caused the epileptic 
attacks to cease within four to five days, irrespective of the previous duration of 
illness. Fasting was equally effective whether the epilepsy was of organic nature 
or cryptogenetic, and it seemed to be most effective in cases with very frequent 
seizures. Dr. Alsaker stated that "It is a revelation to some persons who fast how clearly 
the mind can function." This being true, it might be expected that various forms of 
insanity would be helped by fasting. Widespread experience by many physicians 
has shown that fasting is not only valuable in caring for the insane patient but that 
it frequently succeeds where all other forms of treatment have failed. Fasting can 
not only be applied in promoting absorption of brain tumors and improving the 
physical condition of the brain and nervous system; it also has been used suc-
cessfully in treating mental aberrations which were thought to have purely emo-
tional causes. Of those fasting practitioners who have cared for mental patients, Dr. Hay had 
some of the most notable experiences. He applied the absolute fast and partial 
fast, along with proper nutrition, and he reported excellent results in the majority of 
cases. Of seventeen cases of dementia praecox brought to Dr. Hay, five cases 
were unmanageable without restraint but all others were carefully treated and 
"made splendid comebacks" to a high grade of mental health. Dr Hay described 
one mental patient who "was wholly irrational, could not even answer questions, 
having both amnesic and ataxic aphasia, cried continually, and required a special 
nurse to restrain her from throwing herself out of the window." Yet after ten days 
of partial fasting, utilizing only the extracted juices of fruits and vegetables, fol-
lowed by 20 days of controlled diet, the patient returned to her home "as sane as 
she had ever been before in her life, and a very bright young woman." 30 Fasting is the safest and most appropriate method of treating varicose veins. It 
does not destroy or coagulate the veins, which are accomplished by other meth-
ods at the cost of overworking the deeper blood vessels, but it does heal varicose 
ulcers, helps to restore tonicity to the walls of the veins, reduces their size and 
provides freedom from pain. In young people who are affected by varicosities of 
small to moderate size, full recovery is usually possible. For the patient past mid-
dle age, with severe varicosities, definite improvement with comfort may be ex-
pected but complete recovery is rare. In all cases, proper nutrition and adequate 
exercise after the fast are necessary to prevent excess fluid in the tissues and as-
sure continued improvement or maintenance of normal tone of the walls of the 
veins. When varicosities occur in the vein near the anus, as in hemorrhoids, fasting is 
also of much assistance. During the fast there is little or no bowel action to occa-
sion further irritation, and healing of the affected areas is permitted. As early as 
1854 Dr. Joel Shew, in discussing "The Hunger-Cure' stated that "There is nothing 
in the world that will produce so great relief in hemorrhoids as fasting." In cases 
"where to evacuate the bowels would put the patient into an agony, amounting 
almost to spasms" there was marked improvement after only three or four days of 
fasting. Dr. McCoy described one case history of hemorrhoids in which the patient 
was unable to walk for several days before the fast because of the severe pain 
that persisted day and night. Yet after only ten days of fasting "all signs of the 
hemorrhoids had disappeared, and the rectum seemed to be in quite a normal 
condition. While writing on this same subject Carrington stated: "I may add that I 
have observed some most striking examples of such cures myself." Arthritis, rheumatism and gout as a rule respond quickly to the fast. Most pa-
tients experience freedom from severe arthritic pain within a few days after the   31 fast is instituted. There is gradual disappearance of the swelling and complete or 
partial absorption of the deformity by autolysis providing complete ossification of 
the joint is not present. Dr. Casey A. Wood, Professor of Chemistry in the Medical 
Dept. of Bishop's College in Montreal, issued a report concerning seven case his-
tories of acute articular rheumatism. These patients were speedily restored to 
health during four to eight days of fasting. Dr. Wood also mentioned forty other 
similar cases from his own private practice in which recovery from this disease 
was achieved, and in no instance was it necessary to fast longer than ten days. However, patients affected by severe chronic arthritis of long standing must usually 
undertake longer fasts. Those who are so crippled that they are unable to walk 
alone, comb their hair or even feed themselves usually achieve restoration of con-
siderable motion to the stiffened joints during a single fast, although complete re-
covery (when this is possible) in some of these cases may require a second fast. Simple gall bladder and bile duct infection is completely remedied during fasts of 
short to moderate duration. The pus is removed, the inflammation subsides and 
the tissues are healed during this physiological rest. When stones have formed in 
the gall bladder, somewhat longer fasts may be required but recovery is to be ex-
pected. The patient with gallstones finds relief from severe pain after the first few 
days of the fast, although complete recovery in the more advanced cases may re-
quire up to 20 to 25 days of abstinence from food. During the fast, the stones sof-
ten, later disintegrate and then pass through the bile duct into the small intestine. Some pain may occur during the passage of stones but this does not involve the 
extreme discomfort frequently experienced prior to the fast. Fasting is without doubt the most rapid and effective method of remedying high 
blood pressure. Indeed, hundreds of consecutive patients have been treated for 
this condition without a single complete failure. Even patients who have failed to   32 respond to all of the customary treatment of high blood pressure do respond to 
fasting. Shelton has reported one case in which a systolic pressure of 295 was 
brought down to 115 during three weeks of fasting. And the cures in these cases 
tend to be lasting. If the blood pressure falls below normal during the fast, it will 
rise to normal later, but actual hypertension does not redevelop so long as good 
nutritional habits are maintained after the fast. Heart disease has been treated by fasting in a very large number of cases. For-
tunately the most common causes of heart trouble — narrowing of the coronary 
artery and formation of thrombus in this artery — are usually corrected by fasting. As a rule the thrombus and excess fatty material lining the walls of the artery are 
absorbed by autolysis during the course of the fast. Other heart diseases, such as 
acute myocarditis, fatty overgrowth of the heart, endocarditis and ordinary peri-
carditis also respond very favorably to fasting. Two less common heart conditions, 
hemopericardium and calcified pericardium, can usually be remedied only partially 
when any form of help is possible. Of the one hundred and more pathological conditions which affect the skin, 
most can be treated successfully with fasting. Even in so serious a condition as 
leprosy, the skin ulcerations nodules have disappeared in just a few weeks of fast-
ing and sunbathing. For simple acne and other common skin diseases, recovery 
tends to be more rapid, with most cases responding to care in one to two weeks 
or less. Eczema and severe skin diseases, however, may require longer fasts. In 
all cases, improvement is limited to the removal of swelling, inflammation, excess 
scaly tissue, ulcerations, etc. For this reason early treatment in many cases is rec-
ommended. Once severe scar tissue has formed, little or nothing can be done to 
restore the original skin texture. In particular it is true that fasting is of extraordinary value in the treatment of all   33 acute diseases. Regardless of the forms such ailments have taken, fasting has 
been employed as the first requirement and continued until the acute symptoms 
subsided. Not only is recovery much more rapid than when the customary treat-
ments are given, but the mortality rate is much lower than usual. Indeed, some 
fasting practitioners report no mortality rate at all for the acutely-ill, and Dr. Shel-
ton states that, of the hundreds of such patients he has cared for, "not a single 
one" has "died or failed to recover" or developed complications of any kind. Typhoid fever patients recover in about two weeks while fasting in absence of 
most of the distressing symptoms which result from feeding and giving medication 
to such patients. Smallpox takes only the form of a light disease when fasting is 
instituted immediately. There is only very slight itching, no complications, and very 
rarely any pitting at all. In cases of scarlet fever, the rash disappears within four to 
seven days and the fever is gone by the fourth day. Mumps disappear within six to 
ten days of fasting, with no danger of complications. Regarding rheumatic fever, 
Dr. Weger claims that "in no case in which food was withheld from the onset did 
the temperature remain above normal for longer than ten days, and recovery was 
prompt without merging into the sub-acute and chronic stage." In the case of influ-
enza, Dr. Weger points to the "rapid decline of all symptoms and abatement of 
temperature usually within three days," while fasting, with no mortality rate at all. Erysipelas, he declares, is "readily checked without pursuing its usual round-trip 
course." Fever disappears on the third or fourth day, with no abscesses or secon-
dary infections. Dr. Weger not only refers to recovery from malaria "in all stages." but states that no relapses "have been reported on return from fever-infested sur-
roundings." There are no age barriers to fasting. Both aged individuals and young children 
have fasted with great benefit. Even infants may be placed on short fasts, and   34 there is one record of a 2-year-old child fasting to recovery from poliomyelitis, with 
paralysis, on a 47-day fast, during which time the weight fell from 32 pounds to 15 
pounds. Obviously such long fasts in children are the exception rather than the 
general rule, and they are not always to be recommended. Nor is long fasting of-
ten necessary during childhood, most children's diseases disappearing rapidly 
during short fasts. The only periods of life in which the use of fasting may be questioned are those 
of lactation and pregnancy. Fasting stops the secretion of milk and hence pre-
vents the mother from nursing her child. During pregnancy long fasts to remedy 
chronic diseases are certainly inadvisable, though when acute disease exists, 
there may be a short fast until most or all of the symptoms subside. Clearly, in terms of strict efficiency, fasting is of exceptional value as a thera-
peutic measure. It is in no sense a cure-all, nor is it the only method whereby 
health can be restored. As was noted, some conditions in their advanced stages 
do not always recover on the fast. Further, the same results which often occur 
while fasting may occur by employing certain diets, though the latter method fre-
quently is much less certain and incomparably slower than the fast. For speed and 
certainty in recovery the fast has no equal in the cases of most diseases, as the 
employment of fasting in thousands of cases clearly shown. As regards efficiency, 
it is in a class by itself. V The Complete Fast 
IT IS THE COMMON and popular opinion that fasting and starvation are syn-  35 onymous. Upon first hearing of therapeutic fasting, many speak of it as the "star-
vation cure." Actually, there is an important difference between fasting and starva-
tion, and though both imply abstinence from food, the physiological effects are in 
no sense similar. When food is consumed at regular intervals, the body stores sufficient quantities 
of nutritive matter to last for a considerable period of time during later periods of 
abstinence. From the start of every fast, the body commences to nourish and feed 
itself upon such reserves. The cells accordingly diminish in size and there are 
changes in the colloidal condition of the protoplasm. Cell proliferation itself contin-
ues. The chief weight losses consist of fat, muscle, tissue, blood and water. Such 
vital body parts as the brain, spinal cord, nerves, teeth and bones are well sus-
tained on the fast with practically no losses. In children the skeletal structure con-
tinues to grow, the marrow being drawn upon for nourishment for this purpose. Such is the nutritive aspect of fasting. The body continues to receive, from its 
reserves, the sustaining materials of life. There is of course a limit to this supply. When all normal food reserves have been exhausted the body must derive other 
means of nourishment. It then enters a period of true starvation and feeds upon 
the vital tissues and hitherto unchanged body parts. This is the stage which Prof. Morgulis states "is characterized by the predomi-
nance of pathological phenomena caused by the prolonged stringency of nour-
ishment and exhaustion of tissues." Morgulis further points out that "the morpho-
logical changes observed in advanced starvation are practically identical with 
those found in every pathological condition and present nothing peculiar." During 
this period the healthy tissues are wasted, the vitality is depleted, and the body is 
emaciated. The blood atrophies; the cells of the liver, heart, kidneys, pancreas 
and other organs become the seat of degenerative processes. As the conditions   36 reach their advanced stages, death occurs. Fasting begins with the omission of the first meal and ends with the exhaustion 
of all food reserves. Starvation begins at this time and ends with death. Thus 
where the one process ends, the other begins. Whereas scientific fasting is ac-
companied by beneficial results, the elimination of pathology, and rejuvenation, 
starvation is accompanied by the development of pathology, degeneration, and 
the most disastrous consequences. When the food reserves of the body have been consumed, certain symptoms 
occur which indicate the end of the fasting period. There is invariably a return of 
hunger and a removal of coating from the tongue. The edges and tip of the tongue 
clear first, with the rest quickly following. The bad taste in the mouth and the of-
fensive breath likewise disappear at this time. The pulse and temperature, which 
may have been abnormal, become normal. The eyes frequently brighten, salivary 
secretion is normalized, and the urine, which may have been discolored, becomes 
clear. Of these symptoms, the return of hunger and clearing of the tongue are the 
most important, and are regarded by some as the only certain and unmistakable 
signs which denote the completion of the fast. The others are usually present also, 
but it is the return of hunger and the condition of the tongue which are regarded as 
the determining factors. The return of hunger and the clean tongue do not always arrive at exactly the 
same time. One may arrive a few hours or more before the other. Under any con-
ditions the fast should be broken at the appearance of either symptom. One 
should not, for instance, hesitate to break the fast if there is an unmistakable de-
sire for food even though the tongue is not clean, and vice versa. In those very 
rare cases in which hunger is not lost on the fast, the clearing of the tongue will 
suffice as a guide in determining the completion of the fast. 37 Dr. Hereward Carrington describes the feelings of the fasting patient at the 
completion of the fasting period in these words: "A sudden and complete rejuvena-
tion; a feeling of lightness, buoyancy, and good health steals over the patient in an 
irresistible way, bringing contentment and a general feeling of well being, and the 
possession of a superabundance of animal spirits." Recognition of the great difference between fasting and starvation, and the 
symptoms which denote the end of one period and the beginning of the other, is of 
vital importance in the employment of therapeutic fasting. Abstinence from food 
can be exceedingly dangerous if one attempts to set in advance the length of a 
period of fasting without regard to the differences between the two phases of in-
anition. On the other hand, an understanding of these points eliminates all danger 
of true starvation. The symptoms which indicate the end of the fasting period are 
easily recognizable in all cases, and the simple knowledge of what these are can 
be of assurance to both the physician and layman that the fast will not be ex-
tended too long. The fast which lasts to the return of hunger and the consequent end of the fast-
ing period is said to be "complete." It has carried the work of renovation, rejuvena-
tion and cleansing to its final consummation. The patient has then undergone the 
most thorough therapeutic treatment that is possible to provide. His body has lost 
most or all of its superfluous materials, waste matter and diseased or dead tis-
sues. It is then in an ideal condition upon which to build new healthy protoplasm, 
with consequent vigorous health. The time required for the fast to reach completion varies in the individual cases. Some have exhausted their food reserves after as little as 20 per cent of the body 
weight was lost, with others remaining in the fasting period when over half— even 
up to 60 per cent — of the body tissues were consumed.
Fasting-Arnold_Devries.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        THERAPEUTIC 
FASTING 
BY ARNOLD DEVRIES 
COPYRIGHT © 1963 BY ARNOLD DE VRIES 
 
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, 
must not be reproduced in any form 
without permission. FOURTH EDITION 
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
Published by Chandler Book Co. , Box 75923, Los Angeles 5, California   2  TABLE OF CONTENTS 
I Forms of Fasting______________________________________________3 
II A Short History of Fasting_____________________________________4 
IlI Physiological Reactions to Fasting_____________________________7 
IV Efficiency of Fasting________________________________________15 
V The Complete Fast___________________________________________34 
VI Safely of the Fast___________________________________________40 
VII Symptoms of the Fast________________________________________45 
VIII Supervising the Fast_______________________________________53 
IX Breaking the Fast___________________________________________60 
X Living after the Fast__________________________________________66 
Bibliography__________________________________________________74   3 I Forms of Fasting 
THE TERM, fasting, implies total or partial abstinence from food or water for 
any of a number of reasons. Thus one may refer to fruit fasts, vegetable fasts, milk 
fasts, water fasts and many other types. As the different reasons for fasting are 
considered, other divisions may be given — religious fasting, professional fasting, 
physiological fasting, pathological fasting and accidental or experimental fasting. A fruit fast is abstinence from fruit; a vegetable fast is abstinence from vegeta-
bles; a milk fast is abstinence from milk; a water fast is abstinence from water, and 
similar fasts may be defined accordingly. Religious fasting is abstinence to de-
velop spiritual thought or fulfill a religious rite. Professional fasting is abstinence 
for purposes of notoriety and publicity. Physiological fasting is normal inanition in 
nature, such as the hibernation and seasonal abstinence of certain animals. Pathological fasting is associated with organic derangements which make one un-
able to take or retain food. Accidental or experimental fasting is forced inanition 
among man or animals for purposes of scientific investigation. These are the recognized forms of fasting. Yet, there is another, and perhaps 
much more important, classification which is seldom given mention or even known 
about. This is therapeutic fasting — total abstinence from all food, but not water. The purpose of therapeutic fasting is the promotion and restoration of health. It is 
associated with experimental and physiological fasting in the sense that studies of 
the latter provide the knowledge and information which make therapeutic fasting 
possible. Therapeutic fasting is not the result of any particular new scientific discovery,   4 but rather has proceeded to its present development as the result of centuries of 
experimentation, observation and study. It is today the culmination of a large 
number of scientific investigations and discoveries which have reached their cli-
max during the past century. Fasting for therapeutic purposes is thus an impor-
tant, though in popular conception, almost unknown, phase of the modern science 
of medicine, and as such it is the subject of our present inquiry and analysis. II A Short History of Fasting 
THE ORIGIN OF FASTING for illness perhaps dates back the development of 
the present forms of animal life. Among undomesticated animals it is a common practice to fast when ill, though 
this is of course an instinctive procedure rather than a planned therapeutic meas-
ure. The first records of human fasting for the remedy of disease go back to the 
ancient civilizations of Greece and the Near East. Both Plato and Socrates are 
said to have fasted for 10 days at a time to "attain mental and physical efficiency. " Pythagoras fasted for 40 days before taking his examination at the University of 
Alexandria, and then he also required his pupils to fast before they could enter his 
class. The ancient Egyptians were said to treat syphilis with their fasting cures, 
and the great Greek physician, Hippocrates, prescribed fasting during the critical 
periods of disease. Asclepiades and Thessalus employed fasting; Celsus is said 
to have used it in the treatment of jaundice and epilepsy, and the Arab physician, 
Avicenna, prescribed fasting for three to five weeks at a time. Later Tertullian 
wrote of fasting, and Plutarch said: "Instead of using medicine better fast a day. " 5 During the sixteenth century, the renowned Swiss physician, Paracelsus 
claimed that, "Fasting is the greatest remedy. " In the seventeenth century, Dr. Hoffman wrote a book entitled, Description of the Magnificent Results Obtained 
Through Fasting in All Diseases. Dr. Anton Nikolai followed in the next century 
with recommendations of fasting instead of food for those who were ill. Later Dr. Von Seeland, of Russia, wrote: "As a result of experiments I have come to the 
conclusion that fasting is not only a therapeutic of the highest degree possible but 
also deserves consideration educationally. " In Germany, Dr. Adolph Mayer as-
serted that "fasting is the most efficient means of correcting any disease," and Dr. Moeller wrote that "fasting is the only natural evolutionary method whereby 
through a systemic cleansing you can restore yourself by degrees to physiologic 
normality. " It has been during the past century that the greater portion of scientific 
data has been gathered. Both Europe (in particular, Germany) and America have 
contributed heavily to the research on experimental and physiological fasting. Hundreds of publications have been the result of this work and they provide thor-
ough and exact knowledge regarding many phases of fasting. Among the best 
known research scientists who studied fasting were: Sergius Morgulis, Professor 
of Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine; Professor 
Child, of the University of Chicago; Herbert Sidney Langfield, of Harvard Univer-
sity; Dr. Frederick M. Allen, of the Rockefeller Institute; Francis Gano Benedict and 
Ernest G. Ritzman, of the Carnegie Institute; Luigi Luciani, Professor of Physiol-
ogy at the University of Rome; and Victor Pashutin, Director of the Imperial Mili-
tary Medical Academy of pre-revolutionary Russia. Other scientific studies of fast-
ing have been made by N. Pyaskovski, W Skorczewski,, N. J. Sands, A. Cleghorn, 
N. Morozov, P B. Hawk, P F. Howe, O. S. Soltz, C. A. Stewart, S. R. Wreath, C. M. Jackson, L. H. Hyman, N. Zuntz, Roger et Josue, Miescher, Mansfield,   6 Rosenfeld and many others. All told, during the past century, hundreds of scien-
tific workers in many countries have added to our knowledge of the biological im-
portance of fasting. In contrast to these scientists, who were concerned primarily with developing 
laboratory data from studies of experimental and physiological fasting, chiefly 
among animals and to a lesser extent among humans, we have the other men of 
science who were concerned with the clinical and therapeutic phases of fasting. They supervised tens of thousands of fasts, and as a result discovered the exact 
effectiveness of fasting as a remedy for specific diseases. Among these physi-
cians were many of the nineteenth century, in addition to those now practicing. They include, among others: Dr. Isaac Jennings, Dr. Joel Shew, Dr. Russell 
Thacker Trail, Dr. Robert Walter, Dr. Henry S. Tanner, and Dr. Edward Hooker 
Dewey. The experience of these men was followed in the twentieth century by that 
of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard; Dr. Hereward Harrington; Dr. Eugene A. Bergholtz, 
of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Dr. John M. Tilden, of Denver, Colorado; Dr. William 
Howard Hay, of Mount Pocana, Pennsylvania, and Dr. George S. Weger, of Red-
lands, California. Today Dr. Herbert Shelton, of San Antonio, Texas, carries on the 
important work, and Doctors Esser, Benesh, McEachen, Gross, and Scott are also 
making important contributions. History thus affords evidence of the considerable amount scientific and clinical 
work done to determine the effects fasting. The therapeutic measure is not a new 
and untried method, but on the contrary has been recognized for centuries and 
has been studied by some of the most brilliant minds in the science of medicine 
and related fields. The importance of these studies may be readily seen upon ex-
amination of the unique record of fasting, as regards its curative influence in the 
case of many specific diseases. A careful scientific appraisal of therapeutic fasting   7 may then be of significance to both the physician and layman. IlI Physiological Reactions to Fasting 
THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION of the forms of human pathology are 
governed by the physiological and chemical reactions that are taking place. Any-
thing that induces such reactions plays a role in determining the state of human 
health. Whenever food is withheld from consumption beyond the usual period in 
the case of man or other animals there are certain changes in the function, chemi-
cal reactions and life processes of the cells and tissues. It is these changes which 
give fasting its therapeutic properties. By considering the physiological reactions to 
fasting we can thus gain an understanding of the reasons which determine its 
therapeutic value. Of great importance among the physiological effects of fasting is rejuvenes-
cence — the acquiring of fresh vitality and renewal of youthful characteristics to 
the cells and tissues of the body. Evidence of such regeneration comes from 
many quarters and is particularly impressing with respect to experimental work 
done with the various forms of lower animal life. Such work may then be given first 
consideration. The British scientist, Prof. Huxley, has carried out experiments with young pla-
naria, more commonly known as earthworms. He fed an entire colony of these 
worms their usual foods. One of the worms was isolated from the rest and fasted 
at periodic intervals. In all other respects its diet and mode of life were similar to 
those of the other worms. The isolated worm lived while 19 generations of worms   9 the nucleus. Morphologically, therefore, the cells composing the entire organism 
assume a more youthful condition. They resemble more the embryonic cells in this 
respect, and this may account for the expansive growth which they display under 
the proper nutritive regime. " One of the characteristics of old age is a decrease in the metabolic rate. It is in-
teresting to note, in this connection, that fasting produces rejuvenation by inducing 
a permanent increase in the metabolic rate. In experiments conducted at the Hull 
Biological Laboratory of the University of Chicago, both dogs and humans were 
fasted for extended periods. In fasts of from 30 to 40 days a five to six per cent in-
crease in the metabolic rate was observed. Of course rejuvenation does not occur in man to the extent that it does in the 
lowest forms of animal life. However, the effects of rejuvenescence are neverthe-
less very noticeable in the case of human fasting.
The text does not specify the exact forms of fasting mentioned, but it does mention various types such as fruit, milk, and water fasts, as well as religious, professional, physiological, and pathological fasting.
What are the different forms of fasting mentioned in the passage?
The passage mentions the following physicians: Dr. Shelton, Dr. Hay, Dr. Weger, Dr. Tilden, Dr. Hazzard, Dr. Guelpa, Dr. Alsaker, Dr. Weger, Dr. Hay, Dr. Shelton, Dr. Benesh, Dr. Tilden, and Dr. Morgulis.
Who are some of the renowned physicians mentioned in the passage?
The passage highlights the benefits of therapeutic fasting, including rejuvenation, autolysis of abnormal growths, improvement in assimilation, increased elimination, and restoration of health. It also mentions that it can cure various diseases, such as anemia, diabetes, and cancer.
What are some of the benefits of therapeutic fasting?
The passage mentions that therapeutic fasting has been used to treat various diseases, including anemia, leukemia, appendicitis, asthma, bronchitis, cancer, colitis, epilepsy, goiter, gout, hay fever, and various skin and venereal diseases.
What are some of the diseases that can be treated with therapeutic fasting?
The passage does not provide specific criteria for determining the end of a therapeutic fast, but it does mention that the return of hunger and the clearing of the tongue are important indicators that the fast is complete.
What are the criteria for determining the end of a therapeutic fast?