Which fasting method is suitable for what, and can detox cures remove environmental toxins?

Since time immemorial people have sought ways to prolong their youthful beauty and slow down the ageing process. Today the human organism is exposed to more environmental toxins than ever before – through food, air or water. Conventional vegetables can contain pesticides, chips or fries can contain acrylamide, and animal products frequently contain antibiotic residues. The list could go on.

That gives more than one good reason to detox regularly. So are fasting cures a suitable choice, and what is the difference between the best-known forms of fasting?

Learn more about the effects of two very different fasting methods: therapeutic fasting (Heilfasten) and alkaline fasting (Basenfasten).

Fasting is not just fasting!

Most people who choose a fasting cure usually have a very good reason: their health, and for some their appearance. Fasting has always been a way to stimulate the metabolism, rid oneself of physical and emotional burdens, and return to better health. But what are the differences between the various fasting methods, which is suitable for what purpose, and what exactly are the bodily effects?

Differences between alkaline fasting and therapeutic fasting

Alkaline fasting is the first choice for many people because it is easy to implement and can be integrated into everyday life. But classic therapeutic fasting is also a very popular cleansing cure, especially in spring. Both forms of fasting have a positive effect on the human body. So what are the differences?

While therapeutic fasting has a long tradition in many cultures, alkaline fasting can be traced back to the naturopath and author Sabine Wacker.

With alkaline fasting the body is deacidified over a certain period, at least seven days. The great advantage of this method is: you are allowed to eat, albeit only alkaline foods. Acid-forming foods are omitted. Alkaline fasting primarily focuses on preventive deacidification of the body to strengthen it and balance the acid–base equilibrium. Alkaline fasting is particularly suitable for people who want to cleanse themselves but find the step to complete food abstinence, as in therapeutic fasting, too great. You can find a guide to alkaline fasting here.

Therapeutic fasting, by contrast, means complete or partial abstinence from food, depending on the fasting method. Therapeutic fasting activates the body's self-healing powers. Many fasters report a cleansing effect on the body as well as the mind.

“Fasting is a capability that every living being – human, animal or plant – on this planet possesses. If no food is available or one voluntarily refrains from it, one can live off these stored reserves.”

Dr Françoise Wilhelmi de Toledo, author of the book Heilfasten

What happens during therapeutic fasting compared with alkaline fasting?

The human being can survive only a few minutes without oxygen. He can go without water for several days. Without food he can manage for weeks.

True therapeutic fasting means refraining from solid food for a few days up to 30 days (or even longer) and consuming only water. But there are other therapeutic fasting variants, for example the Buchinger method, which also allows juices, vegetable broth and herbal teas. (See Dr Françoise Wilhelmi de Toledo: Heilfasten) The Mayr cure, in which dry bread rolls are permitted, is also counted among therapeutic fasting cures, as is the Schroth cure, where thin rice or oat porridge or salt-free, low-fat vegetarian dishes are given. Robert Morse describes, in addition to “water fasting”, three further fasting types: raw food fasting, fruit fasting and juice fasting. (See Robert Morse: Das Detox-Wunder. pp. 327ff) The Breuss method is also a well-known juice-based fasting cure that is particularly suitable in spring. (See Jürgen H. Thomar: Heilfasten nach Rudolf Breuss)

As a rule, coffee, black or green tea and alcoholic beverages are omitted in all fasting types. Soft drinks do not belong in the faster's fridge either.

Changed metabolism during therapeutic fasting: autophagy and ketosis

One of the greatest differences is that with therapeutic fasting, when food is completely abstained from, the metabolism not only slows down but also shifts completely to so-called autophagy, which literally means “self-digestion”. This refers to the process by which accumulated “cellular waste” (such as misfolded proteins or damaged organelles) is processed and converted into endogenous proteins in a complex process. The advantage is that the cell regenerates instead of dying, which is particularly beneficial in older years when cell renewal often no longer works as well.

In addition to autophagy, during therapeutic fasting the body also switches to ketosis (fat metabolism). While the body normally gains energy from sugar – glucose being converted to the energy carrier ATP with the help of oxygen – in ketosis energy is obtained from stored fats.

Because alkaline fasting allows eating, neither autophagy nor ketosis occurs here. By eating alkaline foods, the normal metabolism is maintained. Alkaline fasting focuses on deacidification. This results in the elimination of waste and toxins while the body continues to be supplied with plenty of vital nutrients.

Do you have to starve during therapeutic fasting?

The saying “Who starves is not fasting, but not getting enough to eat” hits the nail on the head. Those who decide to fast do so voluntarily and with the awareness that this is a way to activate the inner healer.

Nevertheless: hunger rarely occurs. Due to regular bowel cleanses in the form of enemas and the switch to ketogenic metabolism, the feeling of hunger during therapeutic fasting is usually limited. Fundamentally the body knows two programmes: intake of food from outside and from within. In the “from-within programme” the hunger signal is suppressed by enemas and the hunger hormone ghrelin is no longer released.

That means: although during therapeutic fasting – unlike alkaline fasting – you do not eat, you do not feel hungry! Those who opt for alkaline fasting will not feel hungry anyway because they may eat their fill of alkaline foods.

Are the effects on health and wellbeing the same for both methods?

Because alkaline fasting reduces and eliminates acids in the body, it has a directly noticeable positive effect on wellbeing. Physical symptoms attributable to acidosis are reduced over time by omitting acid-forming foods.

Therapeutic fasting, however, has a very long tradition for good reason. The effects on body and mind can be very profound and have been scientifically documented in studies for more than 100 years.

Two physicians brought therapeutic fasting from traditional practice into a scientific context and thus caused a revival in the Western world around the turn of the 19th century – the two US physicians Henri Tanner and Edward Hooker Dewey. Tanner conducted a 42-day fasting study at the Medical College of the United States in New York. Dewey also researched the therapeutic effects of fasting. Both inspired the two German physicians Gustav Riedlin from Freiburg and Siegfried Möller from Dresden, who in turn influenced the well-known patriarch of therapeutic fasting in this country, Otto Buchinger. He – seriously ill himself – was able to cure his arthritic condition through a fasting cure. He was living proof that autophagy and ketosis can bring about a profound cleansing of cells and tissues, thereby reducing inflammatory processes and improving pain and mobility restrictions. (More on the Buchinger–Wilhelmi method, considered the mother of all fasting cures: Francoise Wilhelmi de Toledo: Heilfasten)

For which symptoms can therapeutic fasting help?

After Otto Buchinger devoted himself entirely to this method following his own recovery and was able to help many people, modern science also shows the many positive health effects of therapeutic fasting. Successes have been demonstrated for inflammatory-rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis [See study], for metabolic, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and chronic pain conditions as well as for migraine. Fasting therapy is also useful and helpful for degenerative joint diseases (osteoarthritis). [See study] [See Kneipp Physicians’ Association]

One of the largest scientific studies to date on the effects of Buchinger therapeutic fasting was carried out under the direction of Dr med. Françoise Wilhelmi de Toledo and her team at the traditional Buchinger Wilhelmi clinic on Lake Constance in cooperation with Prof. Dr Andreas Michalsen of Charité University Hospital Berlin. They found that

• fasting leads to significant weight loss, reduced waist circumference and decreased cholesterol and blood lipid levels,
• blood pressure is reduced and diabetes parameters such as blood sugar and HbA1c improved, with all the downstream factors that would otherwise possibly affect cardiovascular health,
• serious health complaints, such as type 2 diabetes as well as fatty liver and hypercholesterolaemia, high blood pressure and states of exhaustion, improved.

[See study]

Effect on the psyche: therapeutic fasting makes you happy

While alkaline fasting produces a cosy feeling and a sense of lightness and buoyancy, therapeutic fasting often produces a real euphoria from the fourth or fifth day. The faster can experience a feeling of joy throughout the body. The senses are sharpened and the mind is less occupied with repetitive negative thought spirals. It is more as if the mind becomes freer and thoughts focus more on the positive qualities of inner strength and creative energy.

But not only the fasting highs are noteworthy. During therapeutic fasting there can also be – especially in the first days – emotional fasting crises, which may manifest as temporary intense depression or emotions such as anger, unexplained grief or even excessive laughter. These emotions usually pass very quickly and are only a sign that something old is being expelled that neither the body nor the soul needs. (See also detox symptoms: Robert Morse: Das Detox-Wunder. pp. 317ff)

Physical detox symptoms: the “healing crisis”

With alkaline fasting the body is gently cleansed and in most cases the physical detox symptoms remain limited.

With therapeutic fasting, however – and this should be known in advance – detox symptoms can range from mild to very severe. Mild detox symptoms according to Robert Morse include skin rashes, sticky eyes, mild headaches or slightly blurred vision. Severe detox symptoms – and here you should seek support at the latest – include severe dizziness, black mucus from the lungs or the reappearance of old symptoms.

Fortunately, these severe symptoms are usually temporary and are an expression of a healing crisis on the physical level. Many people report much more energy after such a crisis, reduced tumour sizes, diminished lymph node swellings, improved circulation, better eyesight, a younger appearance and much more.

If such a healing crisis should occur, it is essential to know how to deal with it and which natural remedies are available. Important measures include drinking plenty of water, and compresses with castor oil are also very helpful. Robert Morse offers valuable tips in his book on how to cope with fasting crises.

To reduce any detox symptoms, both methods require a careful bowel cleansing through enemas – in true therapeutic fasting this can be supplemented with Epsom salts. Mineral earths such as zeolite can also support detoxification and the removal of toxins.

The difference at a glance

Conclusion: Which fasting method is suitable for what, and can detox cures remove environmental toxins?

Alkaline fasting is the right choice if you want a long-term dietary change and are looking for a fasting method that can be easily integrated into everyday life. Alkaline fasting is a gentle method with which you can bring your acid–base balance into equilibrium, deacidify your body preventively and increase your long-term sense of wellbeing. For many people alkaline fasting is also the entry point to a “true” therapeutic fasting cure with food abstinence.

Both fasting forms are valuable measures that can help activate your self-healing powers and thus strengthen and maintain your health. Which fasting method you choose ultimately depends on your own goals and your individual constitution.

The question of whether fasting helps to remove environmental toxins was confirmed by a study from the Buchinger Wilhelmi Clinic in Überlingen with regard to heavy metals. Around 109 participants were examined during a 10-week fasting period and in all of them the concentration of arsenic and nickel in urine had decreased after just 10 days of fasting. [See study]

“Urinary arsenic content fell by 72% and nickel content by 15%.
Lead was no longer detectable after fasting.
Mercury content remained unchanged.
Chromium and cobalt were measurable only in traces before fasting.
Furthermore, glyphosate, an ingredient of the pesticide Roundup, was detected in 9 people at the start of fasting, but not after fasting.”

[See study]

Disclaimer

People with thyroid disorders, severe organ diseases, tumours, mental illnesses and eating disorders, as well as those with acute infections, must not undergo therapeutic fasting. Children and older people as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women should also refrain from therapeutic fasting. For these groups, an alkaline fasting cure may be an option, but medical advice should be sought in advance. Further information on contraindications can be found here or from the Kneipp Physicians’ Association.

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