Fasting
Fasting
INTRODUCTION
Fasting is the abstinence from food or drink, or both, for health, ritualistic, religious, or ethical reasons. Abstinence can be complete or partial, long or short in duration, or intermittent. Fasting has been promoted and practiced throughout history by physicians, religious founders and followers, culturally designated individuals (e.g., hunters or candidates for initiation rites), and individuals or groups as an expression of protest violations of social, ethical, or political principles.
FASTING IN NATUROPATHY
As promoted by Naturopathy, fasting therapy is an all-natural path to good health and overall well-being. Fasting allows digestive organs to restore health and efficiency that has been disrupted by modern eating habits. Sedentary lifestyles and poor dietary choices can be blamed for putting us in clinics more frequently than we would like.
Food digestion requires a lot of energy; therefore, skipping meals will save this energy, which will then be used to repair our bodies’ flaws. Fasting is the process of redirecting the energy saved from digestion to internal cleaning and repair of our bodies. When the person responsible for providing fresh food to the family stops cooking and instead spends that time and energy cleaning and repairing the house, the family members become dependent on readymade food items.
Hunger pangs disappear eight to ten hours after the fast begins, as the body begins to break down stored fat to release energy. However, fasting therapy cannot be started or stopped abruptly. There is a set procedure for starting and ending the fast. Fasting therapy should be done under an experienced and skilled naturopath’s supervision to reap the full benefits. Animals are the best teachers for fasting therapy. Their lives are unaffected by the complications of a civilized society, and they live according to natural laws. As a result, when they don’t feel well, they stop eating, and the healing process begins automatically within their bodies. fasting, one must forego food and rely solely on water and air. In this case, the body begins to use stored fat to generate energy.
Akash Tatva chikitsa through fasting
Abstract And he knew that the food was Brahman.
From food, all beings are born
By food, they live and into food, they return
TAIITIRIYA UPANISHAD
The first word for Brahman, the supreme Godhead, is anna, which means food. The universe is made up of food. Atman, the inner self, is the eater of the food that is everything. Everything we see is food for the soul. Our spiritual development is dependent on our ability to eat and digest the food that sustains us. Food is the foundation of our existence, prana. The researcher takes the readers and practitioners through the scientific process of fasting and how it helps in maintaining and boosting the Akash tattva (the space element-a key element of panchamahabhutas), which plays an important role in balancing body mind, and soul.
Disease and Fasting
Have you ever wondered what would happen if we didn’t take drugs for every sneeze, headache, cut, and wound and instead gave our bodies a chance to heal themselves??? Most people do not truly live; they merely exist.
They are so full of toxic poisons that living is difficult. Believe that it is only we who can put an end to our miseries and live a healthy, peaceful life, and that ‘Fasting Therapy’ will help us do just that.
There are millions of bacteria in food, water, and air that keep themselves in a state of equilibrium. When conditions are favourable, bacteria multiply enormously, implying that a fertile soil is required for bacteria to gain a sufficient foothold and dominate. Nature’s rule states that autointoxication or self-poisoning causes nearly all diseases, either directly or indirectly. Nature cure treatment aims to kill bacteria and cure disease by cleansing, overhauling, and detoxifying the system through fasting, lemon water, and enema. Fasting is not the same as starvation. Fasting is beneficial; starvation is harmful. Fasting allows all organs, including the stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas, as well as the kidneys and lungs, to rest. Fasting is an extremely cleansing device – an overhauling and purifying process. Periodic fasting is very important to keep both healthy, but fasting for longer periods should be done under the supervision of an expert/naturopath.
Psychology of Fasting
Fasting must be practiced under the right conditions and in the right frame of mind. If one is concerned about toxins accumulating in the body or becoming overweight, the fast will be ineffective. Instead of complete rest and relaxation, there will be tension. Such fasting is not natural; it is motivated by desire rather than necessity and disrupts the body’s metabolism. This type of process is better referred to as starvation rather than fasting. You’ll notice the psychological pull that hunger and taste have on you, as well as your habitual approach and attitude toward food. This is a technique for not only discovering the inner workings of the body and mind but also for developing mental strength and willpower. When done correctly, fasting can be very relaxing. As the body slows down, so does the mind, and this can be felt in the following ways:
- Breathing is freer;
- There is greater ease of movement;
- That ‘tired’ feeling fades;
- Fullness and discomfort in the abdomen are quickly replaced by lightness;
- And blood pressure is reduced
Fasting Instructions
The length of the fast is determined by the patient’s age, the nature of the disease, and the amount and type of drugs used. Previously employed. It is sometimes advisable to start with two or three short fasts and gradually increase the duration of each succeeding fast by a day or so. Fasting patients will not suffer any harm if they rest and receive proper professional care. Water, juices, or raw vegetable juices are fasting methods. Lime juice fasting is the best, safest, and most effective method. During fasting, the body burns up and excretes massive amounts of waste. Drinking alkaline juices can aid in the cleansing process. Because the sugars in juices strengthen the heart, juice fasting is the best type of fasting. All juices should be made from fresh fruit right before drinking. Juices that have been canned or frozen should not be used. The complete emptying of the stomach is a precautionary measure that must be followed in all cases of fasting. the bowels by enema at the start of the fast so that the patient is not bothered by gas or decomposing matter formed from the excrements remaining in the body. During the fasting period, enemas should be used at least every other day. A total of six to eight glasses of liquid should be consumed. During the fast, a lot of energy is expended in the process of eliminating accumulated poisons and toxic waste materials. It is therefore critical that the patient gets as much physical and mental rest as possible during the fast.
The Breaking of the Fast
The success of a fast is largely determined by how it is broken.
The main rules for breaking are to not overeat, to eat slowly and thoroughly, and to take several days to gradually transition back to a normal diet. The ideal time to break fast is when ‘true hunger’ symptoms such as clear tongue, sweet breath, clean taste in the mouth, clear urine, glowing face with sparkling eyes, and freshness with full energy return. There are signs that the body has finished cleansing and is ready to resume eating. The fast should be broken gradually. After the water fast, begin with fruits and vegetable juices, salads, and sprouts before transitioning to a normal cooked diet. Fasting is not a cure in and of itself, but it allows the body’s recuperative forces to focus their full energies on resolving the problem. This incredible secret power is within.
Fasting Misconceptions
1. Weight Loss: Losing weight is only one aspect of maintaining or restoring good health, but it is an important one.
2. Malnutrition: People believe that food is the only source of energy for our bodies. They will starve their bodies if they fast, but fasting and starvation are not the same thing are two entirely different ideas. It is fasting as long as the body supports itself on stored reserves within its tissue and body functions run smoothly. When these stored reserves are depleted or fall to dangerously low levels, starvation occurs.
3. Deficiency: We humans are creatures of habit. If we skip a meal, we experience giddiness and weakness while fasting. The truth is that it only appears during the cleansing process of the body while fasting, and once completed, the body gains new vigor and vitality. Every time you make a ‘garbage can’ of your stomach, you pay a high price. Do not be a food slave. Fasting is the only way to cleanse yourself on the inside. Nobody can do it for you; it’s a private matter. It costs nothing more than a strong positive will. There are no quick fixes for good health. You can’t buy it; you have to earn it through good health habits. Fasting is a regal path to inner purity. So, what are you still waiting for? Make it a habit to fast completely for 24-36 hours. Use your common sense and eat natural, uncontaminated food. Fasting therapy allows you to eat intelligently while also enjoying glorious health.
BENEFITS OF FASTING
Fasting has a variety of health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, improved insulin sensitivity, lower blood sugar, cell reformation and recycling, detoxification, and so on. Fasting activates your body’s protective mechanisms and encourages you to live a healthier, fuller, happier life. It also assists you in better-assessing hunger levels and portion sizes, which are important factors in determining your health in later life. Fasting allows you to listen to your body’s needs and make healthy decisions to ensure longevity and good health. The best type of fasting for your body can be determined after taking into account a variety of deciding factors such as age, lifestyle, illness type, and so on. Fasting for seasonal allergies provides significant relief in combating illnesses brought on by changes in weather, as well as fighting digestive disorders such as gas formation and indigestion.
Fasting also improves glucose tolerance and increases insulin sensitivity.
Removes toxins and poisons from the bloodstream, thus purifying the system.
Rests vital organs, giving them time to regain functionality and health.
Improves overall immunity while also promoting inner peace and calm.
Increases metabolism, decreases fat layers and aids in weight loss.
KALP CHIKITSA: To live solely on buttermilk, seasonal fruits, water, and juices (any one of the above and intake only that for the whole day) for a minimum of three days, five days, seven days, and fifteen days.
