Therapeutic fasting according to Ayurveda: Spring cleaning for body and soul

Heilfasten nach Ayurveda

In Ayurveda , a thousand-year-old traditional healing art from India, the topic of therapeutic fasting is central to treatment. Fasting is much more than just abstaining from food. It's always about letting go of the old and creating something new. In this way we can experience transformation processes on a holistic level: on a physical level, cleansing processes are stimulated and on a mental level we come into closer contact with our true self, very similar to the I·DO Body & Mind fasting treatment . For this reason, we want to delve a little deeper into the topic of Ayurveda and therapeutic fasting.

How do Ayurveda and fasting fit together?

Almost all cultures and traditions have a fasting period. This also applies to Ayurveda, a traditional Indian healing art. Translated, Ayurveda means the knowledge for a long, happy and healthy life. Even though Ayurveda is a healing method that is thousands of years old, the methods and applications are still timeless. The aim is to create a balanced state of body and mind. The holistic approach also includes nutritional science. According to Ayurveda, food intake has two central aspects: On the one hand, food provides us with the necessary building blocks of life and at the same time it serves to maintain physical, mental and spiritual balance.

Ayurvedic spring cleaning

As important as proper nutrition is; From an Ayurvedic perspective, fasting is the ultimate remedy. The positive effect is reflected in increased lightness (physical and mental), more well-being and weight loss. According to the Ayurvedic annual calendar, spring is particularly suitable for a fasting and cleansing treatment, because that's when the body does " spring cleaning " anyway and you can strengthen yourself with new vitality and lightness after the winter.

Fasting as a healing method

The so-called langaham (fasting) is seen in Ayurveda as a wonderful tool to help yourself achieve more balance. According to the traditional Ayurvedic therapeutic fasting, the aim of a fasting treatment on a physical level is to strengthen the digestive fire (Agni) and stimulate the metabolism. On a mental level, deep self-knowledge can be gained that helps to get rid of old patterns and dependencies.

How is a fasting cure structured in Ayurveda?

In Ayurveda, great emphasis is placed on the correct structure of a fasting regimen. The relief day serves as preparation for the more intensive fasting days. This allows your body and mind to calm down. The fasting phase is accompanied by applications such as oral hygiene (tongue scraper and oil pulling) as well as other morning routines. This includes yoga and meditation sessions, as well as self-massages. Special attention is also paid to the build-up day at the end of the fasting regimen, as this can have a decisive influence on the long-term success of the fasting experience.

Panchakarma fasting cures

Anyone interested in Ayurveda will sooner or later come across the term Panchakarma . This refers to an Ayurvedic treatment that consists of a wide variety of external and internal treatments that serve to prevent or treat illnesses and restore the balance between body and mind. Such a Panchakarma treatment is a wonderful experience but also a great investment: both in terms of time and money. If you decide to fast at home, you can start with fasting boxes like the Body & Mind fasting cure and with the all-in-one package you will also be well looked after in your own four walls.