Our new Body & Mind fasting cure is based on the original method of Dr. Otto Buchinger I - a German doctor who is considered the founder of therapeutic fasting. But what exactly is the method all about, how does therapeutic fasting according to Buchinger work and what makes the cure so special? We answer all the important questions.
Otto Buchinger – doctor and pioneer of therapeutic fasting
As the son of a civil servant, the young Otto Buchinger I initially followed his father's wish to study law. However, his passion for medicine soon led him to his true calling. So he changed his field of study and earned his doctorate at the University of Giessen. He then worked as a military doctor in the Imperial Navy.
But as is often the case in life, everything suddenly changed for Buchinger - severe tonsillitis and the health consequences of it cost him his job. He suffered from severe rheumatism in his joints, which could not be treated with the treatments known at the time.
After two years, Buchinger decided to abandon the tried and tested methods and look for answers outside of conventional medicine. He ended up with a doctor friend and under his supervision completed a three-week fasting cure. And lo and behold: abstaining from solid food and consciously dealing with his own body led to an alleviation of his symptoms - and thus to the birth of the Buchinger fast .
Driven by his own success, Otto Buchinger I studied everything there was to know about therapeutic fasting and opened his own clinic in 1920 to pass on his knowledge to others. By linking mental and physical health, he created a holistic approach that is still practiced today - including in the fourth generation at the Buchinger Clinic .
What characterizes the Buchinger fast?
Buchinger's fasting involves much more than simply abstaining from solid food. It focuses not only on the body, but also on the mind and soul, which are supposed to find rest during the fasting cure. Buchinger therefore also referred to therapeutic fasting as a "diet for the soul". The aim of Buchinger's fast is to trigger the body's own self-cleansing processes and thus activate the healing powers.
Otto Buchinger I used this method to treat numerous health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and gout. Even today, therapeutic fasting is a popular tool for pausing and cleansing the body, mind and soul.
How does Buchinger fasting work?
In contrast to total fasting, the Buchinger fast involves consuming around 200 to 300 calories a day through vegetable broth, freshly squeezed juices and teas. Solid food is completely avoided. The cure is therefore also referred to as a low-calorie drinking diet. The fasting period is traditionally between two and four weeks. The Buchinger fast is basically divided into three phases , which are also part of our Body & Mind fasting cure:
1. Preparation
During the relief days, the body is prepared for therapeutic fasting. The calorie intake is reduced through light food, which gradually changes the metabolism. At I·DO, we use four coordinated raw food juices for a day. Finally, the stomach is completely emptied, which is traditionally done using Glauber's salt according to the Buchinger method.
2nd fasting phase
From now on, only water, tea, organic vegetable broth and fresh juices are drunk daily. The digestive tract calms down, the body changes its metabolism and begins ketosis , in which the fat reserves are used to generate energy. In order to relieve the intestines, bowel movements are carried out regularly during longer fasting cures.
Otto Buchinger was keen to pay attention to the psyche during the fasting phase . Exercise in the fresh air, self-care sessions and mindful workouts such as yoga are expressly encouraged during the Buchinger fast. The physical activity helps to clear the head and also prevents the body from tapping into too much protein from the muscles.
To support the mental aspect of the treatment, our Body & Mind fasting package is equipped with beneficial extras, such as alkaline bath salts, a dry brush and a Redondo Ball.
Tip: In the first few days of the fasting cure, you may experience mild side effects such as headaches and dizziness. These usually subside quickly – and you get a fasting high!
3. Breaking the fast
Otto Buchinger I celebrated the end of the fast - the so-called breaking of the fast - in his clinic by handing out an apple. In the following recovery days, the body gradually gets used to solid food again. It should gradually be given more calories: on the first day around 800 kcal, on the second around 1,000 kcal, then 1,200 kcal and on the fourth day around 1,600 kcal. The body gradually begins to gain energy from the carbohydrates provided and ends ketosis.
By the way: Easily digestible raw food is the optimal choice for breaking the fast, which is why we once again rely on the energy boost from fresh juices for our Body & Mind fasting cure.
What are the benefits of Buchinger’s therapeutic fasting cure?
Buchinger himself was convinced that his fasting method could alleviate numerous health problems. Physical ailments such as obesity, high blood pressure and migraines as well as mental illnesses are still treated using his model today.
According to the German Nutrition Society (DGE), there are scientifically proven effects of therapeutic fasting for certain complaints, for example for metabolic syndrome, chronic inflammation or psychosomatic illnesses. Overall, however, the data on effectiveness is quite limited, which is why the success of fasting cannot be guaranteed and always depends on the individual case.
As an introduction to a conscious lifestyle, Buchinger fasting is always advisable for healthy people. This is because the conscious abstinence and careful handling of body and mind train self-perception and awareness of one's own (eating) behavior. The therapeutic fasting cure thus functions as an energizing new start.
Who is the Buchinger fast suitable for?
The traditional therapeutic fasting according to Buchinger is used both for health prevention and for the treatment of certain diseases. The fasting cure is usually supervised by a doctor or carried out in a fasting clinic. This ensures that the method meets the needs of the patient and is carried out correctly. Anyone who wants to combat health problems with a therapeutic fasting cure should definitely discuss this with an expert.
In order to bring body, mind and soul into balance, healthy people can also undertake a fasting cure on their own. But even here, you shouldn't just give up solid food overnight. With the help of special fasting packages such as our Body & Mind cure, starting and sticking to the fast is made much easier.
Therapeutic fasting according to Buchinger with the Body & Mind fasting package from I·DO
Based on Otto Buchinger's holistic approach, we want to guide you through your therapeutic fasting cure. Our fasting box for home contains all the important utensils - from delicious juices for the relief and recovery days to tools for your mental well-being.
In our Body & Mind All-in-One Fasting Cure Box you will find delicious fruit and vegetable juices such as celery juice , as well as a delicious organic vegetable broth, a fasting tea and essential oils that will calm your mind. The enclosed fasting guide takes you step by step through the cure so that you can devote yourself fully to your health - easily from home, even alongside work and family.
Text: Janina Widhammer-Zintl
