FASTING AS A CURE FOR DISEASE

FASTING AS A CURE FOR DISEASE

IN certain maladies, fasting is a necessity; as, for example, in cases of ulceration of the stomach; in cholera infantum, cholera morbus, Asiatic cholera, appendicitis; infact, in most acute bowel disorders all food should be withheld until the symptoms of the onset have subsided. Acute gastritis often necessitates the withholding of food for a few days, as do also severe cases of gastralgia and vomiting. Many chronic disorders are greatly benefited by temporary withholding of food. This is especially true of conditions which are commonly designated as biliousness.

In ordinary cases, however, total abstinence from food is seldom necessary. It is only essential that certain foods should be withheld, especially fats and proteins, or nitrogenous foods, such as eggs, meats, milk, and other foods rich in proteins. Fats prevent the formation of hydrochloric acid, which is the natural disinfectant of the stomach. Proteins encourage the growth of germs. Hence both these food elements are injurious in cases in which the stomach is foul, as indicated by a foul tongue and foul-smelling fecal discharges.

Cereal foods are less objectionable, because of the small amount of protein which they contain, but fruits are especially adapted to these cases, for the reason that the organic acids they contain are very effective germ destroyers. Thus fruit has a most important disinfectant action upon the stomach and bowels. A fruit diet or a diet consisting of fruits, with a small allowance of dry bread, thoroughly toasted bread, or zwieback, is the most effective means of purifying the alimentary canal. This is accordingly an essential measure in nearly all eases of chronic disease. A fruit diet thus affords all the advantages of fasting, with some additional advantages, and is decidedly more comfortable. Except in the cases previously mentioned, abstinence from food is seldom required.