MEDICAL FASTING FOR PAIN

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Anyone (like me) who constantly suffers from pain and other complaints has to come up with something and get creative at some point. I can call myself a luxury pain patient because I am cared for by a competent and highly empathetic pain doctor, a neurosurgeon (including a pain nurse). If I'm feeling too bad, he'll even visit me at home, regardless of whether he ends up paying for it or not. Many patients don't even come close to a doctor like that, I know that from you. They are sent away with complaints and are not taken seriously.

Nevertheless, with my collected diagnoses (after eardrum rupture, failed operations, hardcore tinnitus, sudden hearing loss, Epstein-Barr infection and Pfeiffer's disease, Gerbershagen III pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, migraines, etc.) there will come a time when there is no longer any adequate help. At least no quick-acting help from the pharmacy, the opposite is more likely the case. All the medications used to relieve our various symptoms come with countless side effects. For me, the undesirable effects always outweighed the desired effects in the end. So I kept trying something out, whether analgesics, antiepileptics, antidepressants, triptans, etc., and at some point I had to stop taking them. Some faster than others because the side effects were too severe.

In any case, at some point, many years ago, I became interested in asceticism. A type of discipline regarding nutrition, i.e. culinary delights (not with regard to sexuality). Food abstinence is known from many religions, for example Ramadan, but I am an atheist myself. I grew up in a Catholic kindergarten among veiled nuns, I won't say anything more about that. So it doesn't have anything to do with that for me. I also don't think it's healthy to avoid drinking fluids, as people do during Ramadan.

Therapeutic fasting for chronically ill people

So one day, long before intermittent fasting was hyped by Hirschhausen, I automatically stumbled upon therapeutic fasting and its health benefits. And guess what? The whole thing is free! Just don't eat. Chronically ill people, especially after an Epstein-Barr infection, pay huge amounts of money to alleviate their symptoms, to improve them, and to somehow get the overall situation under control again. The high-quality nutritional supplements cost hundreds of euros a month and definitely cannot be financed out of petty cash. Health insurance, no matter how “eco” it may be, does not support healing from plant substances, high-quality proteins, micronutrient complexes, etc. If necessary, our health system allows us to sink into the murky swamp of narcotics and then silently finances the withdrawal, at least. Even a form of “holistic”, is just a matter of opinion.

Get into ketosis

Therefore, the free alternative of therapeutic fasting in your own four walls is objectively a good choice, why not try it? Since I used to follow “keto diets” for quick weight loss when I was still carrying incorrect nutritional mindsets, I was basically already used to sugar withdrawal. At least I knew about its unfriendly effects during the metabolic switch from sugar metabolism (glucose) to fat metabolism (ketosis). We are familiar with frightening terms such as “keto flu”; they describe the symptoms of the transition, such as moderate headaches, circulatory problems or malaise. They do not occur immediately on day 1 of therapeutic fasting, but rather at the transition to the third day of fasting. Some people also report severe “keto flu symptoms” on the transition to the fourth day of fasting. For me, on the 4th day of therapeutic fasting, everything is already done and my body is in ascetic mode, but not everyone reacts the same way.

My body then makes use of fat; after all, I shamelessly don't give it any sugar as a resource. The organism is smart and now increasingly produces ketone bodies as a new source of energy to survive. To support the process, I feed my body with one to two tablespoons of MCT oil throughout the day, even during the fasting phase. Simply because I usually do creative writing work and need focus. Nowadays I also use Medicinal mushrooms , which I take during Lent (especially detox mushrooms). I measure the fasting ketones using one Ketosis meter via blood drops, which is not absolutely necessary. I'm just doing it out of scientific curiosity since I'm so enchanted by the state of ketosis. So I know exactly how high the ketones are in the blood, although as an experienced and sensitive fasting friend you already have a feeling. I feel as soon as the ketone value exceeds 3.5 mm/l. The blood vessels feel significantly colder and cognitive performance increases significantly.

Why fasting brings healing

Ketosis or ketosis. What exactly happens when you fast, you may ask yourself. The millennia-old tradition is a holistic method to reorganize the cells. That's how I describe it in my words because that's how it feels. The so-called “autophagy” is the process of cell renewal, the body's own waste disposal is set in motion. Here are the relevant fasting benefits at a glance:

• More than just “detox” for me as my whole body pain (fibromyalgia etc.) has been reduced from a 6/7 to a 3 or 4 (NRS). The effect lasts for different lengths of time even after fasting, the longer the fasting, the better the after-effects.
  
  • Insulin reduction and fat loss, my liver is regenerated, blood vessels are cleaned, existing problems such as fatty liver, vascular deposits and the like can be reduced!

  
  

  • Vitalization or reduction of my chronic exhaustion through ketosis high

  
  

  • Drainage effect

  
  

  • Stress reduction, because fasting relieves stress in the long term if the mindset is right. My nervous system benefits greatly, and so does my autoimmune disease.

  
  

  • Improvement in depressive symptoms. Mood improvement through abstinence from food and the change in metabolism.

  
  

  For me, therapeutic fasting was unavoidable to alleviate the symptoms of illness because at some point there were simply too many. Medication didn't help much or only made my situation worse. However, fasting is individual and, in my opinion, requires some practice. So please never despair if things don't go smoothly right away. Practice makes the fasting master!

  
  

  Recommendations for fasting motivation

  
  

  To get you in the mood, I would like to recommend some documentaries, books and audio books that have helped me a lot personally. On Amazon Prime there is (currently) an entertaining 45-minute documentary about therapeutic fasting, in which the well-known German fasting doctor from the Charité Dr. Michalsen has his say “Fasting, the power of self-healing” (just type the word “fasting” into the search). Also his book “Heal with nutrition” is advisable. The film follows a few fasting participants who are completing a cure. I also found Susanne Fröhlich's book “Happy fasting” very nicely done. Her writing is funny per se, and I like hers too, by the way Book series about Andrea Schnidt , because such a family novel is ideal for distraction.

  
  

  Then there are the usual suspects like “The China Study” by Dr. T Colin Campbell. We also know the filmed documentation of these well-known doctors from the USA “Forks over Knives” . While the written book “The China Study” is only for crazy long-term readers like me, others will benefit from the audio book, spoken by Christoph Maria Herbst. His voice makes the complex topic and the many study contents much more accessible. If you still haven't had enough, you could also look at the bestsellers from Dr. Michael Greger accept, which are also available as an audio book. In “How not to die” or “How not to die” and new "How not to age" you learn so much about health and illness, life-extending foods, and aging.

  
  

  Is it possible to exercise and fast?

  
  

  Distraction during Lent is an essential factor and should be planned for right from the start. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely organize one or two nice massage appointments or treat yourself to a facial treatment. If you don't have the financial means, you should persuade your partner to do so or plan a girls' afternoon. Otherwise, daily exercise is essential during therapeutic fasting, of course within the limits of circulatory capacity. Daily walks in the fresh air are a must, as are walking with an attachment and additional normal strength and stretching exercises on the yoga mat at home. If the fibro situation allows it, I will operate

  Hula hoop
  and even do this while fasting. In some circumstances I choose the lighter tire (instead of the
  heavy hula hoop tires
  ) or just dance two or three songs, it's just about daily exercise and distraction. not about peak performance. Anyone as they want and can! Exercise and therapeutic fasting are generally not a problem if you listen to your body.

  
  

  Buchinger therapeutic fasting start & removal

  
  

  The Buchinger therapeutic fasting in particular specifies a certain procedure in order to complete the fasting period correctly. The calorie intake during Buchinger therapeutic fasting should not exceed 500 kcal per day. You start with relief days to prepare your body for what lies ahead. Two days before the start of therapeutic fasting, I eat rice, lots of vegetables and seeds. Afterwards, intestinal cleansing with Glauber's salt (alternatively CitraFleet with lemon flavor) is firmly anchored in the tradition of Buchinger therapeutic fasting. It is supposed to help minimize the symptoms of the “keto flu”, which I can personally confirm. In addition, fewer toxins are absorbed from the intestines and, in my experience with therapeutic fasting, the feeling of hunger is only half as bad as without intestinal cleansing. There are people, for example many Americans who refuse the procedure out of shame, who simply don't do it and forego it. To each his own! During the last fast in September 2022, I tried it “without” Glauber and only used kefir and Japanese plum. Unfortunately, that didn't work so well for me. As an irritable bowel patient, I find emptying to be liberating anyway and I don't want to do without it.

  
  

  Buchinger therapeutic fasting implementation

  
  

  After the relief days and colon cleansing, you are already in the middle of the fasting process and, depending on how long you have planned, you now have to motivate yourself. For me, the day of Glauber's salt is already day 1 of therapeutic fasting and I always fast for 10 days in a row. Newbies usually fast for 5 days in a row or no more than 7. I would say this period is very manageable and as a fasting beginner you can encourage yourself enough to get through it. Those who are well prepared benefit the most. Booked a massage? Encouraged your friend to go for a walk? Persuaded your partner to go to a movie night? A passion project, perhaps a creative project that requires keto focus?

  
  

  8 tips for preparing for fasting:

  
  

  1. Are you planning one or two relaxation appointments such as a full body massage or a foot reflexology treatment?
  2. Buy everything for the first few days beforehand because you don't want to have to go to Edeka during the first three days of fasting. This usually works again without any problems from day 5 onwards, then you can cook for the family without falling over it.
  3. Get enough special types of tea so that you can really enjoy your tea. Buy varieties that you wouldn't otherwise treat yourself to. There are loose fasting tea blends from various tea houses that are extremely tasty and make fasting better.
  4. Never go without freshly squeezed juice or organic juice from the bottle, because you need the vitamins and minerals every day to nourish your body. Make sure you have enough provisions and choose different varieties to provoke the tastes. Tomato? Pomegranate? The juice is used diluted.
  5. Never forget to include the fats and get a good oil to boost ketosis. I use MCT oil. Instead, a good olive oil, linseed oil, or omega-3 oil. Two tablespoons a day are a must for me.
  6. By the way, you can use around 30 grams of honey per day to sweeten your tea. Alternatively for people suffering from FODMAPs, maple syrup. I personally like to do without, it's a matter of taste. But it shouldn't be more than 30 grams so as not to disrupt ketosis.
  7. The caffeine question remains, right? Normally, caffeinated coffee is strictly avoided during Buchinger therapeutic fasting. There are fasting experts who rely on natural tapering. But then I would only drink black coffee and not large quantities.
  8. Use natural aromas during Lent to free yourself from food smells from your surroundings. I'm dripping
  Orange blossom oil
  or
  peppermint oil
  on my wrists or under my nose. As a pain patient, I also benefit from aromas in everyday life, but of course I only use them sparingly. All it takes is a hint of it and you're distracted by thoughts of food again.

  
  

  Fasting and Psyche

  
  

  It makes you wonder how often therapeutic fasting is all about food, even though you don't eat at all and don't plan to. Emotional hunger is the most faithful companion during fasting and provides an indication of how often you turn to food as a means of consolation. Of course also out of sheer boredom or because you can. If there's one thing I don't feel while fasting, it's real hunger, just emotions towards food. The psyche is your worst enemy when fasting, that much is certain, although I have never allowed myself to be misled. Nevertheless, especially when I'm lying in bed, I imagine what I'm going to cook as soon as I'm allowed to again. What will my first real meal be? After the construction days? Where are we going to eat then? What's new on Instagram in the food accounts or with your girlfriend? Food is a huge issue when fasting, despite abstinence.

  
  

  How to break your fast correctly

  
  

  As soon as day 5, 7, 10, 12, or even 20 is finally around the corner, the time has come. The Buchinger therapeutic fasting, breaking the fast, can be celebrated properly and with great enthusiasm. But how? Traditionally, of course, with an apple (some raw, others steamed). Some fasting adherents claim it is the world's best apple and a new world of taste. I personally can't confirm that at all, to be honest. Everything healthy tastes the same to me and I have no idea why other people experience such a taste explosion. Maybe because they suffered more from the renunciation than I did? Eating after fasting quickly feels familiar again and quickly becomes part of everyday life again. Only the withdrawal of industrial sugar is noticeable, because as soon as I eat the first "common" sugar somewhere, it almost tastes good

  inedibly sweet

  .

  
  

  Whatever you decide to do when breaking your fast, I recently enjoyed steamed carrots, after which you have to stick to the build-up days. There are some fasting experts who even hold the opinion that you have to “build up” as long as you have been fasting. I don't see it that strictly for myself. But the longer the fasting period lasts, the longer the construction days will be. So if you fast for a whopping 20 days, you won't be able to get by with three days. You shouldn't overdo it in terms of calories and stay in the 1000 average for the first three building days. Counting calories isn't my thing, and I won't start doing that at 40. To be honest, after that I automatically eat normally again. Of course, these go hand in hand and for me they can't be solved perfectly. After all, the conditions at home are not perfect either. However, the gastrointestinal tract must definitely be stimulated again and start working, and please do so with suitable foods. If you were to immediately eat wholesome, fatty foods and large portions, the reward would be at least nausea and a stomach ache or worse. After breaking my fast for the first time, I let myself be tempted by pasta, and not even out of hunger but simply out of habit. Not recommended!

  
  

  Tips for breaking your fast/building days:

  
  

  • Get fiber from whole foods, such as whole-grain bread or seed-rich muesli

  • Include pseudograins such as millet and buckwheat
  • When it comes to cheese, prefer FODMAP-friendly varieties such as feta, parmesan and Swiss cheese
  • Dried fruits like
  Figs
  snack
  • Quark, yogurt and kefir are good for the intestinal flora, prefer small amounts
  • FODMAP friendly fruits such as unripe banana, clementine, berries
  • nuts or
  Unpeeled hemp seeds
  use as a source of protein
  • Continue to drink a lot, at least 2.5 liters
  • the
  Medicinal mushroom Hericium
  helps to strengthen the intestinal mucosa and also helps me with irritable bowel symptoms

  
  

  Therapeutic fasting makes you happy

  
  

  If something has helped me in the long term and continues to do me good, then therapeutic fasting. I have become a fangirl and would basically view the ascetic diet as basic therapy. This way of life helps me more than any pill, which is why I was even able to stop taking almost all medications. I no longer take part in pharmacological experiments or homeopathic experiments. The raw materials for the pharmaceutical industries' witch's kitchen have been in short supply for years and some medications are no longer available. Fasting, on the other hand, is always possible and you are free and unbound by recipes. During Lent you are alone and at peace with yourself, even if your family is around you. You can feel the detoxification, the effects on the cells and the physical and mental relief. Join us, if you like to eat you can also fast.

  
  

  @diepfeifferin on Instagram (the Buchinger Clinic experience continues below)

  
  

Buchinger Wilhelmi fasting clinic

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For fasting fangirls like me, the Buchinger Wilhelmi fasting clinic is a dream that actually can't come true. Thanks to a competition it came true and I was allowed to travel to the 19th International Lenten Congress in Überlingen. On the way, Mom from the Palatinate got on board to accompany me, otherwise I certainly wouldn't have made the laborious journey. The last time we were with the family was Lindau on Lake Constance a few years ago and we could still remember the Mediterranean surroundings well.

Check in at Buchinger Wilhelmi Überlingen

A small city bus took us close to the clinic, where the Buchinger Wilhelmi team warmly welcomed us. From the front the house seems almost inconspicuous, while at the back it practically explodes. But one by one. After the receptionist refreshed us with warm towels and gave us a drink, we were allowed to go to the nursing department, after all, coronavirus was still going to happen in 2022. So we had to undergo a smear test and I had never been so afraid of suddenly being positive without being noticed. Then I would have been allowed to close myself off straight away or disappear into thin air. Thank the universe we were both negative and were allowed to proceed to the hospital area. However, I would like to mention the Buchinger Wilhelmi care team, who welcomed us as “winners”, congratulated us and treated us so kindly. We were invited straight to dinner (yes, Buchinger also serves food) and made a reservation. A great debut.

The Buchinger Villa Belgrano

An employee showed us the house and grounds, because the Buchinger therapeutic fasting clinic consists of several houses for accommodation. For example, there are single rooms in the main house, while exclusive villas have been established facing the lake. Including the Villa Belgrano where we had a beautiful double room with a terrace overlooking Lake Constance. My mother wanted to never leave our outdoor area again. I, on the other hand, couldn't wait to take a closer look at the room furnishings, because it is an extremely luxurious room with a beautiful bathroom and a modern shower-tub combination, privatized directly in the room by a thick curtain. The interior designer has had a great time in the Villa Belgrano at Buchinger Wilhelmi, for example the flat screen disappears into the shelf and the cupboards also offer maximum storage space, even for a longer fast. Everything at Belgrano exudes a bit more “class”, and the size of 30 m² is very generous.

In front of the - let's call it "hotel rooms", because hospital rooms are not the case - there are plenty of seating areas, meeting points and of course tea stations. There is a sufficient supply of this for self-service at any time, as is water from the Black Forest. Adequate fluid intake is very important at Buchingers in Überlingen, which was very convenient for me as a water swallower and peppermint tea lover.

There was much more to discover in our Buchinger Wilhelmi room than just the remarkable interior. Cutely arranged plates with an apple and nuts awaited us on the table, as well as pretty floral bags with hygiene products and corona self-tests. Wellness bags with Buchinger print were also available, waiting to be used with slippers and a bathrobe. The special beauty aids lined up in the bathroom. High quality shampoo and shower gel were available and even the mini soaps were adorable. The housekeeping not only made an effort, but also took every detail into account with great care and attention to detail. Thank you also to this hard-working department.

If you still have - pretty much exactly - sixteen hours of luxury left before the start of the Lenten lectures, you have to make good use of them. Off to the wellness gap and towards the pool. Water and I, we are one. You can see the swimming pool area in the overview pictures. It's an outdoor pool and there was nothing better for me than pushing the caretaker away the next morning and jumping in at full speed at 7 a.m. No, of course I slid in elegantly, according to the surroundings.

Eat at Buchinger Wilhelmi

Now the food intake department needs to be assessed particularly critically. After all, we are talking about an exquisite fasting clinic here. In some of the pictures you can see real food, because we were served something like light, whole food. In the evening a delicious glass noodle salad, since then I have been eating glass noodles for the first time and in the morning a fresh organic spelled roll, with a wonderful fruit salad, quark, excellent honey and butter. For coffee lovers, a high-quality, caffeine-free malt coffee is offered. Of course, anyone who takes part in therapeutic fasting at Buchinger's doesn't have to sip broth in these dining rooms. For these guests there is their own spacious room, with wide windows facing the lake, from which you can always hear pleasant piano music. There you can sip in peace, celebrate the juice or exchange ideas.

Discover the Buchinger Wilhelmi program

What should I write about the Buchinger Wilhelmi program? It's varied and I personally would never get bored of it, even if I fasted for 21 days. There are plans in the room about the leisure activities on offer and everyone can take part in whatever they feel comfortable with and feel like doing. Boat trips are obvious, as are yoga classes in the huge yoga room with a panoramic view of Lake Constance. I shot a video in the room, I thought it was so beautiful. The gym next door is also equipped with large windows facing the lake, which makes the stepper a little more fun. A little further, on the right and left, there are impressive terraces with an outstanding view and very comfortable and modern seating.

My little Buchinger Wilhelmi experience

I can only recommend the ambience of the famous spa clinic. If you want to fast outside of home, this environment seems to be very suitable, especially since all the employees at the Buchinger Clinic are very attentive. This starts with reception, through care, to housekeeping, to service, to the gardener, yoga teacher and the building technician.

Afterwards we were able to take part in the 19th International Lenten Congress at the Salem Kolleg, where one expert after another reported on the latest news on the topic and of course Françoise Wilhelmi de Toledo (MD, PhD/Head of the Scientific Department of the Buchinger Wilhelmi Clinics, Überlingen) also spoke the event led. The clinical research assistant Franziska Grundler (MSc) reported on “Benefits of Buchinger Wilhelmi Long-term Fasting”. Greek Prof. Demetrios Kouretas (Department of Biochemistry-Biotechnology, School of Health Science, University of Thessaly, Larissa) spoke about “The Benefits of Fasting on Oxidative Stress”. The Italian Prof. Massimiliano Ruscica (Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy) gave a lecture on “Changes in Lipid Metabolism During Long-term Fasting”, as well as a few more.

At lunchtime we were also catered for by chef Phillipp Troppenhagen and his team, the icing on the cake of the event, which was a bit strenuous due to the constant translation. Especially when you have to change positions more often when you're in pain and can't stay alert for that long at a time. Overall, it was an incredible amount in a short time, but I don't want to miss the entire result and I am very grateful for the taster night at Buchinger Wilhelmi in Überlingen, as well as for the important input at the Lenten Congress.