Fasting

Fasting An Exceptional Human Experience Since prehistory fasting has been used in various ways as a means of transformation. As a spiritual practice it is the oldest and most common form of asceticism and is found in virtually every religion and spiritual tradition. In psychology studies have suggested that fasting can alleviate the symptoms of some psychiatric conditions including depression and schizophrenia. In medicine fasting is one of the most promising therapies with research suggesting that fasting can cause certain drugs such as chemotherapy to work better while reducing drug side-effects. Hunger striking sometimes called political fasting may be the most powerful application of fasting. Proof of this occurred in 1948 when Gandhi's hunger strike caused millions of Hindus and Muslims in India to cease their fighting. As a practical guide Randi Fredricks Ph.D. provides detailed information on the different types of fasting where people fast the physiological process of fasting and the contraindications and criticisms of fasting. Using existing literature and original research Dr. Fredricks focuses on the transformative characteristics of fasting in the contexts of psychology medicine and spirituality. The relationship between fasting and transpersonal psychology is examined with a focus on peak experiences self-realization and other exceptional human experiences. Dr. Fredricks demonstrates how fasting can be profoundly therapeutic create global paradigm shifts and provide personal mystical phenomena.