The Science and Fine Art of Fasting

2013 Reprint of 1963 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This is the fasting portion only of what was originally published as Fasting and Sunbathing (The Hygienic System Vol 3). Herbert Shelton wrote 40 books over his 60-year career in health education and natural hygiene. He supervised over 30000 fasts of chronically ill and terminal patients losing only three. Shelton's teachings on fasting inspired Ghandi as well as such popular authors as Fuhrman the Diamonds Mercola and Graham. Harvey and Marilyn Diamond said of Shelton: A man of astounding intelligence and understanding Dr. Herbert Shelton was the greatest health oracle of the 20th century.One of the key tenets of natural hygiene is toxemia + enervation = disease and that symptoms of disease are remedial efforts by the body to return to balance. For example a fever is instituted by the body to speed metabolic action and kill germs. It is a healing event that should be allowed to run its course not a dreaded enemy to be suppressed.The best action to take when first becoming ill is to stop eating and rest which goes contrary to the prevailing advice to take a drug eat to keep up your strength and keep on going. When you fast you are not starving your body of nutrition because it obtains all the nutrition it needs from its own tissues. But in doing so the not inconsiderable amount of energy that would have been spent in digestion is now spent in repair of tissues and elimination of toxins.Long fasts of up to three months followed by healthy living practices can (but not always) reverse chronic degenerative diseases such as arthritis heart disease colitis migraines mental illness even cancer. (See also Fasting and Eating for Health: A Medical Doctor's Program for Conquering Disease.)This book will teach you most of what you need to know to conduct a fast of any length. The chapters are:1. Definition of fasting2. Fasting among the lower animals3. Fasting in man4. Bill-of-fare for the sick5. Autolysis6. Fasting is not starving7. Chemical and organic changes during fasting8. Repair of organs and tissues during fasting9. The influence of fasting on growth and regeneration10. Changes in the fundamental functions while fasting11. The mind and special senses during a fast12. Secretions and excretions13. Bowel action during fasting14. Fasting and sex15. Rejuvenescence through fasting16. Gain and loss of strength while fasting17. Gain and loss of weight during fasting18. Fasting does not induce deficiency disease19. Death in the fast20. Objections of the fast21. Does fasting cure disease?22. The rationale of fasting23. The length of the fast24. Hunger and appetite25. Contra-indications of fasting26. Fasting in special periods and conditions of life27. Symptomatology of the fast28. Progress of the fast29. Hygiene of the fast30. Breaking the fast31. Gaining weight after the fast32. Living after the fast33. Fasting in health34. Fasting in acute disease35. Fasting in chronic disease36. Fasting in drug addiction37. Fasting versus eliminating diets