Fasting provides several health benefits by allowing the body to purge toxins and waste. It is considered a natural healing method in many religious traditions. During a fast, the body shifts into a state of autophagy where it breaks down and eliminates diseased or damaged cells. Some key benefits include detoxification, reduced inflammation, weight loss, and improved immune function. Fasting should be done cautiously and is not recommended for certain medical conditions like diabetes or advanced tuberculosis. When done correctly, it can help treat many ailments and support overall wellness and longevity.

1. FASTING
UPAVASA (Langhana)
Dr. Jasminkumar Viramgami
Reader & H.O.D.,
Dept. of Swasthavritta,
Govt. Akhandanand Ayurved College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

2. Meaning
The word is derived from
• old English, ‘Feastan’ means to fast, observe,
be strict.
• In Sanskrit ‘Upavasa’ means ‘near to God’.

3. Definition
• Fasting refers to complete abstinence from
food for a short or long period for a specific
purpose.
• An act of willingly abstaining from some or all
food/drink/both for a specific period of time.
• Metabolic status of a person who has not
eaten overnight – also called fasting
• Metabolic status after complete digestion and
absorption of meal – also called fasting

4. Importance
• Akasha mahabhut (Ether element)
• nature’s oldest, most effective and yet least
expensive method of treating disease.
• important treatment modality for health
preservation.
• recognised as the cornerstone of natural
healing.
• It is followed in almost every religion.

5. How a disease starts?
• common cause of all diseases is accumulation
of waste matter in body due to overeating.
• eat too much and sedentary life
• No utilisation.
• overburdens the digestive system with
impurities or poisons.
• Digestion and elimination become slow and
activity of the whole system gets deranged.
• starts the onset of disease.

6. Every disease can be healed by one remedy –
doing the opposite of causes
• that is by reducing the food intake or fasting.
By depriving the body of food for a time ,
• organs are given opportunity to expel the
accumulated waste from the system.

7. Thus, fasting is
• the process of purification
• an effective and quick method of cure.
• It assists nature in its effort to expel waste
from the body
• corrects the faults of improper diet and wrong
living.
• It also leads to regeneration of the blood
• as well as the repair and regeneration of the
various tissues of the body.

8. Purpose of Fasting
He that eats till he is sick,
must fast till he is well
• To eliminate the accumulated waste products
• Regain the vital energy
• Giving the body (elementary system) a rest
• Kind of relaxation for the body and mind also.
• Along with religious faith, also a healer for
soul.

9. Classification
1. Acc to Duration
• Short (2 to 5 days)
• Intermittent
• Long (more than 10 days)
2. Acc. To Condition
• Healthy person
• Acute illness
• Chronic illness
3. Method of Fasting
• Dry fasting
• Water / Juice fasting
• Fruit / Mono-diet fasting

10. • A fast may be total or partial.
• In fasting, mental preparedness is an
essential pre-condition.

11. Fasting in Acute diseases
• When the condition is acute and vital power is
high enough
• Fast till the disease/ symptoms subside
• Until feeling of lightness
• Break the fast in proper way (eliminative,
soothing, constructive diet)

12. Fasting in Chronic diseases
• Long fastings contra-indicated due to lower
vital energy
• Short fasts with proper interval
• Positive diet in btwn fastings

13. Methods of Fasting
Methods of fasting are
• water,
• juices or
• raw vegetable juices.
Juice fasting is far superior to a water fast.
• The best, safest and most effective method is
lime juice fasting.

14. Juice Therapy
• During fasting the body burns up and excretes
huge amounts of accumulated wastes.
• We can help this cleansing process by
drinking alkaline juice instead of water
• Elimination of uric acid and other acids will be
accelerated.
• sugars in juices will strengthen the heart.

15. Vitamins, minerals, enzymes and trace elements
in fresh, raw vegetable and fruit juices are
• extremely beneficial in normalising all the
body processes.
• They supply essential elements for the body’s
own healing activity and cell regeneration
• and thus speeding the recovery.

16. precautionary measure
• All juices must be prepared from fresh fruit
immediately before drinking.
• Canned or frozen juices should not be used.
• get as much fresh air as possible
• drink plain lukewarm water when thirsty.

17. Duration
Depends upon
• the age,
• nature of the disease and
• the amount and type of drugs previously used.
• The duration is important, because long
periods of fasting can be dangerous
• The period, however, should not exceed a
week of total fasting at a time.

18. • advisable to undertake a series of short fasts
of 2 to 3 days
• and gradually increase the duration.
• This will help the body to gradually and slowly
eliminate waste matter without seriously
affecting the functioning of the body.
• A correct mode of living and a balanced diet
after the fast will restore vigour and vitality to
the individual.

19. • complete emptying of the bowels at the
beginning of the fast by enema to control gas or
decomposing matter formed.
• Enemas at least every alternate day during the
fasting period.
• lot of energy is spent during the fast in the
process of eliminating accumulated toxic waste
materials.
• So get enough physical rest and mental
relaxation as possible during the fast.

20. • The craving for food will gradually decrease as
the fast progresses.
• stop eating until the appetite returns or until
one feels completely well.
• simple exercises like short walks may be
undertaken during the fast.
• A warm water or neutral bath may be taken
during the period.
• Cold baths are not advisable.
• Sun and air baths should be taken daily.

21. Signs of Elimination during Fasting
• Formation of Gas
• Cotton mouth appearance
• Bad/Foul breath
• Coated Tongue
• Elevated body Temp.
• Headache, Fatigue, Dizziness, Irritation etc.
• Afterwards occ. Bursts of energy, stimulation,
lightness

22. Breaking of Fast
The right food after fast is as important and
decisive as the fast itself for proper results .
The main rules for breaking the fast are :
• do not overeat, eat slowly and chew your food
thoroughly
• take several days for the gradual change to the
normal diet.
• If carefully planned, there will be no discomfort
or damage.
• take rest during the transition period.

23. Mode of Action
• During a long fast, the body feeds upon its
reserves.
• It burn and digest its own tissues by the
process of autolysis.
• But the body will first burn tissues which are
diseased, damaged or dead.
• The essential tissues and vital organs, the
nervous system and the brain are not damaged
or digested in fasting.
• This is the secret of the effectiveness of fasting
as a curative and rejuvinating method.

24. Physiological effects of Fasting
• increased insulin sensitivity that results in
reduced plasma glucose and insulin
concentrations, improved glucose tolerance
• reduced levels of oxidative stress
• Increased resistance to various types of stress
including heat, oxidative and metabolic stresses
and enhanced immune function.

25. • Both gross and cellular physiology is
profoundly affected by caloric restriction (CR)
or intermittent fasting (IF) regimes.
• significant reduction of body fat and mass,
which supports a
• healthy cardiovascular system and reduces
incidents of myocardial infarction.

26. During fasting,
• building of new and healthy cells are speeded
up.
• capacity of the eliminative organs is greatly
increased as they are relieved of the burden of
digesting food.
• able to quickly expel old accumulated wastes
and toxins.

27. • Fasting provides a physiological rest to the
digestive, assimilative and protective organs.
• As a result, the digestion of food and the
utilisation of nutrients is greatly improved
after fasting.
• The fast also gives a normalising, stabilising
and rejuvenating effect on all the vital
physiological, nervous and mental functions.

28. Indications
• Indigestion, Constipation, Gas, Digestive disorders,
all kinds of stomach and intestinal disorders
• Bronchial Asthma, Obesity, Gout, High BP, etc.
• highly beneficial in serious conditions of the kidneys
and liver.
• for eczema and other skin diseases.
• various nervous disorders also respond favourably to
this mode of treatment.
• fever, constipation, stress, headache, common
cold, sinusitis, arthritis, anaemia, menstrual
disorders .

29. Contra-indications
Fasting should not be used in every illness.
In cases of diabetes, advanced stages of TB,
extreme cases of neurasthenia, long fasts will
be harmful. (where depletion of nutrients is
seen)
In most cases, however no harm will be done if
they take rest, and are under proper
professional care.

30. Benefits
• Eliminates toxins accumulated in the body
• Cleanses the systems
• Purifies channels and cells
• Relieves pressure and irritation in nerves and
vassels
• Builds healthy lymph and blood
• Regeneration of body, Longevity

31. Ayurvedic aspect
• Langhana

32. Modern aspect
• Autophagy

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