Therapeutic fasting is a total abstinence from food. The purpose of fast is to promote healing and restore health.

Therapeutic values of fasting are well documented by a large number of scientific investigations, studies, research, and practical observation. Doctors who employ fasting testify that it indeed “works.” As Dr. Adolph Mayer asserted, “Fasting is the most efficient means of correcting any disease.” *

But how can mere abstinence from food accomplish such remarkable healing results?

The therapeutic value of fasting is based on the following physiological facts:

Autolysis is a known metabolic phenomenon of self-digestion or disintegration of the body’s own tissues.

Therapeutic fasting induces the development of autolysis and directs its physiological effect for constructive healing purposes.

To clarify: when disease takes hold of the body it is usually because of the weakened defensive mechanism and impaired normal functions of the vital organs. Due to continuous neglect in feeding the body properly and failure to observe the other rules of health, the glandular activity and metabolic rate slows down and the eliminative organs lose their efficiency. Many of the toxins and metabolic wastes remain in the body and are deposited in the tissues, causing autointoxication. In rheumatic diseases these wastes, such as uric acid crystals and mineral compounds, are deposited in the joints and soft tissues. In the case of high blood pressure, these metabolic wastes are deposited in arteries and small blood capillaries, constricting them and hindering the normal flow of blood. In self-defense the

heart increases arterial and capillary pressure to push blood through the plugged vessels.

Now, we must recognize the fact that the body’s own healing powers are constantly trying to correct any and all defects, disturbances, and damages if given the slightest chance. Such a chance and opportunity for self-regeneration and healing is made possible during the fast

First, during prolonged fast (after the first three days) the body will burn and digest its own tissues by the process of autolysis, or self-digestion. In its wisdom—and here lies the secret of the extraordinary effectiveness of fasting as curative therapy!— the body will only decompose and burn those substances and tissues which are diseased, damaged, or of lesser importance to the body economy, such as all morbid accumulations, tumors, abscesses, damaged tissues, fat deposits, etc. These are consumed and utilized first. The essential tissues of vital organs are spared.

Second, the eliminating and cleansing capacity of the eliminative organs—lungs, liver, kidneys, and skin—is increased during fasting, and masses of accumulated metabolic wastes and toxins are quickly expelled. This is evident in the following typical symptoms of fasting: offensive breath, dark urine (concentration of toxins in urine ten times higher than normal-Professor E. G. Schonk), continuous and generous discharge of feces, skin eruptions, perspiration, catarrhal elimination, etc.

Third, a fast affords a physiological rest to the digestive and protective organs of the body. After fasting, the digestion and utilization of food is greatly improved, which makes the assimilation of all the important nutrients more effective.

Fourth, a fast exerts a normalizing and stabilizing effect on all the physiological, nervous, and mental functions. The nervous system is regenerated; mental powers improved; glandular chemistry and secretions are normalized.

It is easy to see, then, why fasting is such an effective therapeutic measure in treatment of a great variety of diseases, including arthritis.

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Although the granule-like lesions of sarcoidosis are most frequently found in the lungs, they may also develop in the heart, liver, spleen, muscles, and bones. The ailment seems to have some strong autoimmune components. The only case treated with CMO responded very well, relieving pain and inflammation and restoring normal function to the affected areas.

Asthma-Asthma is a different matter. Although it is a chronic inflammatory disease of-the airway, patients respond in unpredictable ways to CMO. Some respond well but others actually worsen.

Asthma is often divided into two basic categories: intrinsic and extrinsic. The intrinsic type is a straightforward reaction to things like irritating substances, infection, cold air, exercise, emotional upset, etc. The extrinsic type involves an immune reaction to pollen or other substances to which the asthmatic is allergic or sensitive.

Unfortunately there’s no telling how either type will respond to CMO, so we recommend that its use always be managed by a physician. We also suggest that initial doses be very small, perhaps only one capsule daily for a couple of days with increases by an additional capsule per day every other day. No one is likely to run into serious trouble that way. Any indication of sensitivity should be immediately discussed with your physician. CMO should be taken in divided doses, half in the morning and half in the evening. Once a dosage totalling six capsules daily is reached it should be maintained at that level.

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