I just found your Full Body Detoxification What is it? ” EST Alternative Health … site! It is great — very helpful. Thanks so much!…

I stumbled across your post Friday titled A Perspective on the Physiology of Fasting & Weight Loss … when searching for info. related to fasting to lose weight. You should continue writing more as I will certainly return to your site. Good …

As for weight- loss, here is the scoop: once you make one small change, other changes will follow. I knew that by drinking tea instead of soda I was already gearing myself up for greater potential health benefits. And so, I gave extra thought about whe…

I don’t normally comment on blogs but your post was a real call to action. Thank you for a great read….

Study of illness in people is done with a high degree of scientific accuracy using epidemiologic techniques (epidemiology is the study of disease in populations). The problem is making treatment decisions based on results. Usually treatments are intiated on an experimental basis related to animal models and theory based on natural studies and understanding of physiology and pathology with ongoing epidemiologic evaluations using the gold standard of randomized, double blinded studies to get definitive answers. One problem in American medicine is by the time the RCT (randomized controlled trials) are done the treatment may be so entrenched that it is difficult to change. Also, some treatments and diseases have little financial incentive for study. This is a societal, not a methodological problem.

It appears from his comment that he felt I was indicting the scientific community’s ability. I would like to make it clear that I have the highest regard for the efforts and progress made by scientists and physicians. My comments were intended to point out that;
1. not only are there so many variables at work in a complex living organism that it is almost impossible to design a scientific study to account for them all, but on top of that each individual harbors such unquantifiable variables such as faith, physical consitution and personal history, which can effect outcomes. Even outcome based treatment protocols can only be judged useful if a significant percentage of the subjects react in a similar manner.
2. Natural Healing, on the other hand, relies on each individual’s body, mind and spirit to heal itself. This healing is supported by; a. removing sources of toxification, b. providing good nutrition, c. supporting the bodies natural healing processes (not suppressing symptoms) and d. calling on the power of positive thought. Natural healing is especially beneficial as a preventative approch to illness. When used in a curative mode, I beleive natural healing introduces far fewer pharmaceutical side effects, but it usually takes longer and may not be appropriate in the face of acute trauma or immediately life threatening conditions. When in doubt, consult your doctor and follow that advice!
3. $$ His last point is right on the money [pun intended] $$. There are many potential cures, which are not pursued, because either the funding is not available or there is no profitability in the protocol even if it were scientifically proven effective. This is both an ecconomic and a societal issue. Until we have a healthcare system with the funding to research health, illness and treatment regardless of ultimate profitability many of the natural healing modalities will remain ‘unproven’ and regarded as ‘quackery’ by the medical professional.

The Herxheimer reaction is an immune response to proteins inside of spirochetes and some bacteria from rapid lysis with the commencement of treatment (seen frequently with syphyllis). It is a rash and fever.

He goes on to add his own perspective on fasting, weight loss and exercise.

Initial weight loss is largely water… [W]ater and electrolyte supplementation to correct this helps reduce some of the renal stress of fasting. After use of glycogen stores, there will be protein as well as fat catabolism. Nutrition and exercise during weight loss are necessary to build new protein (and, unfortunately, some fat) to offset this.

I would like to underscore Mike’s comment about additional water. It is essential to replace lost fluids and electrolytes during a fast. Water is also essential for increased triglyceride (fat) break down and therfore weight loss whether one is fasting or not.