FASTINGFOR THE BODY
The Use of Fastingand Enemas
Inordertopromoteinternalhygiene,theAncientEgyptianspracticedregularfastingaswellas
cleansing with enemas. The following quote from Herodotus 95 provides further insight.
“Forthreeconsecutivedaysineverymonththeypurgethemselves,pursuingafter
healthbymeansofemeticsanddrenches;fortheythinkitisfromthefoodtheyeat
that all sickness come to men and women” 96.
TheancientNaturopathichealersrecognizedthenaturaltendencyofthebodytoloseappetitewhen
feelingill,andthusimpartedthedisciplinesoffastingonaregularbasistopromotephysicalhealth.
ThispracticecontinuestodayintheNaturopathicsciences.Fastingallowsthebodytoeliminate
wastematerialsinceitcanusetheenergythatwouldnormallybeusedintryingtodigestfood,for
processing and eliminating waste materials and poisons.
IntheDigestiveSystem,foodentersthemouth(top),goesdowntheesophagusinto
thestomach,thentothesmallintestine,andthenthelargeintestine;theleftover
material (feces) after nutrients are extracted, exits through the colon (bottom).
Itisagoodpracticetogivethedigestivesystemabreakregularly,anditisevenmoreadvantageous
tointegrateandharmonizethisintoyourspiritualpractice.Manypeoplebelievethatitisnecessaryto
enterintorigorouswateronlyfasts.Thesecancertainlybepracticedandtherewillbeabenefit.
However,ifthelifestylepresentedhereisfollowed,suchextremesshouldnotbenecessary,sincethis
wayoflifepromotesaconstantcleansingprocess.However,ifanimbalanceoccurs,specialfasts
maybeindicatedtoresolvetheproblem.Oftenthebodyitselfwillsignaltheneedforafastbytem-
porarilyshuttingoffthedesireforfood.Atthesetimesoneshouldfollowthewisdomofthebodyand
noteatoutofhabitorfear.ItisverypossiblethatbythetimeHerodotusvisitedEgypt,whichwas
thenbeingcontrolledbyforeignforces,hemayhaveobservedmoreextremepractices,whichwere
institutedbythoseforeigngovernments,thathadnotbeenpartofthenormalpracticesoftheEgyp-
tianspreviouslybecauseoftheexcessesofthosetimes.Inanycase,coloncarewasparamountinim-
portance from early on in Kemetichistory.