FASTS AND HOW TO BREAK THEM


There are many other simple, inexpensive methods that can be adopted to assist nature during a fast, to rid the system of accumulated impurities, such as Russian, Turkish of Sitz baths. Experience has convinced many, including the writer, that it is the ideal food for breaking a fast.


THE interest shown in my article in the November issue on ” Fasting and Health”, and the questions arising therefrom, have led me to supplement the remarks therein expressed.

The first question that I have been asked is: “Do you recommend the use of an enema during fasting? ” The answer is “Yes”. It undoubtedly assists very greatly in the cleansing of the digestive and eliminatory organs. In fact many authorities state definitely that fasting, without this assistance, to many may prove of very little service.

There are many other simple, inexpensive methods that can be adopted to assist nature during a fast, to rid the system of accumulated impurities, such as Russian, Turkish of Sitz baths.

All civilized people are liable to eat too much, too often, the wrong kind of food and too great a variety of good foods. As soon as one feels “out of sorts” it is wise to consider what is the cause of the trouble, not to ask what shall I take, but rather what shall I leave off.

A fast for one day will often work wonders. If this does not bring about the results desired, longer fasts should be tried, lasting from one to seven days. No hard and fast rules can be laid down regarding their conduct. The best possible, for many, is a fast on pure water only, not hotter than that in which the top lip can be comfortably held. For one who has the necessary strength of mind and body, this is often the quickest way to get fit and well.

To those who can digest fresh fruit without difficulty, a partial fast on fresh fruit only may render great service. Or a fast on fruit juices only may be tired, orange or grape juice being among the best for the purpose. Next, however, to a fast on hot water only, diluted lemon juice sweetened with a mild honey such as orange blossom, or pure tomato juice, is likely to bring about the desired results quicker than perhaps any other course.

It should always, however, be borne in mind that the quicker these part fruits release the poisons, the more necessary bowel movements become. The importance of the aid the enema renders can readily be realized. Even with its aid the length of time taken to get rid of all waste material will be surprise to the majority. The attempt to get rid of these accumulated poisons without satisfactory bowel movements is likely to so disturb ones equilibrium that failure will result.

Many hesitate to adopt a fast cure, because of their lack of faith in its virtue belief that they could not live even for a few days without cooked food. To these I would recommend “Nuto Cream” well cooked, either Soup of Food, obtainable from Health Food Stores. This should be made according to instructions given on the tin. It contains no cereal or leguminous starch and is composed entirely of nuts and vegetable extracts rich in their natural salts.

This brings me to the important question, ” How should a fast be broken ?” It should be remembered that ones digestive organs have been resting while fasting. The longer the fast the more important this aspect of the question becomes. Solid concentrated foods that would, under the best conditions, severely tax the digestive organs, are quite unsuitable for a start.

A nourishing liquid food that can be digested by the weakest digestive organs is imperative. Sweet fruit juices only may be the best for the first day, followed by something more nourishing and, if obtainable, more easily digested. Under this heading I can speak from practical experience, both personal and that of scores and hundreds of cases brought to my notice.

Nothing, I am quite convinced, is to be compared with the food that was first suggested and prepared under the direction and supervision of the late Dr. George Black, the noted Homoeopathic doctor of Torquay. “Nuto Cream” can be digested by any child a few months old, and by the invalid who cannot digest milk, fruit juices or any other food.

Experience has convinced many, including the writer, that it is the ideal food for breaking a fast. In my case, one should be satisfied before commencing a fast how to break it in the best possible manner, so as to make a new start on the road to health and fitness. It is one thing to get well, but it is far more important to keep well.

While on a recent holiday I met a man of about seventy years of age who appeared to be in the pink of health, who attributed his fitness largely to his having for many years fasted at least one day a month. He had always arranged that the December fast should be on Christmas Day. This, doubtless, would not suit the majority of us, but it may not lack wisdom.

There is much less wisdom in the action of those of us who eat but little during the week but on Sundays say in effect to the digestive organs, ” On this day thou shalt do all manner of work” and on the next day the feel “Mondayish”. A wise diet of health-giving foods largely consisting of live foods grown, if possible, in ones own garden, by ones own labour, is the idea to aim to. Health and fitness are thus secured and without these life is not worth living.

James Henry Cook
Henry W.J. Cook was born in Edinburgh in 1870, the eldest son of Dr Edmund Alleyne Cook.

Henry followed in his father's footsteps, obtaining his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Durham in 1891. At the age of 27 he arrived in Melbourne in April 1894 aboard the Port Albert. He was registered as a medical practitioner in Victoria on 4 May 1894.

It appears that Dr Cook already believed in homœopathy, possibly because of his father's influence, as in 1895 Dr Cook took the position of Resident Surgeon of the Melbourne Homœopathic Hospital . (This position was previously held by Dr James Cook, unrelated, who resigned in March 1895). He was listed in the 1896 & 1897 editions of the Melbourne Post Office Directory as being Resident Medical Officer at the Melbourne Homœopathic Hospital, but not in the 1898 edition.

In 1901 he moved to Sale in Eastern Victoria, where he ran a practice in York Street. By 1909 his practice was at Wyndham Street, Shepparton.

By 1919 he had moved to 2 Studley Park Road, Kew, where he died on 7 May, 1923.