In cases of such ailments, as hyper-acidity, ulcers of the stomach, etc. a 40-day fast purely on milk is advised. To begin with, a complete fast for 3 days is observed, which is followed by the milk fast, which is also called ‘Dugdha Kalpa’.
The milk fast starts with the taking of spoonfuls of milk, gradually increased to in-take of cup-fuls and then glass-fuls of milk.
Gradually increasing the quantity of intake of milk, it can be 7 or 8 liters of milk in a day, which is continued for a few days and then the quantity of milk reduced gradually, and on the other hand, intake of fruit juices or vegetable-juices is increased with the passage of every day, thus to complete the milk-course in 40 days, after which normal diet is gradually increased to desirable level.
All this, being a part of treatment, has to be taken up after a full study of the method and with self-confidence. It is better to have it under the guidance of a Naturo-path, or on his definite advice.
During such long fasts, symptoms of reaction, are sometimes observed, like vomiting, burning sensation, slight temperature or renal discharge, etc., also hard breathing.
But, realising that they are a part of the nature’s cleaning process, and that these symptoms disappear in a day or two, one should not be discouraged or lose heart, or turn to some other course of treatment and leave the fast incomplete, which would be a worse thing for the patient.
The fast is sure to bring its gainful result, if only it is followed with determination and will-power, at no time feeling discouraged on a reaction or two.
PARTIAL FAST
In some cases to remove the hesitation of a patient in taking up a complete fast, a partial fast is suggested, that is, a fast in which only fruit juice is taken for a week or so, after which the patient himself develops an urge for a complete fast.
Partial fast is also advised in some ailments, like dysentery, to cure which the patient is to take up a fast only on fruit juice for a week or ten days. After a gap of a few days after complete cure, the patient is brought on normal diet.
In a partial fast fruit juice is taken thrice in a day, upto a maximum of a litre and a half.
In all fasts, use of enema is essential to clear the bowels, rather it is a part of the fast treatment.