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Suvorin's therapeutic fasting

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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The Russian emigrant Alexey Alexeyevich Suvorin also adhered to the long-term fasting method (until the tongue was completely cleared). He also did not have a medical education (he was a historian and philologist), but was interested in various methods of improving the human body, many of which, by the way, he tested on himself.

It is difficult to say how long this amazing man could have lived if not for his tragic death at the age of 75. He fasted for 10, 37, 39.5, 40, 54 days. And in his book "Therapeutic Fasting" he told about amazing real cases of prolonged fasting for 52, 62 and even 65 days, after which people not only did not say goodbye to life, but, on the contrary, became more active. This once again confirms the theory of Yu. S. Nikolaev about the great possibilities and thriftiness of our body, which is not in vain considered a biologically reliable system.

It should be said that Alexey Suvorin did not adhere to a specific fasting period, considering it a purely individual matter. He even introduced a separate concept into the practice of fasting treatment – full-term fasting. This is how he called the procedure during which the body was completely cleansed, which could be judged by the disappearance of plaque on the tongue, which changed its color and properties during the fasting process. Immediately after this, according to Suvorin, appetite is restored, by which he meant not just the need for food, but also the sensation of its taste, the pleasure of eating, as well as internal control over the amount of food eaten. If fasting is ended early, the food will seem tasteless to a person and will be swallowed with difficulty.

The idea of therapeutic fasting according to Suvorin is essentially close to the classical method of wet fasting, but at the same time the fasting periods are not outlined, which are always individual and depend on the slagging of the body, the patient's nutritional status and the speed of metabolic processes occurring in his body.

According to Suvorin, refusal to eat is due to the need to keep the upper cleansing path (upper gastrointestinal tract) open and not allow the "garbage" accumulated in the body to penetrate into the lower cleansing paths. But the lower paths (intestines) are the main receptacle of the so-called garbage, so Suvorin believes that complete cleansing of the body is impossible without cleansing the intestines, so on the eve of fasting, he, like many others, advises taking a saline laxative or replacing it with Vaseline oil or, in extreme cases, a decoction of laxative herbs.

Fasting technique

Fasting according to Suvorin should be started a couple of days after switching to a dairy-vegetable diet. A light breakfast and lunch are recommended the day before, and for dinner, instead of food, you will need to take a laxative. The next morning, the patient needs to have an enema (using an Esmarch mug and 1.5-2 liters of clean warm water). Suvorin sees the need for enemas not in cleansing the intestines (this is done by a laxative), but in replenishing the body's water supply.

After cleansing the intestines, you need to cleanse the stomach by drinking 0.5-1 liter of warm water and inducing vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue.

This method of cleansing is suitable for those who do not have problems with the intestines. Otherwise, do not take a laxative, but do an enema 3 times on the first and second day. On the third day, clean the stomach and do an enema again in the evening.

During fasting, Suvorin leaves only water in the diet, but recommends reducing the amount of water you drink to the minimum required (the rest will be done by enemas, which need to be done daily). Mandatory daily procedures also include brushing your teeth and tongue, washing your stomach, and morning exercises consisting of 10 exercises with 10 repetitions. A laxative should be taken every other day 2-3 hours before bed after an enema.

Additionally, A.A. Suvorin recommends walking (at least 6 km per day) with rhythmic breathing, massage (active rubbing of the body and limbs), weighing once every 2 days. But he categorically asks to refrain from taking medications.

To avoid hunger psychosis and worsening of the patient's condition when fasting for more than 30 days, Suvorin recommends drinking ½ cup of tea with honey and wine 2-3 times a week.

Suvorin, like Marva Oganyan, considers the discharge of mucus and pus from the respiratory and digestive tracts to be a positive symptom, which, in his opinion, indicates the opening of the upper cleansing tracts. This is not a reason to refuse fasting, but on the contrary should have an encouraging effect.

As for the fasting period, here you need to focus on your well-being and the degree of cleanliness of the tongue. A clean red tongue and the appearance of appetite indicate that the body is cleansed and ready for recovery. However, according to the author of the book "Therapeutic Fasting", it is better to over-fast than under-fast, because in the latter case the cleansing processes will smolder in the body, poisoning it. So even if your appetite appears, it is better to abstain from food for 1-2 weeks.

True, in some cases it is better to stop fasting even before the tongue is completely cleared, if the patient's health has significantly worsened, double vision has appeared, or severe weakness prevents him from getting out of bed for 2-3 days.

Breaking fast

A.A. Suvorin understands the exit from fasting in his own way. He rejects the idea that the effect of fasting continues during the recovery period, and claims that the digestive processes in the body are restored together with the first usual food. That is, this is no longer a therapeutic procedure, but a return to the usual regime.

Suvorin suggests carrying out the restoration according to the following scheme:

  • the first 2 days - carbohydrate food,
  • Days 3 and 4 – food consisting of dairy and vegetable proteins, plus carbohydrates,
  • Days 5-9 – vegetable fats are added to the above products,
  • 10th and subsequent days – meat food is added, starting with 10-15 g per day (only if there is a strong desire).

Before each meal, Suvorin advises cleaning the mouth by chewing stale black bread with onion or a piece of apple. The chewed gruel should be used to thoroughly wipe everything in the oral cavity and spit out, trying not to swallow a drop. The abundant saliva that is released will help clean the mouth.

To stimulate the intestines in the first 3-4 days after fasting, you need to drink a decoction of wormwood (1 sip before meals) and do an enema daily, take a warm bath before bed and rub your body with warm olive oil. To restore the beneficial microflora in the body, which is removed from the body along with the pathogenic during the cleansing by fasting, Suvorin recommends taking lacto- and bifidobacteria preparations. The last meal should be no later than 7 p.m.

To consolidate the results of complete fasting, A. Suvorin insists on repeating the 5-day courses of abstinence every month and suggests eliminating meat, butter, salt, sugar, vinegar, and fatty liquids from the diet if possible. But he only welcomes salads from fresh vegetables and fruits.

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