Both are among the best-known cures in the German-speaking world, and both are often confused. In therapeutic fasting you go almost entirely without solid food; on a Mayr cure you eat, but very lightly and very slowly. Here you find out how they differ, how the days feel and which cure suits you.
- Buchinger fasting: broth, juices and tea, no solid food.
- Mayr cure: small, light meals, slow chewing, the gut at the centre.
- For beginners the Mayr cure is usually easier; fasting is the more radical break.
The difference in one sentence
In Otto Buchinger's therapeutic fasting you take only vegetable broth, juices, tea and a little honey for a few days. On Franz Xaver Mayr's cure you eat small, easily digestible meals and learn to eat very slowly and mindfully.
Both aim to give the body a break, but by different routes: fasting relies on going without, Mayr on relief and new eating habits.
How the days feel
In therapeutic fasting the first two or three days are often the hardest, with hunger, tiredness or headaches. After that many report a surprising lightness. It ends with breaking the fast, traditionally with an apple, and a few build-up days.
On a Mayr cure you are less hungry because you eat. Instead, eating itself is the exercise: small bites, chewing thoroughly, stopping when you are full. Add abdominal treatments by the doctor, Epsom salt in the morning and plenty of rest.
The best cure is not the strictest, but the one that suits you.
Which suits whom
These rules of thumb help you decide:
- You want a clear, radical break: therapeutic fasting
- You want to change your eating habits for good: Mayr cure
- You are afraid of being hungry: Mayr cure or alkaline fasting
- You have little time: Mayr cure, as fasting with build-up days usually takes longer
- You are fasting for the first time: better start with the gentler form
How long and how often
For both cures, houses usually recommend at least a week, often ten to fourteen days. Therapeutic fasting adds relief and build-up days. Many guests do one of the two once a year, as a fixed break.
Who neither suits
Neither therapeutic fasting nor a Mayr cure is suitable during pregnancy, with eating disorders, when underweight or with some chronic illnesses. Anyone taking medication should talk to a doctor first. A good house clarifies this with you in a preliminary consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Do you lose more weight fasting than on a Mayr cure?
Usually yes, because you take in less. Part of it is water, though. The real aim of both cures is not weight loss, but a break for the body and new habits.
Can I combine the two?
Yes, many Mayr houses offer different levels, from pure fasting to light food. The doctor decides with you where to start.
What about alkaline fasting?
Alkaline fasting is the gentlest form: you eat proper meals, but only vegetables, fruit and herbs. More in the guide to alkaline fasting.
Luxly does not provide medical advice. Whether a programme suits you is something to discuss with the house's medical team or your own doctor.
