(1861-1949)

In the late 19th century, Gustav Riedlin, a general practitioner in Freiburg im Breisgau, became a leading figure in therapeutic fasting. After obtaining his doctorate in 1887, he developed a strong interest in fasting after being inspired by the works of American doctors Edward Hooker Dewey and Henry Samuel Tanner. Riedlin described fasting as an “operation without a knife.”

One of Dr. Riedlin’s patients was Dr. Otto Buchinger.  He suffered from tonsillitis that never completely healed and led to rheumatism in his joints, and he tried fasting for the first time. After the 19th day of fasting, he shared that he was completely healed and could move all his joints.

Dr. Riedlin’s influential work alongside Otto Buchinger has significantly shaped the practice of therapeutic fasting in Germany. Riedlin’s emphasis on the concepts of life force and the duality of matter and spirit has led to him establishing two distinct fasting levels, catering to both physical and spiritual purposes.

Literature by and about Gustav Riedlin is the Catalogue of the German National Library

• Chronic Constipation, Hemorrhoidal Disease (1911)
• Fasting Cures and Vitality: a Guide for Methodical Use  (1912)
• Can I recover? A Conversation Between Doctor and Patient About the Possibilities, Obstacles and Conditions of Recovery(1913)
• Vegetarianism in the Light of Theosophy (1922)
• Fasting as a Remedy: For Simplicity (1922)
• Men’s Suffering, its Cause and Cure and the Preservation of Virility (1922)
• Basic Causes of Diseases and True Remedies Based on the New Atomic Theory Presented for Doctors and Educated Laymen(1923)
• Fasting: Natural Cures for the Previously Unhealed (1923)
• Table Salt as a Spice and Cause of Illness and its Relationship to Culture: a Contribution to the Solution. Salt Question (1924)
• Cheap Natural Food (1928)
• The “Gymnacolon” Intestinal Bath (1929)
• Fast yourself and Eat Healthy! (1929)
• Plant Healing Treatments(1932)
• The Goiter: its Prevention and Healing(1936)
• Fasting as a Remedy: For Simplicity (1937)
• Praying and Fasting: A Non-Denominational, Religious-Christian. Study on Healing of So-Called Unhealed People Through Prayer and Fasting (1938)
• Culturally Appropriate Skin Care (1938)

The NHA wishes to remind the readers that nothing in this or other publications is intended to constitute medical treatment or advice. Readers should be aware that some previous publications do not reflect the NHA’s current health teachings or approach to health in several areas.

Our Mission

The mission of the National Health Association is to educate and empower individuals to understand that health results from healthy living. We recognize the integration of all aspects of health: personal, environmental, and social.

We communicate the benefits of a plant-based diet, exercise and rest, a healthy environment, psychological well-being, and when indicated, the use of fasting.