Buchinger Therapeutic Fasting: Method, Origins, Effects, and Schedule

The essentials at a glance

• Buchinger therapeutic fasting is not a zero-calorie diet or a primary weight-loss method, but a therapeutic approach involving tea, water, broth, and freshly pressed juices.
• The method dates back to the physician Otto Buchinger (1878–1971), who transformed fasting from a folk remedy into a medically supervised practice.
• Two processes occur simultaneously in the body: the switch to fat burning and autophagy, the body's cellular recycling process.
• A fasting week has a beginning, a middle, and a transition: relief days, fasting days, breaking the fast, and a reintroduction phase lasting about one-third of the total fasting period.
• At the Tannerhof, therapeutic fasting is part of our history and has been provided with individual medical supervision for three generations of doctors.

What Buchinger therapeutic fasting means

Buchinger therapeutic fasting is the most well-known form of therapeutic fasting in German-speaking countries. At its core is a clear definition: the conscious, temporary abstinence from solid food and stimulants. This is not starvation or a zero-calorie diet, but a guided process in which the body lives on liquids for several days—and changes in the process.

Buchinger therapeutic fasting is far more than a diet. It is a therapy, a multi-level cleanse, and a journey into oneself. Weight loss may be a welcome side effect, but the true focus lies in relief, a conscious pause, and gently rediscovering a healthy rhythm with food. For full details on the daily schedule, packages, and methodology at Tannerhof, visit our page on the Buchinger method, part of our Therapeutic Fasting and Slim Fir hub.

Two principles continue to shape our philosophy to this day. Otto Buchinger’s belief that fasting awakens the inner physician, and words passed down from Johannes von Mengershausen—the second-generation family doctor who introduced therapeutic fasting to Tannerhof: Through therapeutic fasting, you discover a new freedom: independence from solid food. Fasting means quietness, listening to what unfolds within, and focusing on what truly matters. At Tannerhof, this approach is inextricably linked with our setting: Bayrischzell, alpine meadows, a mountain stream, crisp, pure mountain air, and My mountain hideaway—providing the perfect backdrop for a practice upheld here for generations.

Otto Buchinger and the origin of the method

Otto Buchinger was born on February 16, 1878, in Darmstadt and was a physician. A serious illness starting in 1917 brought about a turning point: as Buchinger later described, it was a fasting cure with the Freiburg physician Gustav Riedlin that first activated his self-healing powers. This personal experience became his medical life's work. After several years of preparation, Buchinger opened the Dr. Otto Buchinger Sanatorium in Witzenhausen in 1920; in November 1935, he moved the clinic to Bad Pyrmont.

Buchinger’s great achievement was transforming traditional fasting from folklore into a medically supervised therapy. He combined the physical aspects—renunciation, hydration, movement, and warmth—with an inner, contemplative dimension. This balance of medicine and mindful reflection remains the hallmark of his method. He documented it comprehensively in his 1935 book, The Buchinger Fasting Cure.

From this pioneering work grew a method that is scientifically studied today and practiced in many medically supervised clinics—including Naturhotel Tannerhof, where it was introduced by Johannes von Mengershausen and carried forward across three generations of physicians. Fasting in the hotel’s DNA shows just how naturally therapeutic fasting belongs at Tannerhof.

Why people fast

The motivations are diverse. Many guests are looking for a mental shutdown, a counterpoint to sensory overload and constant acceleration. Others want relief from excess, where eating is reduced to the bare essentials—often leading to a more intense enjoyment of food afterward. Still others come with a medical concern or the desire to reorganize their daily lives after fasting.

These motivations are supported by a well-documented body of research. The guidelines for fasting therapy were established by the Ärztegesellschaft Heilfasten und Ernährung (ÄGHE). These guidelines, originally published in 2002 and updated in 2013, describe the methodology, patient selection, contraindications, and medical supervision required. They categorize the use of medically supervised fasting for conditions including rheumatic diseases, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, allergies, autoimmune diseases, asthma, migraines, type II diabetes mellitus, and depression.

A large observational study by Wilhelmi de Toledo and colleagues, published in PLOS One in 2019, demonstrates how well prolonged fasting is tolerated. The study monitored 1,422 people during fasting periods of four to twenty-one days using the Buchinger method. No severe or lasting adverse effects occurred; physical and emotional well-being increased significantly in all groups. Of the 404 participants with existing health complaints, 84.4 percent reported an improvement, and 93.2 percent of all participants experienced no hunger during the fast. Nevertheless, whether therapeutic fasting is appropriate in an individual case is always a matter for medical assessment at Tannerhof.

What happens in the body: fat burning and autophagy

During fasting, the body operates on several levels. Two of these are often conflated and should be clearly distinguished.

The first level is fat burning. As readily available carbohydrate stores decline, the metabolism shifts from glucose to fatty acids and ketone bodies within the first few days. This is the energetic side of fasting: the body increasingly draws its energy from its own reserves. In the PLOS One study, this shift into ketosis was evidenced by rising ketone body levels, which reached a plateau after about five days.

The second level is autophagy. This does not refer to fat burning, but rather to the body's own recycling and cleansing processes at the cellular level: cellular components are broken down, utilized, and reorganized. The fundamental nature of this mechanism was highlighted by the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which was awarded to Yoshinori Ohsumi for his discovery of the mechanisms of autophagy. To put it more elegantly: all recycling processes are activated, and a thorough cleaning takes place everywhere—cellularly, vascularly, in the connective tissue, in the gut, in the brain, and in the liver and kidneys.

Both processes occur simultaneously during fasting, but they describe different mechanisms. For certain metabolic and chronic issues, fasting can be medically interesting; the question of whether it is suitable in an individual case should be discussed with the medical team. Mental effects are also part of the process: the need for sleep often decreases, and some experience a "fasting euphoria" due to changes in serotonin metabolism.

The principle: tea, soup, juice, and fluids

What makes the Buchinger method special is what is served during the fast. Unlike a pure zero-calorie diet, the body is not left entirely without intake. Instead, a rhythm of mild liquids carries you through the day, providing the metabolism with some substance and making the fast sustainable. At Tannerhof, this rhythm looks like this:

• Morning: an herbal tea.
• Midday: a mild vegetable broth.
• Evening: freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice, accompanied by your choice of buttermilk or Sojade as a source of protein.
• Throughout the day: around three liters of fluids—fasting teas, mineral water, lemon water, and hot ginger water.

In addition, further protein sources and a base supplement to counteract acidic metabolic products and uric acid crystals are provided as needed. And there is a small concession that does not break the fast: a spoonful of honey or an espresso to bridge a low point. This structure distinguishes the Buchinger method from complete food deprivation—it keeps the body active rather than shutting it down.

Overview of a fasting week

A fasting week does not start with the first soup. Before arrival, the doctors at Tannerhof recommend one or more relief days at home, such as a fruit, potato, vegetable, or raw food day—the guest decides how many. The length of stay and the fasting package are already booked at this point. During the admission interview on the first day of fasting, the specific schedule within this framework is coordinated together.

Fasting guests take their meals in the "Fasterstube," a dedicated dining room for fasting guests. Those who are fasting need a different pace than those enjoying a full meal. We recommend five fasting days or more; for first-time fasters, a week including the transition period is a good duration, totaling about ten days.

Movement remains part of the fasting journey, carefully tailored. Gentle cardio endurance and light strength training are available alongside yoga, Feldenkrais, tai chi, resistance band training, and breathwork. Mountain hikes and running are also possible, provided they match the pace of your fast—the body is drawing energy from within. For restful moments in between, the Tannerhof Spa awaits with an indoor pool, a historic sauna cabin, and the BadeHarpfe with its 25-meter outdoor natural pool.

Medical supervision at the Tannerhof practice

Medical supervision is not strictly mandatory for fasting, but it is highly recommended. At Tannerhof, therapeutic fasting is always medically supervised. The doctors at Tannerhof are experts in fasting; they monitor vital signs and circulation as well as your individual progress.

Medical appointments follow a calm structure: an intake interview on the first day of fasting (holistic, including medical history, physical examination with bioimpedance analysis, and medication review), follow-up consultations as needed, and a final consultation at the end. The accompanying range of therapies is intentionally broad: bioimpedance analysis, IHHT altitude training, ozone autohemotherapy where appropriate, hay flower wraps, aroma wraps, mud and warm packs, Kneipp contrast showers, detoxifying baths, fasting massage, detox massage with royal oil or acidosis massage, lymphatic drainage, and foot reflexology.

To support the mental journey, we offer psychotherapeutic coaching, nature coaching, executive and communication coaching, and art therapy. Deep experience with fasting is shared across every department of our team. To explore the detailed program and book online, discover Body Detox.

Breaking the fast, rebuilding, and the "Slender Fir"

The transition phase is not an afterthought to fasting, but rather its continuation by other means. Breaking the fast still counts as a fasting day: a small cup of fasting soup at noon, then an apple, with every bite chewed thirty to forty times. In the evening, a vegetable soup follows, with pieces that are not pureed. Those who fast for five days will have a two-day transition; for seven days of fasting, it is two to three days.

The focus: easily digestible vegetables, fermented foods, plenty of fiber, and mindful chewing. During your final consultation, your future diet will also be discussed. If you wish to make a lasting lifestyle change, our proprietary low-carb program, Slim Fir Low Carb, offers an ideal continuation. It is not a replacement for Buchinger, but a way to carry the benefits of fasting into everyday life. Where savoring life and joy take center stage, rather than deprivation.

Buchinger, F.X. Mayr, and Intermittent Fasting

Therapeutic fasting according to Buchinger is a compact fast lasting several days—a conscious, time-limited abstinence from solid food and stimulants, supported by liquid intake. F.X. Mayr works more extensively with chewing training and mild, easily digestible foods. Both methods are reputable and well-established.

At Tannerhof, we practice fasting according to Buchinger. Intermittent fasting, such as a 16/8 rhythm, is not a substitute for Buchinger, but rather the recommended way to carry the benefits of compact fasting into everyday life. The "Schlanke Tanne Intervall" can be a Tannerhof way to achieve this.

Who can fast and who should consult a doctor

The decisive factors for fasting are your own will and the readiness to commit to it. Therapeutic fasting is not suitable during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or for those with anorexia. In the case of chronic illnesses, ongoing medication, or uncertainty, you can request a preliminary medical consultation by phone before your arrival; the intake interview on the first day of fasting remains the deciding factor.

Discover therapeutic fasting at Tannerhof

Naturhotel Tannerhof has offered Buchinger therapeutic fasting for over 70 years: medically supervised, supported by experienced staff throughout the house, and nestled in Bayrischzell between alpine meadows, a mountain stream, and views of Mount Wendelstein. To explore the full program details and book online, discover Body Detox and our page on the Buchinger method. For a vivid glimpse of the experience, read our magazine feature, Sensing, Sipping, Spooning – A Day of Fasting at Tannerhof.