Buchinger fasting, gently guided.
A modified fast with water, juices and vegetable broth, so your body keeps receiving minerals and vitamins while it rests. Developed in Germany, practised for more than a century.
- Developed in Germany
- Refined since 1920
- Led by a dfa-certified fasting coach
Fasting can be done in many ways.
Dry fasting means you don’t eat or drink anything for a period of time. During water fasting you only drink water. Both can cause discomfort and unwanted side effects, and they require medical supervision.
We use the Buchinger therapeutic fasting method, a modified fast in which you drink water, juices and vegetable broth, so your body continues to receive minerals and vitamins throughout the fast.
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Dry fasting
No food and no drink for a period of time.
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Water fasting
Only water. Often uncomfortable, with unwanted side effects.
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Our approach
Buchinger fasting
Water, juices and vegetable broth keep minerals and vitamins coming in.
One foundation, two purposes.
Two modified fasting methods were developed in Germany and are extremely popular there.
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Therapy
Buchinger therapeutic fasting
Prescribed by specialised medical doctors as a treatment for a number of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and even some forms of cancer.
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Our retreats
Fasting for healthy people
Preventative fasting for people who do not suffer from any serious disease, feel fit and healthy, and use fasting as an effective way to prevent illness.
Both methods offer a naturopathic, holistic way to improve your health and wellbeing.
Dr. Otto Buchinger, the pioneer of fasting.
The method is named after Dr. Otto Buchinger, a German medical doctor who experienced the self-healing powers of fasting first-hand. Conventional medicine could not help him, so he turned to alternative treatments.
As a doctor, he focused on all aspects of integrated medicine. As a spiritual person, he explored the connection between the body’s emotional and physical self-healing powers. He combined the two into a holistic therapy: Buchinger therapeutic fasting.
- 1917Severe rheumatism of the joints forces him to retire from the navy as a disabled person.
- 1919A colleague prescribes therapeutic fasting. It is a resounding success and saves his life.
- 1920He begins applying and refining his therapy in different clinics.
- 1935He publishes “The Therapeutic Fasting Cure”, still in print today, describing fasting physiology and the conditions that respond well to it.
Under 500 kcal a day, still nourished.
Buchinger fasting is a low-calorie liquid diet of less than 500 kilocalories per day. Its rhythm has four stages.
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Preparation day
A lighter day that gently prepares your body for the fast.
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Fasting days
A nutritious organic vegetable broth is the main source of nourishment, supplemented by fruit and vegetable juices, herbal tea and mineral water.
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Breaking the fast
Traditionally celebrated with an apple and the handover of the “Fast Certificate”.
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Building-up days
Organic ingredients, steamed or baked, gently reintroduce food. A critical part of the method.
Dr. Buchinger’s descendants continue his legacy and run very successful fasting clinics in Germany and Spain.
Today, doctors in many hospitals in Germany and around the world prescribe therapeutic fasting as a treatment for a number of chronic diseases.
Fasting for healthy people.
Dr. Hellmut Lützner (1928–2020), a colleague of Dr. Buchinger, led the Balneotherapy and Exercise Department at the Buchinger Clinic in Überlingen, Germany. He saw how effectively fasting prevents illness and wanted to share its benefits with a much larger audience.
In 1978 he co-founded the German Fasting Academy (dfa) to promote fasting and train fasting coaches. His method, “Fasting for Healthy People”, runs in groups led by professionally trained, certified coaches, always combined with movement such as hiking, biking or yoga.
Thanks to the dfa and the work of Dr. Buchinger and Dr. Lützner, fasting has transformed the lives of countless people for the better.
- 1978The German Fasting Academy (dfa) is founded.
- 7 daysA typical preventative retreat, joined once or twice a year across Germany.
- GroupsLed by professionally trained, certified fasting coaches.
These 12 dfa guidelines shape every retreat.
- Preparation day
- Abstention from solid foods for 5–10 days
- Abstention from stimulants (alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, etc.)
- Complete initial bowel cleanse
- Buchinger fasting provision (vegetable broth, juices, etc.)
- Two to three litres of liquid per day
- Daily movement in fresh air
- Colonic irrigation (enemas)
- Detox-supporting activities (massage, body brushing, Kneipp, etc.)
- Breaking the fast
- Controlled reintroduction of food
- Transition to a whole-food diet
What happens after you return home matters as much as the retreat itself.
Our main goal is to give you the knowledge and inspiration to embrace healthy habits after the retreat. That is why we stay in contact long after you leave, supporting your journey to a health-focused lifestyle.
Guided by Dieter Buchner.
Dieter Buchner is a German national and a medically certified fasting coach, trained by the German Fasting Academy (dfa). He guides you through your fasting experience at Vietnam Detox.
Dieter has lived in Vietnam since 2015 and is based in Huế, Central Vietnam. With a strong background in wellness coaching, massage therapy, nutrition and fasting, he is passionate about helping you take responsibility for your health and enhance your quality of life.
Thanks to his pioneering work, you can now enjoy the benefits of preventative Buchinger fasting in a professional and safe environment in Vietnam.
Ready to experience Buchinger fasting?
The health benefits of Buchinger fasting are documented in several studies, which provide scientific evidence on how periodic fasting can help you live a longer and healthier life.
Join one of our group fasting retreats, or choose a private retreat customised to your needs and schedule.