[rpray2007]

A friend of my moms has been recommended by her doctor to go on a 10 day fast with nothing but water. The doctor is an MD but is also alternative in his approach. He primary reason for the fast is to "fix" spleen function. I have great misgivings about this approach and also am concerned about the strictness of the fast. My moms friend is 67 yes old and is in otherwise decent health. Should she be getting a second opinion and on what basis?

[Wondergirl]

Has her spleen been "acting up"? Has she ever done such a fast with only water allowed?

Is your mother's friend Muslim? I found this site to support the idea --

Fast to be healthy

If it were my mother's friend and 67, I would suggest she go for a second opinion. (I'm 66. A fast like this would kill me.)

[rpray2007]

No she isn't a muslim - this is purely a medical thing. In regards to the spleen functioning issue, I don't know - I don't want to get too personal in the person's affairs. I was more concerned about the line of attack by this doctor and wondered if I should tell my mom to advice her friend to rethink it. For what ever reason, her friend seems inclined to go forward. Thanks for the advice and opinion!

[Wondergirl]

For what ever reason, her friend seems inclined to go forward. Thanks for the advice and opinion!

Please let me (us) know what happens when the fast is finished -- like, did it help? How did it help?

[J_9]

I would get a second opinion also. 10 days is a long time for anyone to go without food of any kind.

[hheath541]

I'm only 24, and a 10 day fast would probably have me too weak to move.

I would get a second opinion, and possibly start going to a different doctor.

A limited diet, I could understand. More than a weak of nothing but water, just doesn't seem safe. Even prisoners a couple hundred years ago usually got moldy bread to go with their water.