Updated: October 2026
In short: Hildegard fasting is a fasting cleanse that draws on the teachings of the abbess Hildegard of Bingen (1098 to 1179). It lasts three to seven days, and you mainly eat spelt broth with herbs, with a maximum of around 800 kcal per day in total. The method is not scientifically proven. It's a form of fasting from tradition that should be viewed neutrally and critically. As of October 2026.
Hildegard of Bingen is one of the best-known women of the Middle Ages. Today the name Hildegard appears on cookbooks, spelt products and fasting cleanses. Here you'll see what's behind it.
What is Hildegard fasting?
A mild fasting cleanse with spelt, vegetable broth and herbal tea that draws on the teachings of Hildegard of Bingen. Hildegard lived from 1098 to 1179 as an abbess in Bingen on the Rhine and wrote, among other things, about nature and medicine. Fasting according to her is not a historical practice in the strict sense but a modern compilation that has been marketed since the 1970s under the term "Hildegard medicine".
That matters for putting it in context: medieval texts are hard to translate into today's health advice. What is offered today as Hildegard fasting is an interpretation. The basic idea of consciously going without rich food, on the other hand, is ancient and found in other traditions too. If you're interested, you should therefore read books and offers on Hildegard medicine as an introduction to a tradition and not as a medical roadmap. Reputable providers say openly what is proven and what rests on tradition, and they point out risk groups. If someone, on the other hand, promises to treat diseases or to cleanse you, scepticism is warranted. How this relates to the fasting season is in the article What Is Fasting?
How does Hildegard fasting work?
Three to seven days, framed by a preparation phase and a phase of getting used to normal food again. According to web.de, energy intake is at most 800 kcal per day. After fasting comes a four-day reintroduction with steamed fruit and vegetables.
| Phase | Duration | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Varies | Light food, bowel emptying (provided for in the method) |
| Fasting | 3 to 7 days | Spelt broth with herbs, tea, spelt coffee, cooked spelt flakes, up to 800 kcal |
| Reintroduction | approx. 4 days | Steamed fruit and vegetables, spelt flakes |
The number of preparation days varies by source, and we found no reliable figure for it. For a calm start, still plan at least one day of light food beforehand, such as vegetables, potatoes and fruit. The Verbraucherzentrale generally recommends gradually reducing the amount of food two to three days before fasting, and that applies to this cleanse too.
Why does spelt play the main role in Hildegard fasting?
Because spelt has a special status in Hildegard's teaching. According to web.de, you eat a vegetable broth with spelt meal and fresh herbs once or twice a day, plus spelt coffee and cooked spelt flakes. Spelt is a grain with gluten and provides carbohydrates as well as fibre.
In our research we found no study showing that spelt is better for fasting than other grains. It is a filling, well-tolerated base, but no cure-all. It is unsuitable with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance. You'll find the recipe for a spelt soup below.
How do you cook a simple spelt and vegetable broth?
With spelt meal, vegetables and herbs, in 40 minutes. The recipe makes two servings.
- 80 g spelt meal or spelt semolina
- 1 carrot, 1 stick of celery, 1 small leek
- 800 ml vegetable stock without additives
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, 1 tsp fennel seeds
- Salt to taste
Chop the vegetables small and simmer them in the stock for 15 minutes. Stir in the spelt meal and let it swell for another 15 minutes over low heat. Add the herbs only at the end. If you like, blend part of the soup for more creaminess. A day example: in the morning fennel tea and a cup of spelt coffee, at midday a serving of spelt broth, in the afternoon herbal tea, in the evening broth again. In between you drink water, at least 2.5 litres in total, as the Verbraucherzentrale advises. Make the broth in advance the day before, then the fasting day is calm. A fennel tea goes well as a drink; more in the article Tea for Fasting.
Is Hildegard fasting healthy or scientifically proven?
As a method it is not proven. We found no high-quality studies that test Hildegard fasting against other forms of fasting. For classic therapeutic fasting (about 250 to 500 kcal per day), the DGE points out that success depends decisively on supervision by experienced fasting doctors or trained fasting leaders. That applies to every form of fasting, this one too.
We see three points critically. First, the bowel emptying with Glauber's salt or enemas that the method provides for. That is not without risk and doesn't belong in self-management. More in the article Gentle Bowel Emptying While Fasting. Second, some providers promise effects that are not proven. Third, a cleanse of at most 800 kcal doesn't cover your needs, so it must stay time-limited. The Verbraucherzentrale advises that even healthy people shouldn't fast fully for longer than a week.
How does Hildegard fasting differ from other types of fasting?
It is milder than classic therapeutic fasting and narrower in food choice. The table puts it in context. The values come from web.de and the DGE.
| Method | Energy per day | Duration | Special feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hildegard fasting | up to 800 kcal | 3 to 7 days | Spelt, herbs |
| Therapeutic fasting (DGE) | 250 to 500 kcal | 7 to 10 days | Broth, juices, honey |
| frank. Juice Cleanse | approx. 650 to 930 kcal | 1 to 7 days | 6 juices per day |
If you want an overview, you'll find it at Types of Fasting: Which One Is Right for Me?
Who is Hildegard fasting not suitable for?
For pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, people with eating disorders, who are underweight, who have coeliac disease or pre-existing conditions. With regular medication too, you should ask your doctor first, especially with diabetes or blood pressure medication. The Verbraucherzentrale generally recommends getting medical advice before fasting.
After fasting, you ease back in slowly: steamed vegetables, spelt flakes, later whole grains and protein, in small portions and well chewed. More in the article Guide to Breaking a Fast. If you feel dizzy, get a racing heart or marked weakness, stop. Skip laxative salts and enemas without medical guidance. If you're more interested in the spiritual side, you can also take the idea of conscious abstention into the fasting season without doing the cleanse.
Matching picks from frank.
If you prefer a cleanse with more energy and without bowel emptying, the frank. Juice Cleanse is an alternative: six cold-pressed juices per day, from €99.75 for three days (as of October 2026).
You might also like
- Types of Fasting: Which One Is Right for Me?
- What Is Fasting? Definition & Meaning
- Gentle Bowel Emptying While Fasting - Worthwhile or Can You Do Without?
Frequently asked questions about Hildegard fasting
How long does Hildegard fasting last?
The fasting part lasts three to seven days. Preparation and a roughly four-day reintroduction are added.
How many calories does Hildegard fasting have?
According to web.de, at most 800 kcal per day. That is well below the needs of most adults.
Why spelt when fasting?
In Hildegard's teaching, spelt has a high standing. A superior effect compared with other grains is not proven.
Is Hildegard fasting scientifically proven?
No, we know of no high-quality studies that test Hildegard fasting.
Do I need an enema for Hildegard fasting?
The method provides for bowel emptying. That doesn't belong in self-management. Ask a doctor first.
Note: This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical or therapeutic advice. If you have complaints, pre-existing conditions, are pregnant or take medication, please talk to your doctor first.
