Detox & Recharge
Set in Uberlingen, high above Lake Constance lies the world-renowned Buchinger Wilhelmi Clinic, where Clare Stobart experienced an intermittent fasting stay
The History
The fasting method employed by the clinic was developed by the founder, Otto Buchinher. At 40 years old, Otto developed severe rheumatic fever, which forced him to retire from the navy in 1917. Two years later he undertook a 19-day water fasting cure. It was a resounding success and he truly believed that it saved his life. In his memoir he wrote, “This cure truly saved my life and existence. I was weak and thin, but I could move all of my joints again”. From then, he devoted his life to developing a method for medically sound fasting therapy. This method has been continually proven over three generations and backed by university research. The programme is designed to regain and preserve your quality of life, performance and inner harmony and allow you to integrate insights learned at the clinic into your everyday life.
Meeting Leonard Wilhelmi
Buchinger Wilhelmi is a combination of a hotel, monastery and private clinic. Some people visit to heal, others to help get back into a natural rhythm. I met Leonard Wilhelmi, a third-generation great-grandson of Otto, who continues his family’s work in Uberlingen and Marbella. Opening in 1971, they were the first dedicated fasting clinic, and to this day, more than 70% of guests return. When asked to describe a fasting stay at the clinic, Leonard said, “After 3 days you feel more energy, it’s easy: everything is done for you. You don’t have to think about anything” Let’s see if he’s right…
My Stay
I resided in an executive suite, priced from €2217 for the Relax 3-night package which is a 45-minute medical consultation, comprehensive therapeutic, spiritual and cultural programme as well as fasting support and a refeeding day. The clinic accommodates up to 140 guests at any one time, and I was surprised to learn that it was full during my time there. It was so incredibly calm and peaceful, that it almost felt like I had the whole place to myself. I took heed of the advice to travel lightly - as one of the luxuries of fasting is said to be that you don’t need much and have no need for extras, therefore it makes sense to pack light, albeit aware of your schedule.
My experience of spending 4 days at the retreat are wholeheartedly positive. From my arrival at lunchtime, I felt totally at ease due to the full medical supervision and attentive members of the team. You begin your stay with a PCR and rapid flow test, conducted by a member of the medical team, followed by an initial examination by one of the onsite doctors. We then discussed my health questionnaire (which I completed prior to my arrival), as well as the personal goals I wanted to achieve during my stay.
I then headed over to the medical centre where I had a therapy planning meeting and booked in my schedule of appointments and activities. At the clinic, they have a full team of medical specialists including 8 onsite doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists, osteopaths and nutritional experts. Being supported by such an extensive group of specialists made my stay feel very safe and almost effortless because I was protected from giving in to any temptations due to the strict fasting/detox rules.
I enjoyed a fantastic full body massage in the therapy building followed by an early dinner at 6 pm. This organic, light, vegetarian meal is designed to prepare my body to start intermittent fasting. Therapeutic fasting is carried out under full medical guidance, some of the benefits include strengthening your immune system, promoting overall health and supporting wellbeing. In 2019 they became the first clinic to gain a Demeter certification for the biodynamic agriculture-based cuisine and is now also a certified Bioland partner since 2021.
I slept incredibly well. My surroundings included a large, south-facing room with a balcony overlooking Lake Constance. The room itself was modern, clean and free from distractions. It was the perfect environment for such a medically enhanced stay, although I did miss a more typical styled boutique hotel room that feels a little more luxurious. However, given the reason for my stay was to detox and recharge, it makes total sense that the rooms reflect this ethos, and I was soon captivated by the view. Whilst attending the clinic, I was asked to resist the urge to use my phone, in fact, you sign an agreement to that tune on your arrival. Whilst a little hard at first, I soon adjusted to the rules and only checked in on family and work when allowed in the designated rest time. This is observed daily between the hours of 12:00-14:00 and 23:00 - 07:00 for medical reasons whilst fasting.
The second day began with meditating as a group, comprising of people from all over the world in a beautiful studio overlooking Lake Constance. Following finding my zen, I had a medical check in with the onsite doctor where we went through the checklist including weight, height, waist circumference my heart rate, pulse and lung capacity. During my consultation, she explained the fasting process and we decided I could start the intermittent fasting immediately. My personalised plan included 1200 calories per day but no breakfast. Everything was prepared personally for me, and I ate what was offered in order to stay within my calorie allowance. People who are staying for a longer duration, spend 6 days consuming only 250 calories per day. Honey with herbal tea for breakfast, 20 ml of fresh-pressed juice for lunch and a vegetable broth for dinner. Most of the calories for the fasting days are drawn from the honey at breakfast and juice at lunch. The doctor also explained how beneficial intermittent fasting is for your liver. It is advised to always give a couple of days a week break between drinking alcohol, and up to a full week/month per year of zero alcohol to give your liver time to repair.
The Restaurant
The first opportunity I was given to eat, was at 12pm in the restaurant and I was incredibly hungry as I hadn’t eaten for 16 hours. The restaurant only serves fresh, organic gourmet meals and I could only eat between the hours of 12:00 - 20:00. I enjoyed a salad with beetroot followed by a mushroom ragu with dumplings and carrots, finished off with a little apple strudel with vanilla sauce and a herbal tea. Due to the exceptional level of attentive staff, they noticed I hadn’t eaten all of the mushroom ragu, so the nutritionist came over straight away to check why, and to ensure I was eating the right number of calories allocated.
Activities & Treatments
I enjoyed multiple wellbeing and exercise-based sessions, including reflexology, gorgeous guided 2-hour walks around the lake incorporating the specially planted tropical gardens. I learnt so much about other people’s experiences of the clinic during our walk and it was a pleasure to hear that many of the group were repeat visitors. The outdoor pool is fully heated, and a fantastic experience given the amazing views. I also had a Hayflower massage using Alpine hay packs. Heating them with steam, they are used to alleviate pain and release tension as well as stimulate the metabolism.
The myoreflex therapy was by far my favourite treatment. MRT was developed in the 1980’s by Dr Mosetter from Constance. It is based on the holistic interaction of the muscle chains and loops of the entire musculoskeletal system. Pain is experienced in certain movements which can lead to further tension/pain in other areas. By applying pressure, the therapist intentionally heightens the muscle tension to encourage the brain to counteract and relieve the pain whilst restoring muscle balance By day 3, I was suffering from fatigue and headaches, and felt very low on energy. But thankfully I had the best breakfast ever on Thursday morning, enhancing my wellbeing from the inside out whilst still allowing the toxins to leave my body. Comprising of oats, fruit and bread, I thoroughly enjoyed every mouthful!
Personal Note
On departure, I felt sharper with a clear mind and clear goals. I also felt healthier, revitalised and regenerated. I was motivated to make improvements in my life. It feels like I am seeing everything with a new set of eyes. Sadly, however, when it came to it, I felt overwhelmed with the pressure of everyday life which came flooding back as I left. Due to the technology detox, I wasn’t able to use any electronic devices, so going over what I had missed was very overwhelming in a bid to catch up on phone calls and emails.
The perfect reason to go back!
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