The Practice of Fasting

Fasting should not be used as a last resort. It should be employed as the first mode of treatment before a physician starts you on medication for almost any chronic condition.
— Joel Fuhrman, M.D., Fasting and Eating for Health, NY: St. Martin Griffin, 1995
Learn about the varieties and immense benefits of fasting. Sal will give a brief, historical context for fasting and discuss three different types of fasting: a water fast; a fast that targets two organ pairs; and a monofast, where a person eats just one type of food.

Sal Salerno is a licensed acupuncturist registered by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). He completed his training in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at the Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Roseville, Minnesota. He is also a certified practitioner of Shiatsu and is skilled in the arts of cupping, moxibustion and auricular (ear) therapy. Sal’s post-graduate work involved a series of mentorships with Five-Element and Japanese style acupuncture practitioners. He uses a Five Element approach in his acupuncture practice. In this method of acupuncture, needles are not retained, and moxa is sometimes used on acupuncture points before they are needled, “warming the house for the guest.” Balancing the meridians and treating the person as a whole are integral aspects of the Five Element method. In addition to this Five Element approach Sal utilizes Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in his treatments if indicated. Clinical experiences include treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain including neuropathy, palliative care, and supportive therapy for patients with cancer. He treats a wide range of conditions, specializing in the treatment of autoimmune conditions, allergies, digestive issues and nutrition, endocrine imbalances, insomnia, psycho-emotional issues, and addiction.
Applying a comprehensive framework, formed through my many years of research and clinical practice, I am able to provide my patients with thoughtful and effective care for a diverse and complex range of health concerns.