The Rise and Fall of Linda Hazzard’s Fasting Empire

The year 1908 proved pivotal for self-proclaimed “fasting specialist” Linda Hazzard. That year saw the publication of her first book, Fasting for the Cure of Disease, which promoted starvation as a panacea for all illnesses. It also marked the beginning of patient deaths under her care at a Washington state sanitarium locals grimly nicknamed “Starvation Heights.”

Hazzard’s dangerous philosophy claimed toxins caused all disease and could be purged through extreme fasting. Her treatments involved hours-long enemas, violent massage sessions, and days consuming nothing but minimal tomato juice, asparagus, and oranges. While this might sound like contemporary celebrity diet trends, Hazzard’s methods proved deadly. The first victim was 38-year-old Norwegian immigrant Daisy Haglund, who succumbed to starvation-related complications. Remarkably, her son Ivar Haglund – who occasionally underwent Hazzard’s treatments – later founded the successful Ivar’s seafood restaurant chain that still operates in Seattle today.

The turning point came four years later when wealthy British socialite Claire Williamson died weighing just 50 pounds – an alarmingly low weight for an adult woman. Her sister Dora, also undergoing treatment, had similarly wasted away to near 50 pounds before secretly telegraphing for help. The subsequent trial revealed Hazzard had forged Claire’s will and stolen approximately $6,000 in jewelry from the sisters. Evidence suggested at least 14 patients died under her care after being coerced into signing over their estates. Though convicted and sentenced to 2-20 years, Hazzard served only two before receiving a pardon. She continued promoting her fasting ideology until 1938 when, in grim irony, she died attempting to fast-cure her own illness.

Ancient Roots of Therapeutic Fasting

While Hazzard took fasting to deadly extremes, the practice has ancient therapeutic roots. Greek philosopher Pythagoras advocated periodic fasting for health, while Renaissance physician Paracelsus called it “the physician within.” The English proverb “Feed a cold, starve a fever” traces back to 1574 when lexicographer John Withals wrote “Fasting is a remedy for fevers.”

Religious traditions worldwide independently developed fasting as spiritual practice – for ritual preparation, dream incubation, or divine connection. Saint Lidwina of Schiedam represents perhaps the earliest documented case merging spiritual and medical fasting. After a catastrophic ice-skating accident at age 15 (possibly one of history’s first multiple sclerosis cases), the 14th-century Dutch mystic progressed from eating only apples to subsisting on dates, then watered wine, then saltwater, until reportedly living on air alone. Dutch officials dispatched guards to verify her claims (though some accounts suggest they assaulted her). As her condition worsened, detached body parts became religious relics – including her intestines.

Victorian “Fasting Girls” and Public Spectacle

Fasting entered secular consciousness during the Victorian era through “fasting girls” like Brooklyn’s Mollie Fancher and Wales’ Sarah Jacob. Both began fasting for health reasons but achieved celebrity status. While Fancher eventually resumed eating and recovered, Jacob’s case ended tragically when nurses placed her under 24-hour surveillance to verify her claims. Previously able to secretly eat, the intense scrutiny led to her starving to death within days, resulting in her parents’ manslaughter conviction.

These cases highlight how fasting became public spectacle. Mollie Fancher – “The Brooklyn Enigma” – allegedly stopped eating for 16 years after accidents left her bedridden and senseless. Newspapers extensively covered her purported psychic abilities during 1866-1875. Surprisingly, when she resumed eating in the 1880s-90s, her strange symptoms disappeared. She lived until 1916 without further incident.

The “Natural Hygiene” Movement and Its Dangerous Legacy

The late 19th century saw fasting gain pseudo-medical legitimacy through the “Natural Hygiene” movement. While promoting sensible practices like balanced diets and exercise, it dangerously rejected medicine in favor of fasting cures. Dr. Edward Dewey’s The No-Breakfast Plan (1894) argued skipping breakfast and fasting during illness promoted health. His protégée Linda Hazzard later criticized him for insufficiently emphasizing enemas and poor personal diet – ironic given his fatal stroke.

Dr. Herbert Shelton expanded these ideas into “Naturopathy,” claiming to cure 40,000 patients with water-only fasts. Despite lacking medical credentials (his “Doctor of Physiatric Degree” came from a diploma mill), Shelton gained significant following, even running for U.S. President on the American Vegetarian Party ticket. Multiple patient starvation deaths led to lawsuits, with a 1978 case finally shutting down his Texas “Health School.”

Breatharians and Modern Fasting Cults

The 20th century birthed even more extreme ideologies like “Breatharianism,” claiming humans could live on air and sunlight alone. Charismatic huckster Wiley Brooks founded the American Breatharian Institute, appearing on 1980s television claiming he rarely ate – though he was later photographed with junk food. His bizarre philosophy justified consuming McDonald’s cheeseburgers (possessing special “fundamental frequencies”) with Coca-Cola (“liquid light”) for $100,000+ “training” fees.

Even prominent authors promoted dangerous fasting ideas. Upton Sinclair, famous for The Jungle, enthusiastically endorsed various questionable therapies. His 1911 book The Fasting Cure recommended prolonged fasts for serious conditions like cancer and cirrhosis – advice modern medicine strongly rejects, despite some preliminary animal studies showing potential benefits.

The Dubious Science of “Detox” Culture

Modern “detox” regimens continue this dangerous legacy under new branding. While short-term intermittent fasting shows some health benefits in recent studies, extreme protocols like Stanley Burroughs’ “Master Cleanse” (lemonade, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper for 10 days) have proven deadly. In the 1980s, cancer patient Lee Swatsenbarg died during Burroughs’ month-long regimen involving colored light therapy and abdominal massage that caused fatal internal bleeding. Burroughs faced manslaughter charges for practicing medicine without a license.

Lessons from History’s Starvation Cults

This disturbing history reveals how easily pseudoscience exploits human vulnerability. From medieval mystics to modern “wellness” gurus, the pattern repeats: charismatic figures repackage ancient practices with dangerous extremes, often profiting from desperation. While moderate fasting may offer benefits, history’s grim lesson remains clear – when ideology overrides evidence, and gurus replace doctors, the results often prove tragic. As contemporary diet trends continue evolving, we would do well to remember the victims of “Starvation Heights” and their cautionary tales.