My stay at the Bleib Berg health resort in Austria last month gave me a very timely reminder of the importance giving the body – particularly the digestive system – the time, space, and conditions it needs to rest and reset.
It sounds simple, almost obvious. But in reality, most of us never truly allow our digestive system to switch off. We graze, we snack, we eat on the go, we eat too much, often under stress, and expect our bodies to keep up. What the Mayr ‘cure’ (the programme I followed) does so effectively is strip everything back. It creates a rhythm where the digestive system is no longer constantly working, but instead supported, soothed, and gradually restored.
The early morning routine
A huge part of the Mayr approach to a gut reset begins first thing in the morning. Before my feet hit the floor, I drank a large glass of water and then I took my Epsom salts. One level teaspoon, prepared the night before in a little water, topped up with warm water in the morning. It’s not exactly a taste to savour, but its effect is unmistakable. This is followed by a teaspoon of Base Powder, again dissolved in water.
The Base Powder is a blend of alkalising minerals – bicarbonate of soda, calcium carbonate, potassium citrate, magnesium citrate, and sodium hydrogen phosphate. Together, they help rebalance the body’s acid-alkaline levels, gently stimulate digestion, and support the liver and kidneys in their detoxification processes. In combination with the Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate), the effect is – let’s say, efficient. Mornings are not for lingering too far from your bathroom! The Base Powder is taken a further three times during the day between meals.
This routine reduces the strain on the digestive system, encourages proper elimination, helps bring acid/alkaline levels back into balance, and helps create an internal environment where inflammation and disease are less likely to thrive.
What it really means to rest the digestive system
‘Resting the digestive system’ isn’t just about eating less – it’s about creating the right internal conditions. Fewer inputs, yes, but also better support. Regular elimination, reduced acidity, mindful eating, and long gaps between meals all play a role. It’s a full system reset, not a temporary detox.
Alongside this, the treatments that I had at Bleib Berg reinforce that same philosophy of gentle but powerful support. The water therapies, for instance, are unlike anything I’ve experienced. The pool water feels almost silky against the skin – soft, mineral-rich, and deeply soothing. It rises naturally from the mountains at 27 degrees and is warmed slightly to 32 degrees, so stepping in feels like lowering yourself into a perfectly tempered bath.
I found myself drawn to the pools daily, moving between the indoor and outdoor spaces, and alternating with the saunas and steam rooms. This combination – warm water, mineral content, and stillness – seems to coax the body into letting go. I noticed my muscles soften, and circulation improve.
A deeper look at functional testing
My Functional Myodiagnostics session with Dr. Christine Stossier was fascinating. It’s similar to Applied Kinesiology but far more thorough. She tested for food intolerances – yeast, gluten, lactose, fructose – as well as vitamin and mineral levels, parasites, leaky gut, and the condition of my vital organs.
The overall picture was reassuring, but a few things stood out. My liver, it seems, is a little tired – hardly surprising given modern life. I was advised to drink plenty of liver-supporting herbal teas during my stay – these were available from the several tea stations located around the clinic – along with supplements including selenium, iron, and vitamin B6 and vitamin C.
I had infusions of B6, zinc, and selenium and vitamin C – targeted support based on what my body actually needed, not just guesswork. This is the essence of orthomolecular medicine, as Dr. Stossier explained to me while I was there: using higher doses of vitamins and minerals, but only once deficiencies have been properly identified by blood testing. It’s precise, personalised, and refreshingly logical.
Treatments to support my body’s reset
I had nine sessions of medical abdominal therapy, which can only be carried out by one of the doctors at the clinic; after just two sessions the size of my abdomen visibly reduced (something I didn’t expect so quickly). I also had nasal reflex therapy and further infusions. Nasal reflex therapy is reflexology for the nasal passages. A cotton bud is soaked in specific aromatherapy oils and inserted into the nasal passages. There are three reflex points in each nostril, and the cotton bud stimulates these reflex points, helping with rhinitis, sinusitis, headaches and snoring. The vitamin/mineral infusions are carried out by IV with the vitamins and minerals going straight into the vein.
If there’s one thing I’ve taken from my stay, it’s this: healing doesn’t come from adding more and more – it often comes from doing less, but doing it well. Giving the digestive system time to rest isn’t deprivation; it’s restoration. And when it begins to reset, the ripple effects are felt everywhere.
If you would like to know more about how some of these therapies or supplements could be of help to you, please get in touch.
If you’re on Instagram, do follow @justfortummies and take a look at the Bleib Berg highlights. I posted lots of short videos and images showing my stay at the clinic.
