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The
Gerson Therapy
One cannot cure very sick people by adding poisons to
their systems. We cannot detoxify our bodies when we add poisons
through our food which is one of the reasons why cancer is
so much on the increase.
Dr. Max Gerson Therapy For Cancer
How It Works
Gerson therapy is one of the metabolic therapies, using a special
diet, plus supplements, and a coffee enema to cure terminal cases
of cancer. 90-95% of his cancer cases were far advanced (terminal),
and overall his cure rate was about 50%, which for his day was
quite exceptional among alternative practitioners. This percentage
is far higher than current day orthodox treatments!!
He stated: "... this percentage could be higher if there
were better cooperation from the family physician, the patient
himself and less resistance from the family against such a strict
regime." (page 33) Apparently some things never change.
Gerson is also known for his very high cure rate of tuberculosis,
which is caused by a bacteria.
Having said that, there is a reason that Gerson's cure rate might
actually be closer to those of Kelley and Binzel, as examples,
than surface statistics might imply. Both Kelley and Binzel did
not include in their statistics those cancer patients who came
to them who were simply too far gone to help. Gerson apparently
included everyone.
Dr. Max Gerson Therapy
Max Gerson was a medical doctor who used diet and other natural
treatments to deal with cancer. His approach was developed
as a combination of trial-and-error methods and a vast amount
of reading of the scientific literature.
The theory and implementation of his treatment can be found in
his book: A Cancer Therapy - Results of Fifty Cases and The Cure
of Advanced Cancer by Diet Therapy. This article will be based
on the 5th Edition. His book is quite long and at times very
technical. Nevertheless, it is recommended reading, especially
for those using his treatment. A medical dictionary sitting by
your side will be very helpful.
Gerson was well aware of soil issues, the electricity of cells,
how cancer cells ferment glucose, oxidizing enzymes, sodium/potassium
balance, connective tissue, and many other technical issues related
to cancer. His treatment and approach was a "whole body" approach,
meaning he did not consider that treating only the localized
area of concentrated cancer cells, as orthodox medicine does,
is a good idea.
"The ideal task of cancer therapy is to restore the function
of the oxidizing systems in the entire organism. This, of course,
is difficult to accomplish. It involves the following: 1) detoxification
of the whole body, 2) providing the essential mineral contents
of the potassium group, 3) adding oxidizing enzymes continuously
as long as they are not reactivated and built in the body (in
the form of green leaf juice and fresh calf's liver juice). This
will create a near normal condition of the oxidizing system in
the body, to which malignant cells with the fermentation system
cannot adapt."
Dr. Max Gerson, A Cancer Therapy, 5th Edition, page 7
Gerson was very interested in treating the liver. Several chapters
of his book deal with various aspects of the liver. He noted
several cancer patients who were cured of their cancer but later
died of cirrhosis of the liver (see page 18). In a sense he considered
that damage to the liver preceded the metastasis of cancer (see
pages 40 and 64). In fact, Gerson saw a parallel between the
deterioration of the liver and the growth and progression of
the cancer!! Because of his concern for liver problems, he did
not favor fasting (see page 74).
One point of focus of Gerson's interest was connective tissue.
Quoting Professor Pischinger:
"The mesenchym [currently spelled: mesenchyme] consists
mostly of connective tissue cells which are distributed all over
the body, especially between all organs and tissues. It contains
some different types of cells. This tissue was long ignored until
a few scientists discovered the importance of this so-called
'filling tissue,' now characterized more precisely as the 'reticular
system,' containing the mesenchymal defense and parenteral digestive
apparatus. From the pathology we learn that almost every tumor
is surrounded by such tissue, and the same tissue also embraces
all new cancer establishments. This connective tissue is almost
inactive and paralyzed in cancer, incapable of helping or protecting
the body any longer in defense or healing."
Dr. Max Gerson, A Cancer Therapy, 5th Edition, page 120
Gerson comments about this quote:
"A number of scientists have tried various methods to stimulate
the reticular system as well as the reticulo-endothelial system,
which seem to control and regulate the growth of cells. Failure
of these systems may cause the uncontrolled growth [of cancer
cells], which is a characteristic part of cancer."
Dr. Max Gerson, A Cancer Therapy, 5th Edition, page 120
It is unfortunate that Gerson did not know what we know now:
"Cancer cells produce and secrete millions of enzyme molecules,
which, like scissors, cut collagen and tissue that surrounds
cells... Using the same mechanism, cancer cells can settle [in
a new location] and start new tumor growth.
Dr. Aleksandra Niedzwiecki, Rath Foundation
It is the focus of the Rath Cellular Solution and Osiecki Cancer
Technique (for which I have articles on this web site) to protect
this collagen matrix from being cut apart by the cancer cell
created enzymes. If Gerson had had this technology, his cure
rate may have been significantly higher.
A related, and just as interesting, concept in his book is related
to the issue of inflammation. To him, the body's ability to create
an inflammation to the afflicted area of the body was critical
to the treatment of cancer. "...that slices of tissue, taken
from malignant rat tumors or human cancer tissues, are killed
fast in an inflammation exudate simply because the specific metabolism
of the cancer cell cannot be maintained in those surroundings." (page
43) "There is no other way but to kill these [cancer] cells
to dissolve and absorb them. I believe the surest way to achieve
this end is to restore to the body its ability to produce non-bacterial
inflammatory reactions." (pages 125-127)
In addition to this, he felt the diet should be designed to avoid
allergic reactions. "It became necessary to find means of
excluding all allergic reactions as far as possible. We succeeded
in excluding the nutritional allergies by adding large doses
of potassium and simultaneously applying a strictly saltless
diet." (page 139) Coffee enemas and castor oil treatments
were also part of this approach.
"[Professor G. von Bergmann stated] Cancer metabolism takes
place once the body is no longer capable of producing an active
'inflammation metabolism' ... the cancerous organism is anergic
[a lack of normal immunological function] in respect to inflammation."
Dr. Max Gerson, A Cancer Therapy, 5th Edition, page 120
I am not sure whether Gerson included this next quote in reference
to inflammation or the more general topic of temperature: "[Professor
Lambert concluded] In the tissue culture the cancer cell will
be damaged by a temperature of 39 degrees C. and dies at 42 degrees
C; the normal cell will be damaged by 43 degree C. and dies at
46-47 degrees C." (page 45)
It seems that the collagen matrix (a critical part of the connective
tissue, and which Gerson refers to as mesenchym), the immunity
system, and the ability of the body to create inflammations are
all highly related issues.
"Connective tissue functions not only as a mechanical support
for other tissues but also as an avenue for communication and
transport among other tissues. Most significantly, connective
tissue is the stage for inflammation. The principal cell types
involved in immunological defense are found within connective
tissue."
http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/intro/ct.htm
It may be correct to conclude that when the cancer cell enzymes
cut apart the collagen matrix, not only does the cancer spread,
but the immunity system and the ability of the body to create
an inflammation are damaged. In other words, as was said above: "This
connective tissue is almost inactive and paralyzed in cancer,
incapable of helping or protecting the body any longer in defense
or healing."
Gerson was very interested in the potassium group of minerals
versus the sodium group. He favored the potassium group for treating
cancer and his diet absolutely forbid adding any salt to foods.
The ratio of potassium to sodium was something he emphasized
several times. This, in spite of the fact that some of his contemporaries
came to a different conclusion about salt. He probably talked
about potassium more than any other single subject. He was also
interested in other minerals as well, along with some vitamins.
Gerson was also aware of the electical component of cancer. "All
investigators found that malignant tumors are characterized by
a considerable electronegativity in the tissues and fluids." (page
106) In fact, this is one reason why he was so interested in
potassium and other minerals. "The late G.W. Crile, and
his collaborators, M. Telkes and A.F. Rowland, found a decreased
electrical polarization and an increased electric conductivity
in malignant tumors which may be caused, in my opinion, by the
greater sodium content in the growing part of the tumor." (page
107)
One vitamin Gerson liked was niacin. It "helps to bring
back sufficient glycogen into the liver cells," (page 209)
open[s] the small arteries and capillaries;" (page 209)
and "raises the electrical potentials in the cells." (page
209) He also recommended discontinuing taking niacin in cases
of bleeding. (page 209)
As with Moerman, Gerson was very interested in iodine, a nutrient
our FDA has made difficult to obtain in therapeutic quantities. "Iodine
is a decisive factor in the normal differentiation of cells,
and can be used in order to counteract the decrease of cell differentiation
as seen in the cancerous tissues. Iodine is also regarded as
counteracting some adrenal hormones." (page 32)
As with several other alternative health practitioners (e.g.
Kelley, Hulda Clark, etc.) Gerson required a coffee enema. Generally,
his enemas were given every four hours - day and night. However,
in cases of discomfort (i.e. flare-ups), they were given every
two hours! As he notes on page 236a: "However, physician
must monitor serum electrolytes frequently."
Gerson had excellent results treating tuberculosis cases. The
significance of this is that tuburculosis is caused by a bacteria.
His first cancer treatments were essentially his tuberculosis
treatment plan (see page 31). This lends credibility to the theory
that cancer is related to some type of parasite, felt now to
be a fungi/mould/yeast. Gerson himself discounted the possibilty
that cancer was caused by a microorganism (see page 35).
Gerson was also well aware, even in the 1950s, of the importance
of organic foods (because general farming practices left the
plants without enough nutrients), such as carrots, and the damage
done to foods by the way they were processed and packaged. Think
how much worse things are today!!
Gerson twice mentioned that his "most drastic" mistake
was giving a number of patients "opposite sex hormones," based
on the recommendation of another doctor. This mistake caused
a number of deaths among his better patients. (see page 219)
Gerson was not a fan of orthodox medicine. He noted that cure
rates were the same even after better diagnostic techniques and
a myriad of new orthodox treatment protocols (see page 87).
The Diet
The Gerson diet is extremely detailed. It is not just the foods
that are included and excluded; it is when the foods are eaten,
how often they are eaten, how they are prepared, how not to
prepare them, what to cook them in, how to package them, etc.
etc.
If someone is going to go on the Gerson diet, I would suggest
that before they read the book, they write down (or become familiar
with) the diet as presented in pages 236-248 (5th edition). Then
as they read the book from the beginning they can compare the
comments in the book with the diet itself.
One thing that must be remembered is that the book was written
in pieces, meaning at more than one time. Dr. Gerson did not
have a word processor, in which he could quickly make changes
to old chapters. Thus, the book is a mix of old chapters and
new chapters. There is a lot of redundancy and a lot of poor
organization. But this is a reflection of the time period in
which he wrote the book. It is a large book, and very technical
at times.
I have seen testimonials of the Gerson treatment on the internet,
however, details were not given of their treatment, except that
they apparently drank more carrot juice than his book suggested.
Gerson kept his cancer patients on his diet for at least one
and a half years, and frequently two years. "In more advanced
cases it takes a long time, about one to one and a half years,
to restore the liver as near as possible to normal." (page
196)
"Another frequent mistake patients make is to feel, that
'a little bit' of one or the other forbidden foods cannot do
them much harm. This is an entirely mistaken notion; besides,
these 'little bits' tend to become larger and more frequent:
they do not fail to produce harmful results."
Dr. Max Gerson, A Cancer Therapy, 5th Edition, page 216
Well said, this still applies to cancer diets.
Supercharging This Treatment
My web site focuses on "major" treatments, meaning
treatments that have a long history of having a profound effect
on the success of the cancer treatment. An analysis of his treatment
against this standard yields the conclusion that his treatment
has the equivalent of one "major" treatment. This "major" treatment
is derived from his combination of carrot juice and apple juice
(which I give a one-half "major" treatment score) and
his "greens," which I also give a one-half "major" treatment
score.
In short, his treatment is fairly weak by today's standards,
which would typically include more than half a dozen "major" treatments.
Also, by today's standards, there are some errors in his diet,
such as his exclusion of berries and pineapple. This is VERY
understandable!! He was working before the discovery of phytonutrients,
glyconutrients, and so on, thus he had little knowledge of modern
nutrition.
In spite of that, if someone wants to go on his diet, I think
that would be fine for a cancer patient. However, I would visit
my article on evaluating alternative cancer treatments and add
at least a half-dozen "major" treatments and/or immunity
building treatments to his treatment! Examples would be to add
the Rath Cellular Solution, Essiac Tea, etc. more info can be
found at:
Checklist To Evaluate An Alternative Cancer Treatment Program
.
We give a fresh glass of juice every hour: five glasses of apple-carrot
juice, three glasses of plain carrot juice and we give liver
capsules with it, four glasses of juice from leafy type greens
rich in chlorophyll, iron, nutrients, enzymes, everything the
body has been lacking over the years.
We also give three full vegetarian meals and a fruit plate every
day. By drinking the juice, you get an enormous flooding of nutrients,
minerals, enzymes, and vitamins which start to flush out the
kidneys. The nutrients go into the tissues, into the cells and
force out the poisons, and all those poisons are released into
the blood stream. The liver filters them out. You have to help
the liver get rid of them, and there is only one way - by opening
the bile ducts", and Dr. Gerson did this with the famous
and much joked about coffee enemas which is the key to successful
treatment.
Gerson Therapy: Excess protein in the diet is carninogenic
Excess protein causes cancer. Especially when it is cooked. Doctors
and nutritionists advise you that animal protein is needed
for strength and tissue repair, but that is absolutely the
worst advice you can get. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute
in Sweden found that when any kind of flesh including red meat,
poultry, pork and lamb was heated to 212 degrees, whether it
was boiled, broiled, fried or baked, the protein in the meat
CHANGED into toxic amides that do nothing in your body except
provide you with carcinogens.
Cooked meat is strictly a carcinogen. Now if you like meat for
the taste, that is a different story, I won't argue about tastes.
The latest research done at the University of California at Irvine,
showed that children who eat as few as three hotdogs a week had
10 to 12 times higher incidence of leukemia and brain tumors.
Sausages are perhaps the worst food. They are chemically treated,
dyed and preserved. They have nitrates and nitrosamines.
Potassium versus sodium in the Gerson Therapy
Gerson found that sodium stimulates tumor growth. It interferes
with body function. According to Gerson you need high potassium
and low sodium, the same ratio which can be found in fresh live
foods. All processed foods contain reduced potassium and raised
sodium. Sodium is necessary for tumor growth. The Gerson Therapy
supplements the body with potassium.
Liver regeneration and the Gerson Therapy
The liver is the most important organ in the body. It is the
filtration system for detoxification. I have heard doctors say
that if your liver functions up to 35%, you are all right, but
when it drops below that, disease develops, whether it is diabetes,
cancer, arthritis, lupus or anything else. By the time cancer
or chronic disease develops, liver function is below 35%.
So when the tumor, the cancer, arthritis or other disease symptoms
are gone, that doesn't mean the body is cured. The body isn't
really restored until the liver goes back to its full activity
of somewhere between 90 and 100%. We never really know how long
it takes to get there, but we can estimate it takes at least
1 1/2 year or 2. If you go back to eating average food right
away, the foods you used to eat, candies, ice cream, cheese and
meat, the cancer will come back rather quickly because the liver
is not able to deal with these things.
Flaxseed oil and the Gerson Therapy
Dr. Gerson found, after observing for a long time, that patients,
especially with cancer and also with heart disease, atherosclerosis
and so on cannot handle oils and fats, and that is why his book
says no oils. Yet he was very much aware that the body needs
a certain amount of essential fatty acids and that after deprivation
for a year or year and a half, until the tumors disappear, there
is a lack of essential fatty acids in the Gerson diet.
He searched and searched and tried every kind of oil he could
think of, everything from olive oil, sesame oil, safflower oil
to sunflower oil. None of them were usable because in each case
the tumors would regrow. Fats stimulate tumor growth. But after
the book came out, he came across the work of Dr. Johanna Budwig
in Germany who showed that one may use flaxseed oil and that
it is well tolerated by cancer patients. It helps to stimulate
the immune system, and kills the tumor tissue. He used two tablespoons
of flaxseed oil per day - one at lunch and one at dinner, and
after a month on the therapy, he cut it down to one tablespoon
a day. He advised against cooking with oils. You can't cook with
flaxseed oil because if it is heated, it deteriorates and causes
problems. So the flaxseed oil must only be used raw and cold.
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