Gerson Diet Therapy

Background

One of the most known alternative cancer treatment methods is the Gerson Diet. It is a nutrition practice that involves a regimented diet, supplements, detoxification, and raw juices.

Find out why and how it can be an effective method to treat cancer and various other chronic diseases.

Dr. Max Gerson was a German-American doctor who developed the Gerson Therapy Diet.

In the 1920s and 30s, Dr. Max Gerson, M.D., formulated the Gerson Therapy. Originally created to address his own severe migraines, it evolved into a therapeutic approach for managing degenerative conditions, including skin tuberculosis, diabetes, and notably, cancer.

The basic notion of the Gerson Diet Therapy is that the body can heal itself. The only thing you need to do is restore and rebuild the healing mechanism. A mechanism that has been suppressed by chemicals, pesticides, fungus, heavy metals, etc.

The therapy aims at boosting the entire body's metabolism to prevent the body from damaging itself and instead initiate self-healing. The Gerson Regimen consists of nutrients (through fruit and vegetable juices), supplements, an organic plant-based diet, and detoxification (through multiple daily coffee enemas).

The Gerson Diet has gained popularity as a complementary and alternative type of treatment for different health conditions as well as cancer. People also refer to the Gerson Therapy Diet plan using other names such as Gerson Regimen, Gerson Diet, or sometimes Gerson Method.

Dr. Max Gerson

Top 3 Components of the Therapy

1. Nutrients: the Gerson Diet involves fresh organic products which include vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. The food is rich in potassium, low in sodium (salt), and designed to enrich your body with sufficient nutrients.

2. Supplements: Gerson requires supplementation of selected products to restore healthy cells for proper metabolism and strengthen your immunity.

3. Detoxification: A cancer patient’s body is often toxic from years of poor nutrition, environmental exposure, and stress. On top of that, going on a raw vegetarian diet- starts breaking down toxic tumor tissue and overloads the body with toxins. Coffee enemas are what have been used to eliminate these toxins.

Hippocrates Soup

Gerson Diet Treatment Plan

Looking to follow the Gerson Therapy at home? Gerson uses a strict treatment plan you should follow to the letter.

Here are the main components In a nutshell:

Fresh juices - Fresh organic juice–about 13 cups daily of 8 ounces, at an hourly interval. The juices are easy to digest and boost energy and include: orange juice, green juice, apple juice, and carrot juice.
Vegetarian meals - Cooked organic food that is easy to digest.
Supplements include potassium, Lugol's solution (iodine, potassium iodide, water), vitamins (A, B3, and Vitamin C), and flaxseed oil.
Enzymes - Coenzyme Q10 with B12, pancreatic enzymes, and pepsin.
Detoxifiers- In the Gerson Therapy Diet, coffee enemas are a major component of detoxification and are used multiple times a day. The coffee enema is not to clean the colon although that is an extra benefit. The primary goal is to detoxify the liver. Coffee enemas were largely popularized by Gerson Therapy, and nowadays, many alternative clinics use coffee enemas as part of their protocol.

What to Avoid While on the Gerson Diet Protocol?

All animal products, MSG, soy products, some vegetables (such as raw spinach and mushrooms), sodium, sweets, condiments, some spices, fats, oils (except flaxseed oil), alcohol, most hygiene products, water, and others.

Gerson Diet Main Recipes

Carrot-Apple Juice Ingredients:

3-4 large carrots, washed, scrubbed but not peeled, ends and tips removed
1 large apple, cored, seeds

Carrot Juice Ingredients:

5-6 large carrots, washed, scrubbed but not peeled, ends and tips removed

Citrus Juice Ingredients

3-4 oranges Or 1-2 grapefruit

Green Juice Ingredients:

¼ head (6-7 leaves) Romaine, red or green leaf lettuce
2-3 leaves escarole
2-3 leaves endive
2-3 beet greens, inner leaves
7-8 leaves watercress
3-4 leaves red cabbage
¼ medium green bell pepper
1-2 medium leaves Swiss chard, any color
1 large apple, cored, seeds removed

Hippocrates Soup

1 medium celery root, fibers removed
Roughly chopped 2-3 medium potatoes (1lb)
Roughly chopped 1-2 medium yellow onions
Roughly chopped 2 small or one large leek
Roughly chopped 4-5 tomatoes (1 ½ lb.)
Roughly chopped 4-5 cloves of garlic
1 medium parsley root (or ¼ bunch of fresh parsley)
Purified water

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in a 5-quart pot.

2. Add purified water to slightly cover vegetables, about 2 quarts.

3. Bring the pot to a boil.

4. Reduce heat to a very low simmer and cook covered for 90-120 minutes, or until all vegetables are soft.

5. Pass through a food mill to remove fibers.

Variations

- Change this soup only by using more or less of any of the ingredients listed. Do not add ingredients not listed.

- Alter the amount of purified water added to make a thicker / thinner soup

- Use celery if celery root cannot be found. About 3-4 celery ribs take the place of one bulb.

- If you can’t find leeks, use an additional onion or two.

- Substitute red onion for the yellow onion.

Did You Know?

Science has largely denied Gerson Therapy the chance to stand firm and claim a position in cancer treatment.

In the 1990s, a case review of 6 patients with metastatic cancer who used the Gerson Therapy reported that the regimen helped patients in some ways, both physically and psychologically.

Based on these results, the reviewers recommended that clinical trials of the Gerson Therapy be conducted but no such study has ever been undertaken.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Gerson diet plan?

The Gerson diet is an organic vegetarian diet that is extremely low in sodium, fats, and proteins. The food plan involves consuming 15–20 pounds (7–9 kg) of organic produce (with an emphasis on raw juices) per day, that are intended to help flood the body with nutrients. Supplements and detoxifiers (enemas) are also an integral part of the diet plan.

How can I do Gerson therapy at home?

Gerson therapy can be done at home by following the correct steps of the plan. However, it is recommended that the treatment plan be started at the Gerson Clinic and then continued at home.

What is the Gerson method?

Developed in the 1920’s by Dr. Max Gerson, the Gerson Therapy is a natural treatment system that activates the body’s extraordinary ability to heal itself by treating the underlying cause of degenerative disease - toxicity and nutritional deficiency — through a specific protocol consisting of an organic, plant — based diet, raw juices, detoxification and natural supplements. Gerson believed that with a healthy gut, you can have a robust immune system and prevent and even reverse different ailments.

Does the Gerson therapy really work?

There is a wealth of anecdotal evidence supporting Gerson therapy as an alternative treatment for cancer. More scientific attention needs to be directed to this area so that patients can practice safe and appropriate therapies that are based on evidence rather than anecdotes.

What juicer is used in the Gerson therapy?

There are three juicers approved for use on the Gerson Diet. Why only 3? Dr. Gerson explains, “Two machines are required, a separate grinder and a separate press, for the correct juice preparation. These are findings of experiences over many years in which patients who used a one-unit machine had no success.” In other words, the fine grinding process and high-power hydraulic press yields the most juice possible from fruits and vegetables. Two-stage juicing also produces the least amount of heat, allowing juice to retain nutrients and minerals efficiently. The three juicers approved for treating cancer with Gerson Therapy are: The PURE Juicer, the Norwalk Juicer, and the more budget-friendly Champion Elite Classic 2000.

How much does it cost to go to the Gerson Clinic in Mexico?

The Cancer program is typically three weeks, costing an average of $6,000 a week. Find more details here.