Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCore PrinciplesTechniquesBenefitsRisksEffectivenessFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Core Principles
Techniques
Benefits
Risks
Effectiveness
Frequently Asked Questions
Gerson therapy involves a strict and specific organic diet, nutritional supplements, and the use ofenemas.
Warning
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Gerson therapy should never be used as a substitute for genuine treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. In addition to being unproven, Gerson therapy can be harmful.
This article will discuss the theory behind Gerson therapy, what it entails, and why it isn’t a viable treatment for cancer and other conditions.
Gerson therapy proposes that people with cancer have too much sodium in their bodies compared to potassium and that a buildup of toxins in the body causes changes in cell metabolism, leading tocancer.
Gerson therapy is comprised of three main parts:
Diet
Gerson therapy requires the regime be strictly followed, including a diet consisting of:
Food must be prepared without using aluminum cookware or utensils.
Supplements
Gerson therapy requires taking over nine specificsupplements, including vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
Enemas
Coffee enemas have not been shown to have health benefits and can pose a safety risk.
While advocates for Gerson therapy claim it boosts theimmune system, no scientific evidence shows this to be true.Gerson therapy as a whole has not been shown to have health benefits.
Some aspects of Gerson therapy can be healthy when used within reason. For example, eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables is nutritious.
But eating vast quantities of one food group, especially in a certain way (such as juicing) can be harmful when not balanced with other food groups.This especially is a risk for people who are already ill and weak, such as people living with cancer.
Reputable scientific cancer organizations do not recommend Gerson therapy. Be skeptical of advertisements and programs that claim to have the support ofcancer organizations.
One significant risk related to Gerson therapy is that most Gerson therapists advise people not to havechemotherapy. Stopping or avoiding conventional cancer treatments can cause harm and affect your treatment outcomes. Always discuss potential alternative or complementary therapies with your healthcare specialist before trying them.
Gerson therapy itself can have negative, potentially harmful effects, including:
Coffee enemas have been known to cause:
Other reported side effects include:
Metabolic diets like Gerson therapy can cause nutrient deficiencies such as calcium, vitamins D and B12, and protein.Anemiaand malabsorption in the intestine can also occur.
People with cancer often experience weight loss due to protein-calorie malnutrition.Adequate calorie and nutrient intake are essential.
Along with eating a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, people with cancer are generally advised to follow a diet that is high in calories and high in protein, low in saturated fats, but high inmonounsaturated fats. A wide variety of protein sources is also encouraged.
The diet involved with Gerson therapy can disrupt the special nutritional needs of people with cancer and those undergoing cancer treatment.
Side effects of Gerson therapy include:
Who Should and Should Not Do Gerson Therapy?
For additional information about diet during cancer treatment, you can consult the Cancer Information Service (800-4-CANCER, or 800-422-6237) and the National Cancer Institute siteNutrition in Cancer Care.
The Gerson Research Organisation published a study in 1995 suggesting that people withmelanoma skin cancerwho were doing Gerson therapy had higher survival rates. A review study in 2014 found this study to be inaccurate and noted that it used poor methodology, including not using a single classification of tumor staging.
Summary
Max Gerson developed Gerson therapy in the 1920s and 1930s to addressmigraines, thentuberculosis. It is now primarily aimed at people with cancer. There is no evidence that it is effective, and it can cause serious harm.
Frequently Asked QuestionsGerson therapy can be costly because of expenses such as:Buying special equipmentBuying organic fruit and vegetables, coffee, and supplementsFlights and accommodation (if you are going to a special clinic out of the country)Cost of treatmentLearn MoreDon’t Rely on Amazon for Legitimate Supplements, Study FindsGerson therapy can go on for months or years, but there is no credible evidence that it is effective regardless of how long it is followed.Learn MoreWhat Is Oncology?Gerson therapy involves a strict diet consisting of:Drinking one glass per hour, 13 times a day, of juice freshly made from organic fruits and vegetablesVegetarian mealsOrganically grown fruits and vegetables that are low in sodium and high in potassiumWhole grainsNo salt, spices, or oils used in the foodFood prepared without using aluminum cookware or utensilsGerson therapy can cause harmful effects, particularly to those with cancer or who are undergoing cancer treatments. Talk to your healthcare provider before trying Gerson therapy or following this diet.Learn MoreDo Cancer-Fighting Foods Work?
Gerson therapy can be costly because of expenses such as:Buying special equipmentBuying organic fruit and vegetables, coffee, and supplementsFlights and accommodation (if you are going to a special clinic out of the country)Cost of treatmentLearn MoreDon’t Rely on Amazon for Legitimate Supplements, Study Finds
Gerson therapy can be costly because of expenses such as:Buying special equipmentBuying organic fruit and vegetables, coffee, and supplementsFlights and accommodation (if you are going to a special clinic out of the country)Cost of treatment
Gerson therapy can be costly because of expenses such as:
Learn MoreDon’t Rely on Amazon for Legitimate Supplements, Study Finds
Gerson therapy can go on for months or years, but there is no credible evidence that it is effective regardless of how long it is followed.Learn MoreWhat Is Oncology?
Gerson therapy can go on for months or years, but there is no credible evidence that it is effective regardless of how long it is followed.
Learn MoreWhat Is Oncology?
Gerson therapy involves a strict diet consisting of:Drinking one glass per hour, 13 times a day, of juice freshly made from organic fruits and vegetablesVegetarian mealsOrganically grown fruits and vegetables that are low in sodium and high in potassiumWhole grainsNo salt, spices, or oils used in the foodFood prepared without using aluminum cookware or utensilsGerson therapy can cause harmful effects, particularly to those with cancer or who are undergoing cancer treatments. Talk to your healthcare provider before trying Gerson therapy or following this diet.Learn MoreDo Cancer-Fighting Foods Work?
Gerson therapy involves a strict diet consisting of:Drinking one glass per hour, 13 times a day, of juice freshly made from organic fruits and vegetablesVegetarian mealsOrganically grown fruits and vegetables that are low in sodium and high in potassiumWhole grainsNo salt, spices, or oils used in the foodFood prepared without using aluminum cookware or utensilsGerson therapy can cause harmful effects, particularly to those with cancer or who are undergoing cancer treatments. Talk to your healthcare provider before trying Gerson therapy or following this diet.
Gerson therapy involves a strict diet consisting of:
Gerson therapy can cause harmful effects, particularly to those with cancer or who are undergoing cancer treatments. Talk to your healthcare provider before trying Gerson therapy or following this diet.
Learn MoreDo Cancer-Fighting Foods Work?
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cancer Council.Is Gerson therapy a good cancer treatment?National Cancer Institute.Gerson therapy (PDQ®)–patient version.Cancer Research UK.Gerson therapy.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Gerson regimen.Son H, Song HJ, Seo HJ, Lee H, Choi SM, Lee S.The safety and effectiveness of self-administered coffee enema: a systematic review of case reports.Medicine. 2020;99(36):e21998. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000021998Breastcancer.org.What to know about diets that claim to cure cancer.Gangadharan A, Choi SE, Hassan A, et al.Protein calorie malnutrition, nutritional intervention and personalized cancer care.Oncotarget. 2017;8(14):24009-24030. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.15103Cassileth B.Gerson regimen.Oncology (Williston Park). 2010;24(2):201.Huebner J, Marienfeld S, Abbenhardt C, Ulrich C, Muenstedt K, Micke O, Muecke R, Loeser C.Counseling patients on cancer diets: a review of the literature and recommendations for clinical practice.Anticancer Res. 2014;34(1):39-48.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cancer Council.Is Gerson therapy a good cancer treatment?National Cancer Institute.Gerson therapy (PDQ®)–patient version.Cancer Research UK.Gerson therapy.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Gerson regimen.Son H, Song HJ, Seo HJ, Lee H, Choi SM, Lee S.The safety and effectiveness of self-administered coffee enema: a systematic review of case reports.Medicine. 2020;99(36):e21998. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000021998Breastcancer.org.What to know about diets that claim to cure cancer.Gangadharan A, Choi SE, Hassan A, et al.Protein calorie malnutrition, nutritional intervention and personalized cancer care.Oncotarget. 2017;8(14):24009-24030. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.15103Cassileth B.Gerson regimen.Oncology (Williston Park). 2010;24(2):201.Huebner J, Marienfeld S, Abbenhardt C, Ulrich C, Muenstedt K, Micke O, Muecke R, Loeser C.Counseling patients on cancer diets: a review of the literature and recommendations for clinical practice.Anticancer Res. 2014;34(1):39-48.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cancer Council.Is Gerson therapy a good cancer treatment?National Cancer Institute.Gerson therapy (PDQ®)–patient version.Cancer Research UK.Gerson therapy.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Gerson regimen.Son H, Song HJ, Seo HJ, Lee H, Choi SM, Lee S.The safety and effectiveness of self-administered coffee enema: a systematic review of case reports.Medicine. 2020;99(36):e21998. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000021998Breastcancer.org.What to know about diets that claim to cure cancer.Gangadharan A, Choi SE, Hassan A, et al.Protein calorie malnutrition, nutritional intervention and personalized cancer care.Oncotarget. 2017;8(14):24009-24030. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.15103Cassileth B.Gerson regimen.Oncology (Williston Park). 2010;24(2):201.Huebner J, Marienfeld S, Abbenhardt C, Ulrich C, Muenstedt K, Micke O, Muecke R, Loeser C.Counseling patients on cancer diets: a review of the literature and recommendations for clinical practice.Anticancer Res. 2014;34(1):39-48.
Cancer Council.Is Gerson therapy a good cancer treatment?
National Cancer Institute.Gerson therapy (PDQ®)–patient version.
Cancer Research UK.Gerson therapy.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Gerson regimen.
Son H, Song HJ, Seo HJ, Lee H, Choi SM, Lee S.The safety and effectiveness of self-administered coffee enema: a systematic review of case reports.Medicine. 2020;99(36):e21998. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000021998
Breastcancer.org.What to know about diets that claim to cure cancer.
Gangadharan A, Choi SE, Hassan A, et al.Protein calorie malnutrition, nutritional intervention and personalized cancer care.Oncotarget. 2017;8(14):24009-24030. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.15103
Cassileth B.Gerson regimen.Oncology (Williston Park). 2010;24(2):201.
Huebner J, Marienfeld S, Abbenhardt C, Ulrich C, Muenstedt K, Micke O, Muecke R, Loeser C.Counseling patients on cancer diets: a review of the literature and recommendations for clinical practice.Anticancer Res. 2014;34(1):39-48.
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