What Is Gerson Therapy, Does It Really Work, and What Are the Success Rates?

Gerson therapy is a strict diet and supplement regimen that claims to improve health. There is no substantial scientific evidence that Gerson therapy treats or cures any condition.

Alternative and complementary treatments are common practices for people undergoing cancer treatment. Practices like acupuncture, massage, aromatherapy, and chiropractic treatment may reduce symptoms related to cancer and cancer treatment. Some complementary medical practices are more extreme, though, and pose more risks. Gerson therapy is a diet-based alternative treatment method that claims to help treat certain cancers. 

This program involves a restricted diet and detoxification with multiple daily enemas. The program has been around for decades, but there is little-to-no scientific evidence that it does what it claims to do. 

Learn more about Gerson therapy, including the benefits and risks it presents. 

Gerson therapy is a strict diet and supplement regimen that claims to improve health. It was created by a German doctor named Max Gerson in the 1930s. Gerson changed his diet, hoping to improve his migraine symptoms. He claimed that his new regimen was effective and started promoting it as a cure for other health conditions, such as skin tuberculosis and stomach cancer.

Gerson's theory was that cancer is caused by cell changes occurring due to processed food and environmental factors, low immunity, and an imbalance of sodium and potassium in the cells. His approach emphasized a strict vegetarian diet high in potassium but very low in sodium.

Gerson suggested that this diet, coupled with enemas and dietary supplements, corrects electrolyte imbalance, repairs tissue, and detoxifies the liver. Theoretically, this process would return the body to a healthier metabolic state. At that point, it could heal itself, removing cancer or other diseases.

There is little scientific evidence that supports Gerson's claims, though. 

According to the Gerson Institute's website, Gerson therapy is helpful in treating conditions that include: 

• Breast Cancer
• Infertility
• Lymphoma
• Melanoma
• Ovarian cancer
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Gerson therapy is not approved by the FDA for use as a treatment for any health condition, though, including cancer.

There is no substantial scientific evidence that Gerson therapy treats or cures cancer. There have been no formal, double-blind scientific trials examining how the therapy affects cancer treatment. In addition, there are no peer-reviewed scientific reports on the effects of Gerson therapy.

Dr. Gerson published case studies of patients he treated during his lifetime, but researchers at the National Cancer Institute reviewed those case studies in1947 and 1959 and determined that there was no evidence that the Gerson regimen had any particular benefit.

Subsequent research includes retrospective accounts of patients who underwent Gerson therapy during cancer treatments. These studies also did not prove that Gerson therapy had any impact on cancer treatment.

Some people reported feeling better physically or emotionally while undergoing the regimen, though, and in some studies, people who combined the Gerson therapy diet with conventional treatment had better survival rates than people who only received conventional treatment.

Experts agree that diets high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat and processed foods generally have health benefits. A balanced diet high in plant-based foods can improve heart health, promote weight loss, and lower the risk of diabetes. Good nutritional habits may even help some people undergoing cancer treatment feel better and recover more easily. However, highly restrictive diets are seldom recommended by doctors because of the risk of nutritional imbalances.

The Gerson therapy diet is strictly vegetarian. Fats (such as cooking oils) are prohibited. More specifically, beans, nuts, dairy products, and soy are all prohibited from the plan. 

Some of the rules of Gerson therapy include: 

• Drinking 13 glasses of freshly prepared organic fruit or vegetable juice a day
• Eating only organically grown fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Preparing food without salt, spices, or oils
• Avoiding aluminum cookware or utensils
• Taking dietary supplements, including
  • Coenzyme Q10, which is injected with vitamin B12
  • Flaxseed oil
  • Lugol's Solution (potassium iodide, iodine, and water)
  • Pancreatic enzymes.
  • Pepsin (a stomach enzyme)
  • Potassium
  • Vitamins A, C, and B3 (niacin)

In addition to the dietary rules, Gerson therapy involves undergoing multiple enemas each day. The enemas contain coffee or chamomile tea, ostensibly used to remove toxins from the body. You may be required to have as many as five enemas per day.

The Gerson Institute also recommends staying at one of their clinics or working with a Gerson practitioner outside of a clinic. However, according to Forbes, in 2017, the cost to stay at the flagship Gerson clinic in Mexico was listed at $5,500 per week, with a two-week minimum stay required.

Extremely restrictive diets cause a risk of inadequate nutrition. People who use the Gerson therapy diet can experience symptoms related to malnutrition, such as low calcium, vitamins D and B12, and protein. Some people develop anemia from Gerson therapy.

Coffee enemas, meanwhile, can cause electrolyte imbalances, which can lead to health effects such as:

• Colitis (bowel inflammation)
• Constipation
• Seizures
• Fluid in the lining around the lungs and heart
• Coma
• Death

People who have tried Gerson therapy also report significant discomfort or even illness while adhering to the regimen. Symptoms include: 

• Flu-like symptoms
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Foul-smelling perspiration
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Cold sores
• Tumor pain
• Cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting

Some Gerson practitioners encourage people to stop or delay conventional cancer treatment while undergoing Gerson therapy, but this creates a risk of cancer advancing and becoming more difficult to treat. You should discuss any possible treatment changes with your oncologist before agreeing to them.

If you are considering Gerson therapy, talk to your medical team before you move forward with the program. There are significant risks involved.